How To Install Shotcut on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Shotcut is a free, open-source, and cross-platform video editor that has gained popularity among content creators and video enthusiasts. It is compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. As video editing becomes increasingly important for Ubuntu users, having a reliable and feature-rich tool like Shotcut is essential. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing Shotcut on the latest version of Ubuntu, 24.04, which brings several improvements and enhancements to the user experience.

Understanding Shotcut Features

Before diving into the installation process, let’s take a moment to explore the key features of Shotcut that make it a powerful video editing software:

• Support for a wide range of video and audio formats, ensuring compatibility with various media files.
• Multiple tracks for video, audio, and images, allowing for complex and layered editing.
• Editing tools such as trimming, cutting, splitting, and joining clips for precise control over your footage.
• A variety of effects, filters, and transitions to enhance the visual appeal of your videos.
• Exporting capabilities with customizable settings for different platforms and quality requirements.

Using Shotcut on Ubuntu offers several benefits, including native timeline editing without the need for importing files and support for high-resolution videos up to 4K. These features make Shotcut a versatile and efficient choice for video editing on Ubuntu 24.04.

Preparing for Installation

Before proceeding with the installation of Shotcut on Ubuntu 24.04, it’s crucial to ensure that your system meets the necessary requirements and that you have taken the appropriate preparatory steps.

System Requirements

To run Shotcut smoothly on Ubuntu 24.04, your system should meet the following minimum requirements:

• Processor: 64-bit Intel or AMD processor
• RAM: 4 GB or more
• Graphics: OpenGL 2.0 or later
• Display: 1280×768 resolution or higher
• Storage: Sufficient space for the Shotcut installation and video files

For optimal performance, it is recommended to have a system with higher specifications, especially when working with high-resolution videos or applying complex effects.

Dependencies and Prerequisites

Shotcut relies on certain libraries and dependencies to function properly on Ubuntu. The most notable dependencies include:

• GTK+ 3: A toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces.
• FFmpeg: A powerful multimedia framework for handling video and audio files.
• MLT: The Media Lovin’ Toolkit, which is the backend framework for Shotcut.

Fortunately, the installation process on Ubuntu 24.04 takes care of these dependencies automatically, so you don’t need to worry about installing them separately.

Backup and System Update

Before installing any new software, it’s always a good practice to backup your important data to prevent any potential loss during the installation process. Additionally, ensure that your Ubuntu system is up to date by running the following commands in the terminal:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This will fetch the latest package information and upgrade any outdated packages to their latest versions, ensuring compatibility with Shotcut.

Installation Methods

Ubuntu 24.04 offers several methods to install Shotcut, catering to different user preferences and skill levels. Let’s explore each installation method in detail.

Using Ubuntu Software Center

The Ubuntu Software Center is a user-friendly graphical interface for installing applications on Ubuntu. To install Shotcut using the Software Center, follow these steps:

1. Open the Ubuntu Software Center from the Applications menu or by searching for it in the Activities overview.
2. In the search bar, type “Shotcut” and press Enter.
3. Click on the Shotcut application from the search results.
4. Click on the “Install” button to begin the installation process.
5. Enter your password when prompted to authorize the installation.
6. Wait for the installation to complete, and then click on the “Launch” button to start Shotcut.

The Ubuntu Software Center provides an intuitive and straightforward way to install Shotcut without the need for command-line interactions.

Installing via Snap Package

Snap is a package management system developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. Snap packages offer a secure and easy way to install and manage applications across different Linux distributions. To install Shotcut using Snap, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” in the Activities overview.
2. Run the following command to install Shotcut via Snap:

sudo snap install shotcut --classic

3. Wait for the installation to complete. Snap will automatically download and install Shotcut along with its dependencies.
4. Once the installation is finished, you can launch Shotcut from the Applications menu or by running the following command in the terminal:

shotcut

If you encounter any issues during the Snap installation, such as permission errors or conflicts with existing packages, you can try running the following command to resolve them:

sudo snap refresh shotcut --classic

Alternative: Installing from Terminal

For advanced users who prefer using the command line, installing Shotcut from the terminal is another option. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” in the Activities overview.
2. Run the following command to add the Shotcut repository to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:haraldhv/shotcut

3. Update the package list by running:

sudo apt update

4. Install Shotcut by running:

sudo apt install shotcut

5. Wait for the installation to complete, and then launch Shotcut from the Applications menu or by running shotcut in the terminal.

Installing Shotcut from the terminal provides more control over the installation process and allows for easier troubleshooting if any issues arise.

Post-Installation Setup

After successfully installing Shotcut on Ubuntu 24.04, there are a few post-installation steps to ensure a smooth and optimized experience.

Launching Shotcut

To launch Shotcut, you can either click on its icon in the Applications menu or search for it in the Activities overview. If you want quick access to Shotcut, you can pin it to the Ubuntu dock by right-clicking on the Shotcut icon and selecting “Add to Favorites.”

Initial Configuration

When you launch Shotcut for the first time, it’s a good idea to configure its preferences and settings according to your needs. Here are a few key configurations to consider:

• Set the default project folder to a location where you want to store your video projects.
• Adjust the video and audio settings, such as the default resolution, frame rate, and audio channels.
• Customize the user interface by choosing a theme and layout that suits your preferences.
• Configure keyboard shortcuts for frequently used actions to speed up your editing workflow.

Take some time to explore the various settings and options available in Shotcut to tailor the software to your specific requirements.

Verifying Installation

To ensure that Shotcut is installed correctly and functioning as expected, you can perform a quick verification by following these steps:

1. Open Shotcut and create a new project.
2. Import a sample video or audio file into the project.
3. Perform basic editing tasks like trimming, cutting, or applying effects to the imported media.
4. Export the edited project to a desired format and check the output quality.

If you can successfully complete these steps without any errors or crashes, it indicates that Shotcut is installed correctly and ready for use.

Troubleshooting and Common Issues

While the installation process of Shotcut on Ubuntu 24.04 is generally straightforward, you may encounter some common issues. Let’s discuss a few of them and their potential solutions.

Common Installation Problems

If you face any errors or issues during the installation process, here are a few things you can try:

• Ensure that you have a stable internet connection to download the necessary packages.
• Check if you have sufficient disk space for the installation.
• Make sure you have the necessary permissions to install software on your system.
• If using the terminal method, verify that you have added the correct repository and updated the package list.

If the issue persists, you can try searching for the specific error message online or seeking help from the Shotcut community forums.

Performance Optimization Tips

To ensure optimal performance of Shotcut on Ubuntu 24.04, consider the following tips:

• Make sure your system meets the recommended hardware requirements for running Shotcut.
• Close unnecessary applications and background processes to free up system resources.
• Regularly update your graphics drivers to take advantage of performance improvements and bug fixes.
• Optimize your project settings, such as resolution and frame rate, based on your system’s capabilities.
• Consider using proxy files for large or complex projects to improve editing performance.

By following these tips, you can ensure a smoother and more responsive editing experience with Shotcut on Ubuntu

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Shotcut. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Shotcut video editor on your Ubuntu system. For additional or useful information, we recommend you check the official Shotcut website.