How To Install VidCutter on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

For those seeking a straightforward solution for basic video editing on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat), VidCutter offers an appealing option. VidCutter is a free and open-source video editing software primarily used for quickly cutting and joining video clips. It’s perfect for users who need to perform simple edits without the complexity of professional-grade video editing suites. This article provides a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to install VidCutter on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, ensuring you can get started with your video editing tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible.

What is VidCutter?

VidCutter stands out as a minimalist and user-friendly video editing tool designed for basic tasks. As an open-source application, it focuses on providing essential functionalities such as cutting and joining video clips. This makes it an ideal choice for users who don’t require advanced editing features but need a quick and efficient way to trim or combine videos. Its interface is intuitive, allowing even novice users to easily navigate and perform their desired edits. VidCutter supports a wide range of video formats, including AVI, MP4, MPEG 1/2, WMV, MP3, MOV, and 3GP, ensuring compatibility with most video files you might encounter.

The primary goal of VidCutter is to offer simplicity and ease of use, distinguishing it from more complex video editing software. Its target audience includes home users, amateur broadcasters, and anyone who needs to make quick edits without a steep learning curve. If you’re looking for a tool that can help you trim unwanted sections from a video or combine multiple clips into a single file, VidCutter is an excellent choice.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the installation of VidCutter, there are a few prerequisites to ensure a smooth and successful setup. This tutorial is specifically tailored for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. However, the instructions are also applicable to Ubuntu 22.04 and 20.04 LTS versions.

First, ensure that you have sudo privileges. This is necessary to execute commands that require administrative rights, such as installing software packages. Additionally, a stable internet connection is required to download the necessary packages from the Ubuntu repositories or external sources.

To verify that you have sudo privileges, you can run a simple command that requires administrative access. Open your terminal and type:

sudo apt update

If you are prompted to enter your password and the command executes successfully, you have the necessary privileges. If not, you may need to contact your system administrator to gain sudo access.

Methods to Install VidCutter on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

There are several methods to install VidCutter on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, each with its own advantages and considerations. This guide covers three primary methods: using SNAP, adding a PPA (Personal Package Archive) repository, and utilizing Flatpak. Each method offers a different approach to package management, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your preferences and system configuration.

SNAP is a universal package manager developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. It provides a sandboxed environment for applications, ensuring they don’t interfere with other system components. PPAs are repositories maintained by individual developers or communities, offering access to software that may not be available in the official Ubuntu repositories. Flatpak is another universal package manager that allows applications to run in a sandboxed environment, similar to SNAP.

The choice between these methods depends on your specific needs and preferences. SNAP is generally the easiest and most straightforward method, as it is included by default in recent Ubuntu versions. PPAs can provide access to the latest versions of VidCutter, but may require additional configuration. Flatpak offers a balance between ease of use and access to a wide range of applications, but requires initial setup.

Method 1: Installing VidCutter via SNAP

What is SNAP?

SNAP is a universal package manager designed to simplify software installation across various Linux distributions. Developed by Canonical, it is included by default in recent versions of Ubuntu, making it a convenient option for installing VidCutter. SNAP packages contain all the necessary dependencies to run an application, ensuring consistency and reducing the risk of compatibility issues.

One of the key benefits of using SNAP packages is their sandboxed environment. This means that applications installed via SNAP run in isolation from the rest of the system, preventing them from interfering with other applications or system components. This enhances security and stability, making SNAP a reliable choice for software installation.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

To install VidCutter using SNAP, follow these steps:

1. Update the system’s package list: Open your terminal and run the following command to update the list of available packages:

sudo apt update

This command ensures that you have the latest information about available packages and their dependencies.

2. Install VidCutter using SNAP: Once the package list is updated, install VidCutter by running the following command:

sudo snap install vidcutter

This command downloads and installs VidCutter from the SNAP store. You may be prompted to enter your password to authorize the installation.

Launching VidCutter

After the installation is complete, you can launch VidCutter in several ways:

• From the Application Launcher: Search for “VidCutter” in the application launcher and click on the icon to launch the application.
• Via the Command Line: Open your terminal and type the following command:

vidcutter &

The & symbol allows the application to run in the background, freeing up your terminal for other commands.

Updating VidCutter via SNAP

SNAP packages are automatically updated in the background. However, you can manually check for updates by running the following command:

sudo snap refresh vidcutter

This command checks for any available updates for VidCutter and installs them if necessary.

Pros and Cons of Using SNAP

Pros:

• Ease of Use: SNAP is straightforward and easy to use, especially for beginners.
• Included by Default: SNAP is included by default in recent versions of Ubuntu, eliminating the need for additional setup.
• Sandboxed Environment: SNAP packages run in isolation, enhancing security and stability.

Cons:

• Larger Package Sizes: SNAP packages tend to be larger than traditional APT packages, as they include all necessary dependencies.
• Performance Overhead: The sandboxed environment can sometimes introduce a slight performance overhead.

Method 2: Installing VidCutter via PPA Repository

What is a PPA?

A PPA, or Personal Package Archive, is a repository that allows developers to distribute software directly to Ubuntu users. PPAs are hosted on Launchpad, a web application that provides hosting and tools for software development and collaboration. By adding a PPA to your system, you can access software that may not be available in the official Ubuntu repositories.

PPAs are particularly useful for obtaining the latest versions of software or accessing software that is not yet included in the official repositories. However, it’s important to note that PPAs are maintained by individual developers or communities, and their stability and security may vary. Therefore, it’s recommended to only add PPAs from trusted sources.

Adding the VidCutter PPA Repository

To add the VidCutter PPA repository, run the following command in your terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ozmartian/apps

This command adds the PPA maintained by the VidCutter developers. You may be prompted to press Enter to enable the PPA. This command adds the PPA to your system’s list of software sources.

Updating the System Repository Cache

After adding the PPA, it’s necessary to update the system repository cache to include the new packages. Run the following command:

sudo apt update

This command refreshes the list of available packages, ensuring that you can install VidCutter from the PPA.

Installing VidCutter using APT

Once the repository cache is updated, you can install VidCutter using the APT package manager. Run the following command:

sudo apt install vidcutter

This command downloads and installs VidCutter from the PPA. You may be prompted to enter your password to authorize the installation.

Launching VidCutter

After the installation is complete, you can launch VidCutter from the Application launcher. Simply search for “VidCutter” and click on the icon to start the application.

Updating VidCutter via APT

To update VidCutter via APT, run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

The sudo apt update command updates the list of available packages, while the sudo apt upgrade command installs any available updates for all packages on your system, including VidCutter.

Troubleshooting

In some cases, VidCutter 4.0 may fail to launch on older Ubuntu versions (e.g., 16.04). If you encounter this issue, you may need to upgrade PyOpenGL. To do this, run the following commands:

sudo apt install python3-pip
pip3 install --upgrade pyopengl

These commands install the pip package manager and use it to upgrade the PyOpenGL library, which may resolve the launch issue.

Pros and Cons of Using PPA

Pros:

• Access to the Latest Version: PPAs often provide access to the latest versions of software, including bug fixes and new features.
• Direct Updates: Software installed from a PPA can be updated directly through the APT package manager.

Cons:

• Potential Instability: PPAs are maintained by individual developers, and their stability may vary.
• Compatibility Issues: Software from a PPA may not be fully compatible with your system, leading to conflicts or other issues.

Method 3: Installing VidCutter via Flatpak

What is Flatpak?

Flatpak is another universal package management system that allows applications to run in a sandboxed environment. Similar to SNAP, Flatpak packages contain all the necessary dependencies to run an application, ensuring consistency and reducing the risk of compatibility issues. However, Flatpak is not included by default in Ubuntu and needs to be installed separately.

One of the key advantages of Flatpak is its ability to run applications in isolation from the rest of the system. This enhances security and stability, as applications cannot interfere with other system components. Flatpak also provides access to a wide range of applications through the Flathub repository.

Installing Flatpak

To install Flatpak on Ubuntu, follow these steps:

1. Install Flatpak: Open your terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt install flatpak -y

The -y flag automatically confirms the installation, skipping the prompt.

2. Add the Flathub repository: Add the Flathub repository, which provides access to a wide range of Flatpak applications:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

This command adds the Flathub repository to your system’s list of software sources.

Installing VidCutter using Flatpak

Once Flatpak is installed and the Flathub repository is added, you can install VidCutter by running the following command:

flatpak install flathub com.ozmartians.VidCutter -y

This command downloads and installs VidCutter from the Flathub repository. The -y flag automatically confirms the installation.

Rebooting the System

After installing Flatpak, it’s recommended to reboot your system to ensure that all changes are applied. Run the following command:

sudo reboot

This command restarts your system.

Launching VidCutter

After the installation is complete and the system is rebooted, you can launch VidCutter in several ways:

• From the Application Launcher: Search for “VidCutter” in the application launcher and click on the icon to launch the application.
• Via the Command Line: Open your terminal and type the following command:

vidcutter &

The & symbol allows the application to run in the background, freeing up your terminal for other commands.

Updating VidCutter via Flatpak

To update VidCutter via Flatpak, run the following command:

flatpak update

This command checks for any available updates for all Flatpak applications on your system, including VidCutter, and installs them if necessary.

Pros and Cons of Using Flatpak

Pros:

• Sandboxed Environment: Flatpak applications run in isolation, enhancing security and stability.
• Access to a Wide Range of Applications: Flatpak provides access to a vast library of applications through the Flathub repository.
• Consistent Environment: Flatpak ensures that applications run in a consistent environment, reducing the risk of compatibility issues.

Cons:

• Initial Setup: Flatpak requires initial setup, including installing the Flatpak package and adding the Flathub repository.
• Performance Overhead: The sandboxed environment can sometimes introduce a slight performance overhead.
• Larger Disk Space: Flatpak applications may require more disk space due to the inclusion of all necessary dependencies.

How to Use VidCutter: A Quick Start Guide

Now that you have successfully installed VidCutter on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system, let’s explore how to use it for basic video editing tasks.

Launching VidCutter and Interface Overview

To launch VidCutter, search for “VidCutter” in the application launcher and click on the icon. The main interface consists of a few key elements:

• Video Display Area: This area displays the video you are editing.
• Timeline: The timeline shows the video’s frames and allows you to navigate through the video.
• Start and End Point Markers: These markers allow you to set the start and end points of a clip.
• Cut and Join Buttons: These buttons allow you to cut or join video clips.
• Save Button: This button allows you to save the edited video.

VidCutter also offers customization options, such as the ability to switch between light and dark themes and display text-only buttons. These options can be accessed through the application’s settings menu.

Basic Usage Steps

Here are the basic steps for using VidCutter:

1. Open a video file: Click on the “Open” button and select the video file you want to edit.
2. Set the start and end points of a clip: Use the timeline to navigate to the desired start and end points, and click on the “Set Start Point” and “Set End Point” buttons, respectively.
3. Cut and join clips: Click on the “Cut” button to remove the selected clip, or click on the “Join” button to combine multiple clips into a single file.
4. Save the edited video: Click on the “Save” button and select the desired output format and location.

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few tips and tricks to enhance your VidCutter experience:

• Use frame accuracy for precise cuts: Use the arrow keys to navigate through the video frame by frame, allowing you to make precise cuts.
• Save individual clips: You can save individual clips by setting the start and end points and clicking on the “Save” button.

Limitations

VidCutter focuses on basic cutting and joining functionalities and lacks advanced editing features such as special effects, color correction, and audio editing. If you require these features, you may need to consider more advanced video editing software such as OpenShot or Kdenlive.

Uninstalling VidCutter

If you no longer need VidCutter, you can uninstall it using the same package manager you used to install it.

For APT

To uninstall VidCutter installed via APT, run the following commands:

sudo apt remove vidcutter
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ozmartian/apps

The sudo apt remove vidcutter command removes the VidCutter package, while the sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ozmartian/apps command removes the VidCutter PPA from your system’s list of software sources.

For SNAP

To uninstall VidCutter installed via SNAP, run the following command:

sudo snap remove vidcutter

This command removes the VidCutter SNAP package from your system.

For Flatpak

To uninstall VidCutter installed via Flatpak, run the following commands:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.ozmartians.VidCutter
flatpak remove --unused

The flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.ozmartians.VidCutter command removes the VidCutter Flatpak package and its associated data, while the flatpak remove --unused command removes any unused dependencies.

Cleaning Up

After uninstalling VidCutter, it’s recommended to clean up any unused dependencies to free up disk space. Run the following command:

sudo apt autoremove

This command removes any dependencies that were installed automatically and are no longer needed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are some common issues you may encounter while installing or using VidCutter, along with potential solutions:

• Dependency Problems: If you encounter dependency problems, try running the following command:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

This command attempts to fix any broken dependencies on your system.

• Launch Issues: If VidCutter fails to launch, check for conflicting packages or libraries. You can also try restarting your system.
• Video Playback Problems: If you experience video playback problems, ensure that you have the necessary codecs installed. You can install the ubuntu-restricted-extras package, which includes a variety of common codecs.

sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras

• General Tips: If you encounter any other issues, try restarting your system or checking the VidCutter GitHub page for known issues.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed VidCutter. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the VidCutter on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official VidCutter website.