Syn-FX Video Editing Tutorial for iPhone

Drag the timeline to move through the project. The red playhead stays in place.

1. Place one finger on an empty part of the timeline.
2. Drag left to move later in the video, or drag right to move toward the beginning.
3. Spread two fingers apart to zoom in.
4. Pinch two fingers together to zoom out.

Tip: Zoom in before splitting or trimming so you can place the playhead on the exact frame.

Split cuts one clip into two clips at the red playhead.

Control to look for: Split

1. Scroll until the red playhead is over the frame where you want to cut.
2. Tap the video clip. If its tools are hidden, tap Edit.
3. Tap Split.
4. You can now move, trim, delete, or style either clip separately.

Arrange Clips shows the video clips on one video track in playback order. Use it to reorder clips or remove one.

1. Select a video clip, then tap Arrange.
2. Press and hold a clip thumbnail, then drag it left or right to change the playback order.
3. You can also tap a thumbnail and use the arrow buttons to move it, or tap the trash button to remove it.
4. Tap Apply to save the new clip order.

Tip: Arrange Clips changes the order of video clips on one track. To change a clip's start time or move it to another compatible track, use the separate clip movement steps below.

Press and hold a clip to move it in time or to another track of the same type.

Control to look for: Link icon

1. Press and hold the clip until it lifts from the timeline.
2. Drag left or right to change its start time.
3. Drag up or down to move it to another track of the same type, then release it.
4. Tap the link-shaped button on a track to turn its magnet on or off.

Tip: With the magnet on, later clips close the gap when you remove a clip. Turn it off to keep gaps.

An overlay places one video over another. You can move, resize, blend, mask, or style it separately.

Control to look for: Overlay

1. Select the video clip you want to use as an overlay.
2. Tap Overlay, or long press the clip and drag it down to an overlay track.
3. If an overlay track is directly below, Syn-FX adds the clip after the last clip on that track. Otherwise, it creates a new overlay track and places the clip at the beginning.
4. Move or trim the overlay to line it up with the background video.

Opacity controls how strongly an overlay appears. Blend modes change how its colors combine with layers behind it.

1. Tap the overlay clip on the timeline.
2. Open Opacity and lower the value to make the layer more transparent.
3. Choose a Blend Mode in the same panel and try different options while watching the preview.

Tip: A lower opacity often creates a more natural result when adding texture, light, or atmospheric overlays.

Tracks let video, FX, and text appear at the same time. Their order changes the final image.

1. Add a video, text, or FX clip.
2. Place it on the correct track and move it to the time where it should appear.
3. Add another track when you need more layers at the same time.

Move a whole track to change the layer order without moving each clip.

1. Select the track you want to reposition.
2. Tap Move Track in the track controls.
3. Tap Up or Down.
4. Play the overlapping section to check the result.

Tip: If a visual layer seems to disappear behind another element, check the order of their tracks first.

A track background adds a color or gradient behind every clip and gap on that video track.

Control to look for: Background

1. Select the video track itself rather than an individual clip.
2. Tap Background in the track controls.
3. Choose Solid or Gradient.
4. Select a preset or choose your own colors.
5. For a gradient, choose Linear or Radial and set its direction.
6. Adjust Opacity.
7. Use Brightness, Grain, Animate Grain, or Vignette only if needed.
8. Apply the change and preview the track.

Useful for: Add a clean background behind resized clips, vertical footage, cutouts, or empty gaps.

Browse effects or start with a ready-made preset.

Control to look for: Effects

1. Tap Effects to open the effects browser.
2. Browse a category, search by name, or tap Shuffle for ideas.
3. Preview an effect or preset against your footage.
4. Choose an effect or preset to add it to your project.

Tip: Use a preset for a quick result. Use individual FX to build your own style.

An FX clip controls when an effect appears. It changes visual layers above it while they overlap.

1. Choose an effect from the Effects browser.
2. Add it to an FX track on the timeline.
3. Drag the FX clip left or right to choose when the effect begins.
4. Trim the FX clip to change its length, or tap Fill to extend it.
5. Preview the result.

Remember: If the wrong layer changes, check the FX track position and where the clips overlap.

Use FX transitions to create dynamic intros, outros, and changes between FX clips.

Control to look for: Hourglass

1. Select an FX clip on the timeline.
2. Tap the hourglass at the start for an intro.
3. Tap the hourglass between FX clips for a between transition, or at the end for an outro.
4. Choose a transition from the gallery.
5. Adjust the duration and play across the transition.

Tip: Use a short transition for a sharp FX hit or a longer transition when the effect should build or dissolve gradually.

Use text transitions to animate a title or caption as it appears, changes, or leaves.

Control to look for: Hourglass

1. Select a text clip on the timeline.
2. Tap the hourglass at the start for an intro.
3. Tap the hourglass between text clips for a between transition, or at the end for an outro.
4. Choose a transition that matches the pace and style of the text.
5. Adjust the duration, then play the full text clip to check that it stays readable.

Tip: Keep caption transitions short enough that viewers still have time to read every word.

Lower an effect's opacity to make it more subtle.

1. Select the FX clip you want to change.
2. Tap Adjust to open its settings.
3. Move the Opacity slider while watching the preview.
4. Use a lower value for a subtle effect or a higher value for a stronger effect.

Blend modes change how an effect combines with the image below it.

1. Select the FX clip and tap Adjust.
2. Open Blending.
3. Try different blend modes while watching the preview.
4. Fine-tune the result with opacity after choosing the blend mode.

Tip: Check both bright and dark frames before choosing a blend mode.

Per-clip effects change only the selected video clip.

1. Double tap the video clip, or tap it once and choose Effects.
2. Syn-FX opens that clip's FX timeline.
3. Add and arrange FX inside this timeline.
4. Preview the clip, then return to the main timeline.

Use this when: Apply an effect to one person, background layer, or shot without changing the rest of the project.

Use Adjust to correct brightness and color or create your own color grade.

Control to look for: Adjust

1. Select a video clip or video track, then tap Adjust.
2. Use Light for exposure and contrast.
3. Use WB for temperature and tint.
4. Use Color for overall color changes, or HSL to change one color range.
5. Open Curves or Wheels for more control over brightness and color.
6. Use Detail for sharpness and noise reduction. Use Finish for grain, fade, or vignette.
7. Preview several parts of the clip before applying the adjustment.

Best order: Correct exposure and white balance first. Make creative color changes after the image has a clean, balanced starting point.

Looks are ready-made color grades you can apply and adjust.

Control to look for: Looks

1. Select the video clip or track you want to style, then tap Looks.
2. Browse the categories and tap a Look to preview it.
3. Choose the Look that best supports the mood of the edit.
4. Tap Adjust on the selected Look to fine-tune its color settings.
5. Check the Look on bright, dark, and skin-tone frames before keeping it.

Tip: Use the same Look across related shots, then make small per-shot adjustments so the sequence feels consistent.

Syn-FX turns project audio into timed, editable English caption clips.

Control to look for: Captions

1. Select the video or audio source you want Syn-FX to listen to.
2. Tap Captions and choose the audio source when asked.
3. Allow Speech Recognition permission if iOS requests it.
4. Start generation and wait for it to finish.
5. Review the new text clips on the timeline.
6. Select a caption text clip and tap Edit, or double-tap the text on the preview or timeline to open the text editor directly.
7. Correct the text, then tap Done. Syn-FX keeps the existing word timing.

Tip: Clear speech with little background noise produces the easiest captions to review.

Caption animation can reveal, emphasize, or highlight words in time with the dialogue.

1. Tap a generated caption clip on the timeline.
2. Open Animation.
3. Preview styles that reveal or highlight words as they are spoken.
4. Choose a style and play the caption to check its timing and readability.

Tip: Keep the animation simple when viewers need to focus on the dialogue.

Customize how the current spoken word is highlighted.

1. Select a generated caption clip and open Animation.
2. Choose an animation that highlights spoken words.
3. Tap Settings when it appears for the selected animation.
4. Choose a highlight preset and adjust its color or decoration.
5. Preview several captions and check that every word is easy to read.

Tip: Use the same animation and text style across one dialogue sequence.

Remove BG makes the area around a person or foreground object transparent.

1. Place the clip on an overlay track and select it.
2. Open Remove BG.
3. Turn on background removal and wait for the subject mask to appear.
4. Place a different video, image, or color on a layer behind the isolated subject.

Tip: For a cleaner result, use footage where the subject stands out from the background.

Add a colored or styled edge around a subject after removing the background.

1. Select a clip that already has background removal enabled.
2. Open Remove BG, then tap the Outline tab.
3. Enable the outline and choose its style.
4. Adjust Thickness and Color while watching the preview.

Tip: Use a thin outline for separation or a thick outline for a bold graphic look.

Use per-clip effects to style the person without changing the background.

1. Use Remove BG on the overlay clip to isolate the person or object.
2. Double tap that overlay clip to open its per-clip FX timeline.
3. Add the desired effects inside the clip's FX timeline.
4. Return to the main timeline. The effect now appears only on the isolated subject.

Invert the subject mask to apply an effect only to the background.

1. Duplicate the source clip so you have separate foreground and background layers.
2. Enable Remove BG on that clip, then turn on Invert Mask.
3. Open the clip's per-clip FX timeline and add the effects you want behind the person.
4. Align the foreground and background copies so they stay in sync.

Use Matte controls to clean up the edge around an isolated subject.

1. Select the clip, open its Remove BG controls, then choose the Matte tab.
2. Turn on Matte Only (Pro) to view the mask. White is visible; black is transparent.
3. Use Grow / Shrink Mask (Pro) to move the edge outward or inward.
4. Use Softness (Pro) and Feather (Pro) to smooth the edge.
5. Turn on High Quality Export Mask (Pro) for the cleanest export. This may take longer.
6. Turn Matte Only off to view the subject over the final background.

Tip: Make small adjustments. Too much softness or feathering can create a visible halo around the subject.

Paint adds missing areas to a subject mask or erases areas you do not want.

Control to look for: Paint

1. Select a clip with Remove BG enabled, open Remove BG, then choose the Paint tab.
2. Turn on Enabled.
3. Choose Brush to add visible areas or Erase to remove them.
4. Paint directly over the preview where the automatic mask needs correction.
5. Adjust Brush Size for precision and Brush Softness for a harder or softer edge.
6. Turn on Show Paint Strokes to see your painted areas clearly.
7. Use Vectorize Strokes or Fill Shapes for a smoother filled shape.
8. Tap Clear Paint to remove all painted corrections.

Remember: Painted corrections do not move. Check several frames if the subject moves during the clip.

A shape mask shows only the part of a clip inside or outside a shape.

1. Select the video clip and tap Mask.
2. Choose the shape you want to use.
3. Move the shape over the area you want to show.
4. Resize or rotate the shape to fit.
5. Adjust edge softness or feathering when you need a smoother blend.
6. Turn on Invert when you want everything outside the shape instead of everything inside it.

Use keyframes to move or reshape a mask over time.

1. Create and position a shape mask on the clip.
2. Open Keyframes and move the playhead to the first animation point.
3. Tap Add Keyframe to save the starting mask.
4. Move the playhead to a later time. Do not add another keyframe.
5. Move, resize, rotate, or feather the mask. Syn-FX adds the new keyframe automatically.
6. To change a saved keyframe, place the playhead on its marker and adjust the mask.

Tip: Use fewer keyframes for smooth movement and add more only when the mask stops following the subject accurately.

FX keyframes change an effect's settings over time.

Control to look for: Key

1. Select the FX clip and move the playhead to the first animation point.
2. Tap Key, set the starting values, and apply them.
3. Move the playhead to a later time.
4. Tap Key again and set the next values.
5. Use a keyframe curve to control whether the movement feels steady, smooth, or accelerated.
6. Select an existing key and tap Adjust when you need to edit it.

Tip: Preview at normal speed. An animation can feel different when playing than when dragging the timeline.

Video keyframes animate opacity, position, size, rotation, and crop.

Control to look for: Adjust Key

1. Select the video clip and move the playhead to the first animation point.
2. Tap Adjust Key and set the starting opacity, transform, or crop.
3. Move the playhead to a later time. Do not add the next keyframe manually.
4. Change the clip's opacity, crop, position, size, or rotation. Syn-FX adds a keyframe automatically.
5. To change a saved keyframe, place the playhead on its marker before adjusting the clip.

Use opacity keyframes to build a custom fade-in or fade-out.

1. Select the clip or FX layer you want to fade.
2. Add the first keyframe and set its opacity.
3. Scroll the timeline until the playhead reaches the end of the transition.
4. For video, change Opacity. Syn-FX adds the next key automatically.
5. For FX, tap Key and set the ending opacity.
6. Adjust the keyframe curve to shape the pace of the fade.

Example: Animate from 0% to 100% for a fade-in, or from 100% to 0% for a fade-out.

A between transition blends one video clip into the next.

1. Place two video clips next to each other on the same track.
2. Tap the Hourglass icon between them.
3. Choose a transition from the gallery.
4. Adjust its duration and preview playback across the cut.

Tip: Short transitions feel energetic; longer transitions make the change more noticeable and expressive.

Intro and outro transitions animate a clip on or off the screen.

1. Select the clip you want to animate.
2. Tap the hourglass at the clip's beginning for an intro or at its end for an outro.
3. Choose the transition style.
4. Adjust the duration and play through the endpoint to check the timing.

The transition gallery lets you preview different ways to blend or animate clips.

1. Tap an hourglass transition point on the timeline.
2. Browse the transition gallery and select a style to preview it.
3. Use the duration slider to make the transition shorter or longer.
4. Play the clips around the transition before keeping it.

Tip: Choose a transition that matches the movement and rhythm of the footage.

Speed changes how fast a clip plays and how long it lasts on the timeline.

1. Select the video clip you want to speed up or slow down.
2. Tap Speed.
3. Choose a value below 1x for slow motion or above 1x for fast motion.
4. Preview the clip and check how the changed duration affects nearby edits.
5. For smoother slow motion, choose Pro under Smooth Slow Motion. This uses Optical Flow during export; the editor preview uses Fast Smooth instead.

Tip: Optical Flow works best when subjects have clear movement and are not heavily blurred or hidden between frames.

A speed ramp makes one clip speed up or slow down over time.

1. Select the video clip and open Ramps.
2. Choose a preset curve or start with a custom speed curve.
3. Add beats or control points where the speed should change.
4. Move the points to shape the slow and fast portions.
5. Remove any points you do not need, then preview the clip.

Tip: Place speed changes around a clear action or music beat so the ramp feels motivated.

Stop Motion, Freeze, and Time Glitch each change the timing inside a video clip.

1. Select a video clip and scroll through its control bar.
2. Tap Stop Motion, Freeze, or Time Glitch directly.
3. Adjust the settings for the selected effect.
4. Preview the whole clip and check the cut at both ends.

Tip: Time effects are most readable when applied around a strong pose, impact, movement, or beat.

Add music, dialogue, voiceovers, and sound effects on audio tracks.

1. Tap Audio on the main timeline. If you already have an audio track, select the track and tap Insert instead.
2. Choose the music or sound file you want to insert.
3. Move the audio clip to line it up with a visual moment or beat.
4. Trim, move, or fade the clip as needed.
5. Play from before the edit point to check the timing.

Remember: Audio layers appear at the end of the timeline's track list, below the visual layers.

Record new video without leaving your Editor project.

1. Select the video track where you want to work.
2. Tap the track's Record button.
3. Choose where the new recording should be placed when Syn-FX asks.
4. Record one or more clips, then finish the camera session.
5. Review the imported recording on the timeline and trim or arrange it like any other clip.

Record a voiceover while the project plays so your timing stays in sync.

1. Move the red playhead to the time where the recording should begin.
2. Tap the Record button on an audio track.
3. Allow microphone access if iOS requests permission.
4. When recording starts, speak or perform in time with the project.
5. Stop recording when you finish. It appears as an audio clip with a waveform.
6. Use the waveform to check the timing.
7. Trim, move, fade, or enhance the clip as needed.

Tip: Use headphones while recording over existing project audio to reduce sound leaking back into the microphone.

Voice Enhance can make speech clearer and more even.

Control to look for: Enhance

1. Select the audio track containing the voice.
2. Tap Enhance to open Voice Enhance.
3. Start with a Voice preset.
4. Use the Voice EQ curve and EQ intensity to shape the tone.
5. Use Compressor to balance loud and quiet speech.
6. Use Limiter to control sudden peaks.
7. Preview the result and keep the voice sounding natural.

Availability: Voice Enhance is a Syn-FX Pro feature. Use restrained settings so the voice remains natural.

Export turns the complete timeline into a finished video.

1. Play the project from start to finish and check the picture, sound, cuts, and final frame.
2. Tap Export to export with your saved settings.
3. To review or change the quality first, press and hold Export, choose your settings, then tap Export.
4. Wait while Syn-FX generates the finished video.
5. When it finishes, find the video in Photos and share it.

Use the FX tray to preview and switch effects while recording.

1. Open the Camera and reveal the FX tray.
2. Tap an effect or preset to preview it live on the camera image.
3. Open the selected effect's settings to adjust its look.
4. Tap Record. You can switch or blend effects while recording.

Tip: Rehearse effect changes before recording so the timing feels deliberate during the take.

Blend speed controls how quickly one live effect changes into another.

1. Open the FX tray and choose the effects you want to move between.
2. Open the tray's blending control.
3. Choose a fast blend for a quick switch or a slow blend for a gradual change.
4. Switch effects in the preview and adjust the speed until the timing suits the shot.

Tip: Match the blend speed to the movement or music: fast for impact, slow for dreamy transformations.

Camera recordings stay in the staging strip until you send them to the Editor.

Control to look for: Edit

1. Record one or more clips. Each finished take appears in the staging strip.
2. Press and hold a take to reorder it.
3. Double tap the strip to open Arrange and remove any takes you do not want.
4. Tap Edit, then confirm Edit Now when Syn-FX asks to create a project with the staged clips.
5. When the Editor opens, trim, arrange, layer, or style the clips.

Tip: Record all your takes before tapping Edit to place them in one project.

Choose whether camera zoom changes instantly or moves smoothly between zoom levels.

1. Find the button that shows a hare or tortoise beside the zoom levels.
2. The hare means Snap mode. Tapping a zoom level changes the zoom immediately.
3. The tortoise means Smooth mode. Tapping a zoom level creates a gradual zoom.
4. In Smooth mode, use Zoom Speed to make the zoom faster or slower.
5. Practice the zoom in the preview, then repeat it while recording.

Tip: Use a slow zoom for a gentle reveal or a fast zoom for more energy.

Choose your lens and capture settings before recording.

1. Open Settings from the Camera screen.
2. Choose the iPhone camera lens that best fits the framing you need.
3. Turn on stabilization if you are recording handheld.
4. Review the other settings, close the panel, and check the preview.

Preset collections load a group of camera effects into the FX tray.

1. Open the Camera's preset menu.
2. Choose a curated preset collection.
3. Use the tray to move quickly between the collection's effects.
4. Open the FX menu to build and save your own custom tray.

Tip: Prepare a custom tray before a planned shoot so every effect you need is immediately available.