Hot on the heels of Adobe planning to buy video-editing collaboration app Frame.io, comes the news that Microsoft has acquired Clipchamp, a start-up with software that can be used to edit videos.
The Brisbane-based Clipchamp is an in-browser video creation and editing experience founded in 2013 with a mission to empower anyone to tell stories worth sharing. The Clipchamp team’s technical approach is to combine the simplicity of a web app with the ability to process video using the full computing power of a PC with graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration, something that was formerly limited to traditional video applications.
Clipchamp’s template-driven, task-focused user experience gives everyone the confidence that they can create. Its large library of filters, styles, transitions, and stock media combined with the power of a multi-track audio and video compositing editor gives everyone the fine control they need to create exactly what they want, quickly and with confidence. Once the story is finished, Clipchamp helps share it since it’s built for social media, offering output styles and aspect ratios for all the popular social networks.
“Small business owners, marketers, influencers, students, educators, families, and information workers of all types need the capability to make great videos with minimal effort. Whether it’s a 10-second social media ad, a 2-minute pitch for a product, or a 20-minute instructional video, Clipchamp and Microsoft will provide the tools and experience you need,” wrote Chris Pratley, Corporate Vice President, Office Media Group, in a blog post.
“As a web app that uses the full power of your PC, Clipchamp is a natural fit to extend the cloud-powered productivity experiences in Microsoft 365 for individuals, families, schools, and businesses. It’s also a great fit for Microsoft Windows, which is a platform for boundless creativity.
“Whether you are editing game clips, making a school project, putting together a memory of your kids, or assembling the next indie short, Clipchamp and Microsoft will help you express yourself through the emotional power of video. If you are already a Clipchamp user, it’s all going to get better with more options, more power, and the easy creation experience you love.”
CNBC reported that the technology lines up with Microsoft’s years-long effort to widen its productivity software offerings for both individuals and corporate users. When Microsoft announced upcoming price increases for its Office 365 subscriptions in August, it pointed to additions to the bundle, including the Teams communication app.
The Clipchamp services are not yet available through a Microsoft licensing program, and a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC: “As we get further through the integration planning, we will have a process to eventually convert existing Clipchamp users/customers to Microsoft subscribers.”
