How to Use ChatGPT-Styled Prompts for Auto Video Editing in Premiere Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

You might be asking yourself, “What is chat-based editing?” Cutback brings you a new way to use our Auto Rough Cut feature through prompt-based video editing using a chat interface. Now in beta testing, our Auto Rough Cut reduces time spent on timeline editing and uses AI to analyze speech and generate subtitles. It then automatically creates a rough cut of your video based on the content you've provided. With Cutback's AI co-editing tools and new chat interface, you can reduce your editing time from hours to just minutes, thanks to video editing automation features.

🔽 In this guide:

✅ How to use AI to edit video quickly

✅ Features that make rough cutting easier

✅ Frequently asked questions and answers

Getting Started - How To Edit Video With AI

Step 1. Open a new Premiere Pro project and load your audio and video files into a sequence.

Step 2. Go to [Window] > [Extensions] > [Cutback] from the top menu to launch Cutback.

Step 3. Select the [Auto Rough Cut] option.

Step 4. Configure the following recognition settings:

1. Range Selection:

   • All: Generate subtitles for all tracks in the sequence.

   • In/Out: Use the in/out points set in Premiere Pro.

   • Clip: Generate subtitles only for selected clips.

2. Language Selection: Choose the language of the video (one language per session).

3. Preview On/Off: Enable preview to see a draft before applying changes.

   • Note: Preview requires encoding. For faster performance, turn it off.

4. Number of Speakers:

   • If each speaker has a separate mic/audio track, assign names per track.

   • If all speech is on a single track, input the number of speakers. AI will identify them by voice.

5. Video Tracks: Assign video tracks per speaker if needed.

6. Additional Info for Better Accuracy:

   • Keywords: Enter names or terms to help with transcription.

   • Script Input: Paste in your script for reference.

Step 5. Click Recognize for Auto Rough Cut to begin subtitle generation.

Creating a Draft with AI

Step 1. Review the Smart Summary to understand the video content.

• This summary breaks the video into chapters and explains each one, saving time by removing the need to watch the full video.

Step 2. Click the Assistant button (top right).

Step 3. Click on the chat window, then either select a preset editing option or type your own custom editing request.

The AI will analyze and understand the video, and based on your selected editing direction, it will generate a rough cut draft.

After the draft is created, you can preview it and decide whether to apply the changes to your original video or submit a new editing request for further refinement.

Example Editing Directions You Can Request via Presets in Chat

1. Remove Retakes: This option deletes sections where the same phrase or sentence is repeated multiple times, typically from reshoots or verbal mistakes during filming.

   • Click the [Select Best Cut] button to preview the repeated segments.

   • From there, you can choose which versions to keep and which to remove, so you're not stuck with the wrong take, or worse, all of them.

     

   
   

2. Shorten the Video: This instruction uses intelligent video trimming to trim parts of the video that are less important. It keeps only the most meaningful or relevant sections to reduce the overall video length.

   • The system will highlight the segments it suggests deleting.

   • If you agree, simply press the [Confirm] button to remove them.

     

1. Remove Silence: The AI detects and removes portions of the video that contain no speech or sound, effectively cleaning up dead air or awkward silences. Silence removal in videos is essential for smooth narrative flow.

   • If you'd like to adjust the length of the silence threshold, click [Open Draft] to open the current version, then hit [Change Settings] to fine-tune silence detection.

     

     
     

2. Remove Filler Words: This cuts out interjections or filler sounds, such as “uh,” “um,” or “like”, that appear in between natural speech. These can be distracting in the final edit and are often removed for a more polished result.

3. Create Shortform Clips: The AI reviews the video and suggests segments that could be ideal for shortform content (e.g., YouTube Shorts, Reels, TikTok).

   • You’ll see the recommended shortform-worthy clips highlighted by the AI.

   • Click [Select Layout] to adjust the visual style and frame size.

   • Then hit [Create Shortform Sequence] to generate a new sequence based on those clips.

   • Add animated captions to finish it off and enhance viewer retention.

4. Edit to Match the Script: If you’ve provided a script, you can ask the AI to use it as the editing reference.

   • Strict Mode: The AI will cut and arrange the video to follow the script 100%. Any parts of the footage that don’t match the script may be removed entirely.

   • Flexible Mode: The AI will use the script as a loose guide. It may leave some off-script content that’s still relevant or valuable.

5. Enter Your Own Instructions: If you have a specific request, just type it into the chat window. For example:

   • Locate all the questions I ask in the video and cut everything else.

   The more clearly you describe what you want—using exact phrases or timestamps—the more accurately the AI can execute your edit.

You can watch a full demo of the chat-based Auto Rough Cut feature here:

💡 Tips for Effective Chat-Based Video Editing

• Try to use clear and specific language. The AI responds best when it knows exactly what to look for.

• Cutback’s Auto Rough Cut currently relies on speech recognition, not full visual content understanding. This means that instructions based on sound, dialogue, or speaker cues are more accurate than those based on visual changes.

• The rough cut generated by the AI is not final. Always review the draft and fine-tune it before applying it to your final sequence.

Step 4. Review the draft. Choose [Apply] to confirm or [Discard] to keep the original video.

Step 5. Click [Apply to Sequence] to implement the changes:

• Create New Sequence: Keep the original intact.

• Apply to Current Sequence: Overwrite the current sequence.

Note: Deletable cuts appear in gray. Changes only apply after clicking [Apply to Sequence].

Explore More Cutback Features To Utilize

1. Top Menu Features:

   • Undo/Redo: Use buttons or keyboard shortcuts u (undo) and r (redo).

   • Time Machine: Revert to the state before you applied changes.

   • Find/Replace: Search and replace words in subtitles (f key).

   • Export Subtitles: Export to .txt or .srt, or copy chapters + timestamps for YouTube.

2. Keyboard Shortcuts:

   • Move between words: w a s d

   • Cut at word: k

   • Cut at sentence: l

   • Faster preview: > (Shift + .)

   • Slower preview: < (Shift + ,)

   • View all shortcuts via the keyboard icon (top-right of the Cutback window)

   

3. Smart Summary Tips:

   • Click a summary to jump to that chapter.

   • Edit chapters directly with the Assistant via chapter titles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many times can I use Auto Rough Cut per month?

A: Currently in open beta, Auto Rough Cut has no usage limit. This may change after the official release.

Q: Can I load previously created subtitles?

A: Yes. If you've already generated subtitles in a sequence, you can reload them using [Import] in the Subtitle Generation & Edit menu or open them via [Check Subtitle File] > [Open Previous Work].

⚠️ Caution: Clicking [Generate New Subtitle] will overwrite previous subtitle files.

Q: I clicked [Apply to Sequence] and received a message saying the subtitle track prevents cuts.

A: Delete all subtitle tracks (i.e., 'Captions' in Premiere). Check inside nested sequences for hidden subtitle tracks.

Q: I don’t like the edit the Assistant created.

A: Feel free to try another prompt, give clearer instructions, or revert using Time Machine.

Q: Line breaks don’t work when I try to edit subtitles.

A: Use Edit Captions Mode to change subtitles. Rough Cut Mode only supports cuts, not line breaks.