Cutback launches Selects to automate video pre-editing

Cutback has introduced Selects, an AI tool for professional video teams that automates multicam syncing, transcription, organization and rough-cut assembly before editors open a project in standard software. The company says the tool can cut editing preparation time by up to 60% on long-form workflows.

Why it matters: - Selects targets the most time-consuming part of many video workflows: pre-editing before creative editing begins. - Cutback says the tool can reduce editing preparation time by up to 60% per project. - The product is aimed at teams working with large volumes of raw footage, where faster organization can shorten turnaround time.

What happened: - Cutback launched Selects, an AI pre-editing tool for professional video production teams. - The software is built to handle multicam footage syncing, transcription, content organization and rough-cut assembly. - The announcement came from Cutback, the developer of the Premiere Assistant plugin, based in Los Angeles.

The details: - Selects performs word-level transcription and speaker identification from a single audio file. - The tool detects topics and visual scenes across a video project. - Selects identifies repeated takes of the same content and selects among them. - The software then produces an organized rough cut for Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve. - Cutback said internal testing and customer feedback showed the biggest time savings in the pre-editing stage. - The product is designed for podcasts, interview programs, documentary projects and other formats with heavy raw-footage loads. - Selects integrates with Cutback's existing Premiere Assistant product. - Premiere Assistant is an AI plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro that handles in-editor tasks including caption generation and filler word removal. - Selects is available on a subscription basis starting at $16 per month when billed annually. - New users can access a seven-day trial. - Cutback made Selects available for evaluation to professional editors working on television and online video productions, including Beast Games and content produced by George Janko. - Editors in that evaluation reported that speaker recognition and footage organization met professional production requirements.

Between the lines: - The launch extends Cutback beyond in-editor assistance and into the earlier workflow stage where editors sort, sync and prepare footage. - That positioning could make Selects more relevant for teams trying to reduce labor on long-form projects before the creative edit starts. - The evaluation use cases suggest Cutback is targeting professional production environments, not casual creators.

What's next: - Cutback is pushing Selects into subscription use for professional editors and production teams. - The seven-day trial gives new users a low-friction way to test the workflow. - The company is likely betting that adoption will come from teams that can quantify time saved in pre-editing.