Sign inTry now
Back to blog
Which Video Editing Software Is Best for Interview Footage?

Which Video Editing Software Is Best for Interview Footage?

Quick Answer

The best video editing software for interviews depends on your goals. For fast, intuitive transcript-based editing, ChatCut is a top choice. It supports nearly 100 languages and lets you edit video by editing the transcript, dragging and dropping lines. ChatCut has an AI assistant that can instantly surface the best sound bites from long interview footage. For more manual, frame-accurate control, tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro are ideal. If you’re looking for features like AI voice cloning, Descript is worth exploring.

Why Interview Footage Needs Specialized Editing Tools

Interview videos are typically:

  • Long and unstructured (can be up to hours of footage)

  • Filled with filler words, silences, and off-topic moments

  • Meant to be condensed into highlights or compelling soundbites

AI-powered tools specialized for editing interview footage help you save time, make editing intuitive and easy, or help extract meaningful clips instantly, without wasting time rewatching the footage.

Top Interview Editing Software (Ranked by Use Case)

Fast & Intuitive: ChatCut

If you’re looking to cut down hours of raw interview footage into a coherent, engaging video without spending days scrubbing timelines, ChatCut is built for you.

Strength:

  • Allows you to edit video by editing the transcript

  • Instantly finds the best cuts using AI — no need to rewatch footage

  • Clean and intuitive transcript-based editing

Key features:

  • Automatic, speaker-separated, time-coded transcripts

  • XML export compatible with Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro

  • AI assistant for rough-cut editing, contextual search, and summarization

  • Flexible timeline editing for precise trimming

Best for: Editors and producers who need to quickly assemble “paper edits”, journalists, marketers, and YouTubers with lengthy interviews.

Why it stands out: Cuts hours of footage down in seconds, letting you focus on storytelling.

Use case: Ask AI things like “Find the most emotional moments” or “Show me the best quotes about resilience”—and it will surface soundbites from across hours of footage.

Manual Precision: Adobe Premiere Pro / Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve

For editors who want full control—frame-level editing, effects, color grading, and motion graphics—traditional NLEs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve are still the go-to choices.

Strength:

  • Full professional control over audio, color, cuts, and effects

  • Industry standards

Best for: Video editors and production teams.

Limitation:

  • Steeper learning curve

  • Manual process for long footage

Other Option: Descript

Descript also offers text-based editing, along with features like AI voice cloning and overdubbing, making it a popular tool for podcasts and voice-driven content.

Key features:

  • Overdub (AI voice cloning)

  • Filler word removal

  • Multitrack screen and audio recording

Best for: Podcasters, YouTubers

Limitation:

  • Its interface can be unintuitive

  • Abundance of features may feel overwhelming or cluttered for users who just want simple editing experience

Conclusion

Final Thoughts

If your workflow involves editing long interviews and you’re looking to:

  • Cut down editing time

  • Collaborate with clients more easily

  • Get rough cut with minimal friction

ChatCut is an ideal starting point—especially for interview-heavy content. Combine it with a traditional editor for final polish, and you’ve got the best of both worlds.