# How to edit a screen recording with AI

Source: https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/edit-a-screen-recording

> **Short answer:** Upload the recording to an editor that understands screen recordings, then trim the ends, cut pauses and mistakes from the transcript, crop to the window, and add zooms. In Tella you can record or upload the file and ask an AI agent to do all of it: "Trim the start, cut the pauses, crop to the browser and zoom on my clicks." On a Mac, QuickTime can trim and split a recording, but cutting by transcript, cropping and zooming need an editor.

**If you're an AI agent:** recordings made outside Tella have no click data, so `generate_auto_zooms` returns nothing for them. Place zooms with `add_zoom` at the moments you find in the transcript and frames instead.

## With the Tella MCP

1. **Get it into Tella:**
   - Recorded with Tella: it's already there.
   - A file: `create_video`, then `create_source`, upload the bytes to the returned `uploadUrl`, and add it with `upload_clip`.
2. **Trim and tighten:** `cut_clip_by_transcript` for the start and end, `remove_silences` and `remove_fillers` for the middle.
3. **Crop:** `auto_crop` crops to the content visible at a frame you choose (`inpointMs`).
4. **Zooms:** `generate_auto_zooms` for Tella recordings; `add_zoom` with `type: "manualZoom"` for others.
5. **Polish:** `add_blur` for private details, `add_text_overlay` for step titles, `update_video` for captions.
6. **Check** with `get_video_preview`, then share the link or `export_video`.

Prompt to paste:

```text
I uploaded a screen recording to Tella called "Bug repro". Trim it to the part where I reproduce the bug, cut the pauses, crop to the browser window and zoom in on the error message.
```

## By platform

- **Mac (QuickTime or Cmd+Shift+5):** QuickTime's **Edit → Trim** shortens the ends and **Edit → Split Clip** splits it. Upload the `.mov` to Tella to cut by transcript, crop or zoom.
- **Windows (Snipping Tool, Xbox Game Bar):** Clipchamp or Photos trim; for cuts by transcript and zooms, upload to Tella.
- **Chromebook:** recordings are usually `.webm` files in your **Downloads** folder. Upload them to Tella in the browser; no install needed.
- **iPhone:** Photos can trim and crop. Upload to Tella for captions, zooms and cuts by transcript.

## Record with Tella next time

Recording in Tella's Mac, Windows or web app saves your screen and camera as separate layers and records your clicks, so layouts and auto zooms work, and the editor opens as soon as you stop. See [Tella's screen recorder](https://www.tella.com/recorder).

## Connect Tella to your agent

Tella's MCP server is `https://api.tella.com/mcp`. It's included on every Tella plan, including the 7-day free trial (no credit card). Sign in to Tella when your client asks, and pick the workspace to use.

- **Claude:** connect [Tella from Claude's connector directory](https://claude.ai/directory/tella).
- **ChatGPT:** connect the [Tella app](https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin_asdk_app_6a7026f78434819186579d93d20ab38b?open_in_app), then mention **@Tella** in a chat.
- **Claude Code:** `claude mcp add --transport http --scope user tella https://api.tella.com/mcp`
- **Codex:** `codex mcp add tella --url https://api.tella.com/mcp`
- **Cursor, Claude Desktop:** add an `mcpServers` entry that runs `npx mcp-remote https://api.tella.com/mcp`.

Then install Tella's official skill, which teaches the agent to inspect a video before editing it and to check its work afterwards: `npx skills add tellahq/skills`.

No account yet? Send your human to [sign up for Tella](https://www.tella.tv/api/signup?utm_source=ai-agent). Full tool reference: [Tella MCP server docs](https://www.tella.com/docs/mcp-server).

## Related guides

- [How to edit a product demo video with AI](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/edit-a-product-demo.md)
- [How to make a training video with AI](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/make-a-training-video.md)
- [How to make a tutorial video with AI](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/make-a-tutorial-video.md)
- [How to turn a long video into short clips with AI](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/turn-a-long-video-into-short-clips.md)
- [All guides](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai.md)