Using the Panopto Video Editor

Need to make a few simple edits to a lecture or office hours recording but don't want to use a complex video editing program? The Panopto video editor allows you to easily edit your existing videos in Canvas without the need to download the video, edit in a separate program, and re-upload it to your course.

Common Scenarios

  • Highlighting an item from an office hours session for use in the next week’s study materials. You can create a video clip from your office hours recording after it is automatically uploaded to your Panopto course folder (by using cloud recording with your WSE Zoom account) and post the edited version directly to the relevant module, discussion board, or announcement.
  • Creating easier to digest targeted videos using an existing long lecture recording. Sharing short segments of existing videos allows you to easily direct students to the information they need without having to find it in the larger context. 
  • Removing small talk or 'dead air' from the beginning and/or end of office hours recordings.

Trimming a Video

This guide begins in the Panopto Video area of your Canvas course. For information on finding and/or adding the Panopto Video area to the course menu check out our Panopto Video guide.

  1. From the Panopto Video area on the course menu, locate the video you wish to edit and click the Edit button.
  2. This will launch the video in a new window, with the timeline and full editor showing.
  3. When looking at the timeline in the editor, the cut tool should be on by default; however, if it is not, please make sure that it is selected.

    Note: With longer videos you may wish to expand the timeline with the left-pointing arrow next to the cut tool, or use the zoom feature above the timeline to make more precise edits.
  4. To trim the beginning or end of a video, go to that point in the timeline where you want the video to begin or end. A dark-gray edit handle will appear. Click and drag the edit handle to the beginning or end of the timeline. When you're done, you should see sections of the video now greyed out.

    Editing in Panopto is non-destructive, so you can add this content back in later if you need to.
    trimming video.gif
  5. When you are satisfied with the edits you have made, you must click Apply to save your settings.
  6. Your video will be available for review once it is done processing.
  7. You may now exit the editor page and your newly created clip will appear after processing.

Replacing a Video Stream

We do not recommend replacing streams because it can result in content in previous terms/sections being replaced or other odd technical glitches. However, if you decide it is necessary, it is ok as an occasional practice.

If the audio or timing on your file will be changing with the updates you are making and the captions will need to be re-ordered, you should consider whether or not it makes sense to upload a new video file instead of continuing to replace the stream on this existing file.

  1. Find the video you are looking to adjust in Panopto, and hover over it to see and click on the Settings button (gear).
  2. Click Captions and click to display the Caption file data – if the file is anything other than automatic captioning (meaning we paid for human transcription), it should be downloaded and saved to be uploaded when the new stream is uploaded to replace the old one.
  3. Once the caption file is downloaded and saved, delete it from the video.
  4. After saving and deleting the captions, exit the window, and go back to the course folder.
  5. Hover over the video and click on the Edit icon.

  6. From the Edit menu, click Streams, and then click Add Stream.
    Note: Make sure the video file you are uploading has a unique name (such as UPDATED_oldname.mp4 so that you will be able to easily tell your new stream from the original.
  7. After adding the new stream, click the settings for the old stream (3 dot menu) and Delete it so that the newly uploaded stream will become the Primary/only stream.
  8. Then, click on the Captions area of the edit menu. Click the option to Import Captions, and upload the caption file you saved at the beginning of this process.
  9. When you are satisfied with the edits you have made, you must click Apply to save your settings.
  10. Your video will be available for review once it is done processing.
  11. You may now exit the editor page and your newly created clip will appear after processing.

Once you have created your clips you can add them to the relevant areas of your course in the same way you add the office hours recordings, which you can read more about in our article Add Zoom Meeting Recordings to Canvas.

Additional Panopto Resources

Was this article helpful?
0 out of 0 found this helpful