After Effects Tutorial: 1. Basic Editing+; • Replace Footage; • After Effects Composition; • Fade In and Fade Out Audio; • Change Colors; • Fractal Noise; • Speed Up/Slow Down Clip; • Rotate a Video; • Pan and Zoom; • Merge Clips; • Add Audio; • Make an Intro; • Cut Video; • Reverse Videos; 2. Advanced Editing+; • Motion Tracking; • Create the Star Wars Opening Crawls; • Rolling End Credits; • Twirl Transition; • Create Clouds; • Create Vignette Effects; • Create a Heat Distortion; • Remove Objects; • Make Neon Glow Text; • Make Radio Wave; • Make Halftone Effect; • Green Screen (Chroma Key) Tutorial; • Color Grading; • Create Motion Graphics; • 3D Animation; • Create Text Animation; • Make an Animated Logo; • Make Character Animation; • Create a Mask from a Shape; • Make a Kinetic Typography Video i; 3. Resources+; • Birthday After Effects Templates; • Movie Trailer Template; • Instagram Templates; • Lyric Video Templates; • Free Lower Thirds Templates; • Make 3D text; • After Effects Light Leaks; • After Effects Templates; • Free After Effects Plugins; 4. Tips+; • After Effects Tips & Tricks; • After Effects Alternatives; • After Effects Shortcuts; • After Effects VS Adobe Premiere; • Adobe After Effects CS6 for Mac

How to Merge Clips in After Effects Easily

Liza Brown

Dec 10,2019• Proven solutions

Adobe After Effects is not a traditional video editing software, it is mainly a software that is used to add effects to a video that has been processed. However, it can also be used to combine clips using a certain method which is described in the steps mentioned below.

If you want to know how to merge layers in After Effects. In the end, we will also let you know how to merge videos in another way. Continue reading!

Part 1: How to Combine Clips in After Effects
Part 2: Best Free Alternatives of Adobe After Effects

Part 1: How to Combine Clips in After Effects

Merging layers in After Effects is so easy to understand if you follow the steps below.

Step 1: Import videos

Start the program and open the files in the project panel that you wish to combine. Drag and drop each file from the project panel to the timeline panel provided at the bottom.

combine videos

Step 2: Sequence layers

Right click on the video file at the bottom left corner. Select Keyframe Assistant > Sequence Layers. Then a pop-up window will appear. Click OK.

keyframe assistance

Step 3: Export

Then you will find the two video clips are seamlessly mergered together. Now save changes and export.

Part 2: Best Free Alternatives of Adobe After Effects

After Effects because of its limitations as a video editing program is often not recommended for the job, but there are many free alternatives out there that can be used instead for better user experience and improved results. The top 5 of which are listed below:

1. DebugMode Wax

This open source program is an efficient video effect software alternative to After Effects which provides many exciting features such as compositing, 3D text effects, adding motion effects etc.

Features

It can be used as a plug-in to make it more professional
You can merge/combine video in a few steps
You can use partical generator to make more effects

2. Blender

This is an open source program that runs freely on all operating systems including MaC, Windows and Linux. It provides users the opportunity to perform 3D modeling as well as video effects effectively.

Features

Quickly CPU & GPU rendering
It offers various sculpting tools and brushes
Auto and manual VFX tracking

3. Natron

The interface and concepts of this open source program were mainly derived from a previous software called “Nuke”. It is also a video effects and composite software which provides many new features and efficient tools for high speed and maximum quality composite results.

Features

It can even create 5D effects
It is a flexible software to combine videos
It has a powerful GUI software

4. AutoDesk Maya

Maya is a helpful software that allows the users to create 3D models, animations and helps compositors get the job done quickly. It has a very interactive user interface as well.

Features

It offeres an integrated functions
It also can handle combining videos

5. Fusion

As the catchy name of the software suggests it provides thrilling options and features to its users along with plenty of aesthetics in the user interface. It is even referred to the “highest speed compositor of the present market”. It provides certain features such as, 3D modeling, adding effects, stereo sounds etc.

Features

It supports VR and 3D technology
GPU accelerated performance is a plus

Conclusion

Now you must know how to combine videos in Effects. After Effects as a professional video editor is powerful, but it is so difficult to use. However, if you want to have a much easier editing experience, consider Wondershare FilmoraPro to combine videos, which can combine clips in three very simple steps as mentioned below, making the task much more time saving and easy without compromising the quality of the results. You can also make various effects just from dragging and dropping. Download it now to have a try (Free)!

Start the program and import the video files that you want to combine.
Drag and drop the video files to the timeline and simply add transitions if required, or you can just drag videos onto timeline if you don't want to use transitions.
Click export > in-out area, choose various formats you like. Then click start exporting.