YouTube to Shorts Converter
Convert a YouTube video into vertical Shorts without editing each clip by hand. Upload your video in the browser or paste its link in the Mac app: AI finds the strongest moments, reframes them to 9:16 and adds animated captions.
Try for freeHow it works
- 1
Add your YouTube video
Upload the video file on the web, or paste a link to a video you own in the app for Apple silicon Macs.
- 2
AI selects the highlights
The full audio is transcribed and scored; the most engaging fragments become clip candidates.
- 3
Review and download
Adjust each clip, approve the transcript and download 9:16 MP4s with animated captions, ready for YouTube Shorts.
YouTube links on Mac
Paste a URL in the Mac app and the video is downloaded and processed locally. The web version accepts a video file.
Highlights, not timestamps
AI understands what is being said and picks moments with hooks — not just loud sections or scene changes.
Captions viewers actually read
Animated word-by-word subtitles are burned in — crucial since most Shorts are watched with sound off at first.
One clip, several markets
Translate output subtitles into 12 languages, so the same source can become Shorts for several audiences.
How to convert a YouTube video into Shorts
Start with a video you own or have permission to repurpose. In the web app, upload the original MP4, MOV, MKV or WebM file. On an Apple silicon Mac, install Wow Cut Video and paste the YouTube URL instead. Choose how many clips you want, select vertical 9:16 output and set the source and subtitle languages.
The converter transcribes the complete recording before choosing any cuts. This lets it find a self-contained hook, explanation or reaction rather than taking an arbitrary section. At review, change the start and end points, fix names in the transcript, reposition the crop and choose the subtitle style before rendering the final MP4 files.
From one YouTube video to a week of Shorts
Shorts are the cheapest way to grow a channel: they reach non-subscribers and funnel viewers to your long-form content. The bottleneck is production — manually converting one video into Shorts takes 30–60 minutes each. An automated YouTube-to-Shorts pipeline changes the math: a one-hour video typically yields several strong clips, produced in minutes.
Wow Cut Video downloads the source (desktop app) or accepts an uploaded file, transcribes the audio with a Whisper-class model, and lets a language model choose the fragments most likely to hold attention. Each clip is reframed vertically, captioned and titled automatically.
Web upload or YouTube link on Mac?
Use the web converter when the source video is already on your device: upload the file, process it in the browser and download the results. Use the Mac app when you have a YouTube link and an Apple silicon Mac. It downloads and processes the source locally, avoiding a second large upload. Both routes use the same highlight detection, transcript review, vertical crop and subtitle styles.
You choose the final cut
Before rendering, review every suggested Short and fix any word in the transcript. Adjust the clip boundaries, reposition the crop around the speaker, choose the output format and change the subtitle language or style per clip. AI proposes the moments; you approve what gets published.
Frequently asked questions
Can I paste a YouTube link into the converter?
Yes — in the Wow Cut Video app for Apple silicon Macs. Paste a link to a video you own or may repurpose. In the web version, upload the source video file instead. Download the Mac app →
How many Shorts can one video produce?
You choose the clip count per run. A content-dense hour typically yields 3–10 strong clips.
What length and aspect ratio will the Shorts have?
Clips are vertical 9:16 by default and are selected within the configured clip-duration range. You can adjust each suggested start and end point before rendering.
Will the Shorts have captions?
Yes, animated word-by-word subtitles are burned into every clip, and you can edit the transcript before cutting.
Do I need to connect my YouTube channel?
No. Wow Cut Video does not need access to your YouTube channel. Upload your own source file on the web or paste the permitted video URL in the Mac app.
Is this YouTube Shorts converter free to try?
Yes. The first video analysis is free and does not require a payment card, so you can review the suggested clips before deciding whether to continue.
Turn your last upload into Shorts
First analysis free — see which moments AI picks from your video.
Try for free