Best software for editing .mov files?

So, okay... here's the deal. I've got this video file in .mov format, and I really just want to trim off a little bit from the end... basically just crop it down.
And, well, I was thinking maybe I could add some background music too.
Nothing crazy, though—just something simple.
Does anyone know a good free program I could use for this?
I tried using Windows Movie Maker, but it won't even recognize the format.
I also have Vegas Pro, which I used back in the day—it was actually pretty great, even if it felt a bit more complex—but now it’s being so temperamental. Every time I try to import the clip, the screen just stays black, even though I can hear the audio perfectly fine. So, I can't even get that working to fix the video...

For just about any task you might encounter, Format Factory is always right there. It’s honestly indispensable, I suppose. 😁

I know, I know. I usually stick to it, too. I was actually trying to convert this video into an AVI format so I could finally clean it up in Movie Maker, but... it just won't work! Ugh, I have no idea why. Usually, Factory works perfectly for me, and I can turn anything into an AVI without a single hiccup, but this one? Total fail. It runs for maybe a couple of seconds, and then—bam—that's it. When I try to play it back, it shows the first two seconds and just cuts off. Like, that's the whole thing now.
And the actual footage is several minutes long, not just two seconds. 🤷

Robin Hernandez8 said:I know, and I usually stick to that method too. I was trying to move this specific video into an AVI format so I could finally polish it up in Hollywood, but it just won't work! I have no idea why. I always use Format Factory without any issues, and I can normally convert anything into an AVI file, but this one is being stubborn. It finishes the conversion in just a few seconds, but when I try to play it back, it only shows the first two seconds and then just cuts off. That's it.
And the actual video is supposed to be several minutes long, not just two seconds. 🤷

Try downloading Any Video Converter and converting the file to either .avi or .mp4 before you try editing it in Hollywood.
If it refuses to convert properly—like if you end up with a file that's only 2 or 3 seconds long—it usually means you're missing a specific codec or the source file itself is corrupted.

Robin Hernandez8 said:I’ve been using Vegas Pro for years—it’s definitely more complex than other stuff, but I always loved it—but lately, it’s just acting up. Like, when I import a video, all I get is a black screen and the audio plays fine. So, yeah, I can't even get anything done with it right now..

You should try this... did you actually install QuickTime?

Benjamin King2 said:It ought to work... did you get QuickTime installed?

Yeah, I did... and it usually works just fine. Like, if I have an MP4 file and I want to watch it on an old DVD player that doesn't support MP4, I just run it through Format Factory to turn it into an AVI, and that works every time. But this... it just won't convert. I guess maybe it's because it’s in that MOV format. I don't know, honestly.

If it plays fine in QuickTime and you happen to have the Pro version (though I'm not certain if Pro is even necessary), try exporting it to a different format. Go to "File" -> "Export" -> select something like "Movie to Avi," then hit "Options." Under the "Video" section, click "Settings" if you want to tweak things...

P.S.
In QuickTime (assuming you have Pro), you can define your start and end points. Use those sliders that pop up in the bottom left corner—at the very beginning at 00:00:00—by hovering your mouse over the timeline bar. Once set, go to "Edit," click "Trim to Selection," then follow the usual path via "File" -> "Export," etc. You can even export back to the original format ("Movie to QuickTime Movie").

I really need the pro version for this, but I don't have access to it yet... :/

Mariah Carey! I mean, look, I might actually be able to lend you a hand here, but I’d really rather not make a fool of myself in front of everyone. Perhaps we could try chatting privately through the Democratic Party messenger instead.