OpenExport

Export OpenCut projects locally with FFmpeg. Import a project backup, preview the timeline with audio, and save the finished video from the local app or command line.

Get started

You need Linux, Node.js 22 or newer, npm, and FFmpeg with ffprobe. Install the fonts used in your project. NVIDIA acceleration is optional.

git clone https://github.com/reav4nn/openexport.git
cd openexport/opencut-renderer
npm ci
npm run build
cd ..
./openexport

Open localhost:4173, import your .tar project backup, choose the export settings, and click Export video. Finished files are saved in outputs/. Keep the local app running until the export completes.

You can also download the source with Code → Download ZIP, extract it, and run the same commands starting at cd openexport-master/opencut-renderer.

Get your project file

The project lives in the browser where you edited it. Use the backup guide to download a .tar containing the project and its media, then import that file into OpenExport.

The guide includes a storage-backup script for classic OpenCut, instructions for existing ZIP/TGZ backups, and common import errors. The GitHub source ZIP is the application, not your project backup.

Command line

./opencut-render project.tar -o output.mp4
./opencut-render project.tar -o output.mp4 --acceleration nvidia
./opencut-render project.tar -o output.webm --codec vp9

The default is H.264 with AAC audio at the project's resolution and frame rate. Existing output files and the original backup are never overwritten.

Compatibility

Supports classic OpenCut schemas 28 to 31: video, images, local audio, trim, track ordering, volume, transforms, opacity, text, constant speed, and selected animations. Unsupported effects, transitions, and other unsupported fields stop export with an explanation.

Preview playback uses small native-rendered chunks with audio. It can buffer on complex sections. Final exports use the chosen quality and resolution. OpenExport is an export app; it does not edit the timeline.

Use Ctrl + scroll to zoom the timeline, Shift + scroll to move horizontally, or the zoom slider. On macOS keyboards, Command also works for zoom. The zoom controller and ruler calculations are reused from OpenCut classic.

See usage and supported features, performance, and validation for details. OpenExport is independent of OpenCut.

Development

cd opencut-renderer
npm run build
npm run fixtures
npm test

Browser tests cover importing, timeline playback, exports, cancellation, and downloads. The source audit documents the OpenCut implementations used by the renderer.