How can I make very short mp4s or gifs using something like Quicktime?

January 3, 2023 6:33 AM

I like to make 4-5 second videos and gifs of movies, tv shows, commercials, etc. Can you recommend an easy program I could use that isn't Quicktime?

I like to make 4-5 second videos and gifs of movies, tv shows, commercials, etc. Can you recommend an easy program I could use that isn't Quicktime? I'm using a macbook. I've been using and loving Qt for years but I recently update my OS and now whenever I try to make a video I get a black screen. Apparently now Qt is integrated into the OS (before update I had d/led it and used it for years without problems) but now I can't edit its preferences or uninstall it. I've googled lots of ways around it but none work. I tried d/ling an older version but they also do not work. I don't have Photoshop or anything like it. Appreciate any help!

posted by the webmistress to Technology (9 answers total)

First question: what OS version do you have?

Off the top of my head, the Photos app (built in to the OS) can export to GIF.
posted by emelenjr at 6:47 AM on January 3, 2023

Response by poster: Thanks for your answer, emelenjr. OS is Monterey 12.6.2.
If I'm not mistaken, in order to export to GIF, you have to already have a "live photo" (not sure what that means tbh!) but probably it means a gif or mp4? The short video is what I used Qt to get.
posted by the webmistress at 7:21 AM on January 3, 2023

What were you making gifs and short videos from before the “upgrade”?
posted by aubilenon at 8:15 AM on January 3, 2023

What that help doc from Apple is referring to is Live Photos, which are something that the iOS camera app can do. They are photos that get stored in your Photos library, but they also incude some video frames before and after the frame that makes up the still photo. The Photos app can convert that short video clip into a GIF.
posted by emelenjr at 8:19 AM on January 3, 2023

Response by poster: What were you making gifs and short videos from before the “upgrade”?

Quicktime. Qt = Quicktime. I laughed that you put upgrade in quotes. I wish I hadn't upgraded now, I also cannot use my beloved Picasa anymore. Mad about it!

For anyone else reading this, have I overexplained? Underexplained? I want to watch a movie or whatever up on my macbook, and record a couple of seconds of it. What can I use to do that? Thank you.
posted by the webmistress at 8:44 AM on January 3, 2023

Response by poster: I came across this list, would love if anyone reading this uses any of these and can offer some comments:
https://www.macgasm.net/software/quicktime-alternative-mac/

Also I do not care if it's free, willing to pay for something good!
posted by the webmistress at 8:47 AM on January 3, 2023

Best answer: GIPHY Capture is a simple app that may work for you. No cost. You will have to assign it screen-recording privileges in System Settings when it asks on first run. Then you drag its window to frame what you want to record, start what you want to record some way before your recording point, start recording with GIPHY Capture, then stop GC, then it will show you the GIF.
posted by Mo Nickels at 9:02 AM on January 3, 2023

Best answer: An open source program which captures the screen as video and converts it to an animated gift is LICEcap. If you'll forgive its name, it works similarly to GIPHY Capture mentioned above, and perhaps even better.
posted by Mo Nickels at 9:17 AM on January 3, 2023

Response by poster: Thank you, Mo Nickels! I downloaded both and will play around with them later.
posted by the webmistress at 9:28 AM on January 3, 2023