With over 2 billion monthly users, YouTube has become the go-to platform for uploading and watching video content online. YouTube is home to videos of all lengths – from quick 1-minute clips to full documentaries and lectures spanning hours.
While some videos warrant watching in their entirety, often you may want to download just a specific part of a YouTube video for saving time, storage space, and convenience.
In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll learn how to easily download a segment from any YouTube video using free online tools.
Why Download Only Part of a YouTube Video?
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, let‘s look at the main reasons you may want to download just a portion of a full-length YouTube video:
Save Storage Space
According to YouTube, over 500 hours of video content is uploaded every minute! Downloading videos, especially long ones, can quickly eat up storage space on your devices. Extracting only the most relevant parts of a video saves storage capacity. A trimmed 5 minute clip takes up significantly less space than a 1 hour original video.
Increase Relevance
Many videos on YouTube contain introductions, sponsor messages, reminders to subscribe, and other segments that may not interest you. Trimming out this filler content and isolating only the most useful moments makes the video more engaging.
Share Specific Moments
Long videos often contain impactful but brief moments you want to share with others. By downloading just those short segments, you can easily share poignant, meaningful excerpts via social media or messaging apps.
Create Compilations
Download segments from multiple videos on the same topic and edit them together to create “best of” compilations, sizzle reels, or highlight mixes to share. This lets you remix content.
Customize for Studying
Students and self-learners can extract and collect only the most educational portions of longer tutorial videos for focused studying and practice.
Improve Watch Time
Trimming filler content from videos increases average watch time since viewers are more likely to watch concise relevant clips fully rather than clicking away from dragged out videos.
Fix Mistakes
If the original video has a botched section you want to remove, you can download a segment and re-upload an improved version.
Is It Legal to Download Parts of YouTube Videos?
Before downloading, let‘s address the legality. YouTube‘s terms prohibit downloading full videos from their platform. However, downloading portions of videos utilizing third-party tools for personal offline use falls under fair use laws in most countries.
Just make sure not to reupload edited versions directly to YouTube, sell trimmed clips, or use them commercially without permission, as that can violate copyright. Also be aware YouTube may block certain download tools at their discretion.
For classroom and academic use of snippets less than 20% of the full video, there is wider fair use coverage under exemptions like Section 107 in the US and similar provisions in other regions. Just be sure to check your specific country‘s copyright provisions.
Now that we have covered the key benefits and legal considerations, let’s look at how to actually download part of a YouTube video using online converters.
Step-by-Step Guide to Downloading Sections of YouTube Videos
Thanks to free online video editing tools, downloading a custom segment from any YouTube video is a straightforward process.
Here is a step-by-step walkthrough using the popular online converter Clipchamp:
Copy the YouTube Video URL
First, navigate to the YouTube video you want to download a section from. Highlight and copy the URL of the video from your browser‘s address bar. This is the link you will input next.
Fig 1. Copy the URL of the YouTube video to trim a segment from it
Paste the URL Into the Video Trimmer
Go to Clipchamp.com and click “Trim Video” to open their online trimming tool. Paste the YouTube video URL you copied into the input field and hit enter. This will load up the video on the editor screen.
Fig 2. Paste the copied YouTube video URL into Clipchamp‘s video trimmer
Set the Trimming Start and End Points
Scan through the video timeline below the playback window to find where you want the segment to begin. Click and drag the left blue handle to set the starting point.
Next, play through and determine the end point. Drag the right blue handle to mark where you want the segment to end. The shaded area in between will be the part downloaded.
Fig 3. Click and drag the blue handles to set the start and end points
Trim the start and end points with precision by watching the video playback and using the keyboard shortcut keys:
- Move trim start point: left and right arrow keys
- Move trim end point: A and S keys
- Play/Pause: spacebar
Set the points at logical junctures to avoid cutting someone off mid-sentence. Leave a bit of a buffer at the head and tail.
Export the Trimmed Video
Once you have isolated the exact video segment you want to keep, click the download icon in Clipchamp‘s toolbar to open the export options.
Select “MP4” as the file format, and match the resolution to the source video (typically 1080p or 720p HD). Set the compression/quality higher to minimize loss.
Fig 4. Export the trimmed video as an MP4 file
Finally, click “Export” then “Download” and save the video file to your computer.
And you‘re done! By following these steps you can easily download a segment from any YouTube video with just a couple clicks.
Pro Tips for Trimming YouTube Videos Like a Pro
To take your YouTube segment extractions above and beyond, keep these pro tips in mind:
Pick Optimal Start/End Points
Cutting a video abruptly mid-action or sentence is jarring. Scan a few seconds before/after to find natural start and end points.
Maintain High Resolution
Export the trimmed video in the same HD resolution (1080p or 720p) to prevent quality loss.
Save Frequently
Export and download the video every few minutes as you trim to prevent losing work.
Trim Any Silence
Remove gaps of silence from the start, end, and middle sections to condense the video segment further.
Add Custom Transitions
Fade in and out at the start and end to smoothly transition between clips.
Enhance With Graphics
Consider adding custom thumbnail images, logos, text, subtitles, etc. to enhance the trimmed video.
Boost Engagement
Insert end screens linking to your other videos to help further visibility.
By mastering these editing techniques, you can take downloaded YouTube segments to the next level.
Most Popular Online YouTube Trimming Tools
While Clipchamp is my personal recommendation, here are some other excellent online video converters you can use to download sections of YouTube videos:
| Tool | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Kapwing | Intuitive trimming, meme creation, robust editing tools |
| Videoshop | Multiple trim modes, share videos to social media |
| VEED.io | Trim, edit, and add graphics |
| FlexClip | Animated templates, whiteboard mode |
| Invideo | AI editing assistant, collaborate with team |
Video Trimming Tool Comparison
Based on analysis of the most popular online YouTube video cutting tools, here is an overview of the key differences:
| Clipchamp | Kapwing | Videoshop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trim Mode | Click and drag | Click and drag | Scroll or type timestamps |
| Resolution | 720p free, 1080p paid | 720p free, 1080p paid | 720p |
| Formats | MP4, MOV, AVI | MP4, GIF, video flip | MP4, MOV |
| Watermark? | No watermarks | Kapwing watermark | Watermark |
| Design Features | Basic | Memes, GIFs, stickers | Text, emoji, shapes |
| Use Cases | Basic trimming | Creative editing | Stylized videos |
So while the core video trimming process remains similar across most tools, selecting one with the right mix of formats, resolution, and editing features for your specific use case is key. Test out a few to see which online video trimmer you like best!
Getting Creative with Downloaded YouTube Video Sections
Trimming and downloading focused segments from YouTube videos opens up immense creative possibilities. Here are some ideas to spark inspiration:
Create Video Compilations
Identify the best moments from multiple videos by a creator and compile them into “best of” montages. For example, a funny vines compilation.
Make Tutorial Breakdowns
For lengthy tutorials, extract and combine only the most useful 1-2 minute tips into a condensed “TLDR” tutorial.
Share Significant Excerpts
Instead of sharing an entire 1+ hour interview, highlight a 2 minute excerpt containing the key moment you want seen.
Remix with Music Samples
Isolate an inspiring music performance, remix it with effects, and blend it into original tracks.
Create Reactions and Memes
Turn viral video reactions and memes into easily sharable formats.
Customize Training Content
Learn only the most applicable parts of a tutorial by downloading and replaying segments.
The options are endless! With downloaded YouTube sections, you can reinvent content for any purpose.
Enhancing Your Trimmed Video Projects
The custom YouTube segments you download are just the starting point. Consider enhancing them with advanced editing:
Trimming Audio Precisely
Beyond just trimming the length, carefully edit the audio track to remove silent gaps or unnecessary audio sections.
Adjusting Playback Speed
Use the speed controls to shorten or lengthen your segment by speeding up or slowing down the playback.
Adding Custom Text
Insert timecodes, subtitles, comic book style text bubbles, credits and other customizable text elements.
Changing Layouts
Get creative with picture-in-picture views, vertical stories formats, animated templates, and more.
Inserting Graphics
Enhance educational value by overlaying diagrams, stats, code snippets, etc. Make entertaining videos more vibrant by adding emoji, GIFs, or meme images.
Recording Voiceovers
Add deeper insight and context by recording your own voiceover explanation to supplement the video.
Color Correction
Fine-tune the look by adjusting color saturation, temperature, contrast and lighting to create a stylistic tone.
By mastering these advanced editing techniques, you can transform a basic trimmed YouTube clip into a truly professional, share-worthy piece of original content.
Let the YouTube Video Remixes Begin!
As this comprehensive guide has shown, downloading a specific segment from any YouTube video is easy and opens up endless content possibilities.
By following the step-by-step walkthrough, implementing the pro editing tips, and exploring creative applications, you‘ll be downloading and reinventing YouTube videos like an expert.
Now it‘s your turn! Find moments worth sharing in YouTube videos, trim out the filler, customize with your own flair, mash-up clips, and share your remixed edits with the world.
Just be mindful of copyrights. Avoid reuploading others‘ content directly to YouTube or selling trimmed clips commercially without permission.
Ready to become a YouTube clipping wizard? With these tools, you can captivate audiences by transforming existing videos into snackable shareable content. Get downloading and get remixing!
