GTA V PC Rockstar Editor Guide: How to Record, Edit Videos, Add Effects, Audio and Upload to YouTube

Rockstar Editor is an exclusive feature of GTA V PC version, it allows you to create GTA V and GTA Online videos and edit them with cool video effects, audio, text, and markers etc. Then you can upload and share these videos with your  friends or upload to the video sharing service YouTube.

Check out the Rockstar Editor Overview and Introduction Video. 

Let's go through basic features of Rockstar Editor for GTA V PC and How to utilize them:

How to start or launch Rockstar Editor:

Make sure you are in Story mode and pause the game. Go to rightmost tab, 'Rockstar Editor' and launch it.

How to record videos in GTA V PC or GTA Online:

To start recording a video, while playing GTA V perform following steps:

• If you are using a keyboard then press and hold 'Alt' key and if you are using Controller then hold down the D-pad.
• You'll see instructions/prompts at the bottom left of your screen from there you can follow as instructed.
• F1 is Default button on a keyboard to start recording and F2 is to stop recording.

Modes of Recording:

Manual Recording: Start and stop recording during gameplay with the push of a button. Or let the recording roll; clips will continuously record in the background until you press LEFT ALT and choose ‘Save Recording' [F1] or ‘Cancel Recording' [F3]. Saved clips will playback in sequence as continuous action.

Action Replay: This mode allows you to save moments after they have happened. With Action Replay activated, the game will constantly buffer recorded data in the background, but it will not save anything until you decide to create an Action Replay. When a noteworthy event happens you can retroactively choose to capture it by holding ALT and pressing F1 to choose ‘Save Action Replay'.

How to edit GTA V videos in Rockstar Editor:

After you record the video in GTA V, it's time to edit it and make it look impressive and cool.

• Pause the game
• Launch the Rockstar Editor
• Select "Clip Management" and make changes to the clips you've recorded in GTA Online or GTA V Story Mode.

Utilize the following options to Edit your video:

Control Panel

The control panel is present in the top right of the screen, displaying the current clip time, total clip time, and has buttons to Return to the Beginning, Rewind, Play/Pause, Fast Forward, Go to the End, Skip to Previous Marker, Add New Marker, and Skip to Next Marker. Note, this control panel will not be visible when using a gamepad.

Markers

• Clip edits can be made by adding ‘Markers' that you can place anywhere on your clip. These allow you to change numerous variables like camera angles, effects, video speed and more.
• Use the MOUSE WHEEL or LEFT ARROW and RIGHT ARROW to scrub through your clip and find the best places to add markers. With a marker selected, the LEFT ARROW and RIGHT ARROW will control the marker menu.
• Add markers by pressing M at your desired point on the timeline. This will bring up a menu in the top left of the screen with all the available editing options. Choose from different filters, camera angles, audio options, clip speed, and depth of field – all individually customizable to help you create a genuinely unique video.

Anchors

On each marker, there's the option to enable an anchor. If you enable an anchor on a marker, this places an anchor point at the same position on your Project Timeline which you can use to precisely position text or audio. There are three anchor options available:

• Anchor Off: All editing options are available on this marker, but no anchor point will display in the Project Timeline.
• Exclusive: Converts the marker to be an anchor point exclusively so that no other edits can be made to that marker (and any adjustments you have already made will be disregarded). Exclusive markers are yellow on your clip timeline.
• Anchor On: All the editing options are available on this marker and an anchor point will display in the Project Timeline.

Cameras

You can edit the camera angles used in most clips; however, remember you will not be able to edit the camera view in some clips, such as any clips captured in First Person Mode. Clips that have camera angle restrictions will be designated as such while in the Clip Management menu. There are several different types of cameras to choose from:

• Game Camera: The game camera will match the camera movements exactly as they appear while recording the clip.
• Pre-set Camera Angles: There are several pre-set camera angles that lock to the character either at the front, rear, sides or overhead. You can also zoom in and out from pre-set camera angles if you wish.
• Free Camera: This enables you to place the camera independently of your character, but still within a defined area where the action is taking place. You can position the camera to capture a moment of action that is taking place away from your character. Use Look at Target to lock onto your character or Move with Target options to lock the camera onto a target and track them as they move, creating a smooth pan. While using the free camera, experiment with Blend Mode to create dynamic camera movement and transitions.

Effects: 

Different effects can be applied to your footage, with customizable levels of intensity, saturation, brightness, contrast, and vignette.

Depth Of Field: 

A depth of field effect can be added, allowing you to customize what's in focus throughout your clip. You can adjust the type of focus and the intensity of the effect, and also set a focus target so that your settings track a chosen character.

Audio Options: 

Use this menu to adjust the levels of volume for sound FX, dialog and music throughout your clip. It is also possible to set the score intensity level in order to build the dynamic score to a crescendo in a scene or to reduce the pace of the score at any moment.

Speed: 

The speed of your footage can be adjusted to give the appearance of slow motion or speed up the action. Speed will be adjusted between the currently selected marker and the next marker after it.

Thumbnails: 

Capture thumbnail images at any point and apply them to your clips in place of the default thumbnail, so you can easily identify certain clips on your Project Timeline.

Navigation: 

• Cycle between the markers you have placed by pressing [or]. Use the Position option in the Marker Menu to change a marker's location on the timeline.
• Once you've added all the markers you want, press F5 to save your changes followed by ESC to return to your timeline.
• Switch between your Timeline and the Project Main Menu using the ESC key.

How to Add Audio to Videos in Rockstar Editor of GTA V:

After you've added, edited and ordered your clips in your timeline, select ‘Add Radio Track or ‘Add Score Track' from the Project Main Menu to add music to your project. You can choose from both GTAV Radio tracks and original pieces of the GTAV Score.

• Radio Tracks: Choose from a selection of songs from the GTAV radio stations.
• Score Tracks: Select from original GTAV score tracks, each with five variable levels of intensity.

Choose which type of music best suits your project, select it and simply place it on your timeline, using the CURSOR to move the play head and LEFT MOUSE BUTTON or LEFT CTRL and V to place. Use the Skip to Beat function to sync to the beat of the music. You can reduce the length of your audio to fit your clip.

You can place multiple Radio Tracks to your project. If using more than one track in your project, each track must be a minimum of 0:30 each. Use the intensity levels of GTAV score tracks to escalate, diminish and resolve drama or action.

How to upload GTA V recorded videos in Rockstar Editor to Youtube:

Once you have exported a video, you can choose to upload it to YouTube from your Video Gallery.

All videos will be uploaded to YouTube; any videos uploaded as Public or Unlisted will also be linked on Rockstar Games Social Club. You can set your YouTube upload status as Public, Private or Unlisted in the Rockstar Editor tab of the Settings menu. Any videos you upload will use the last defined status.

Video Requirements

• The video must be at least 1 second long
• The video must not be a duplicate of a video that the user has already uploaded, even if titled differently.
• The video must not have a title with restricted language.

User Requirements

• You must have a Rockstar Games Social Club account and be signed into that account when uploading.
• You must have a Google Account with a YouTube channel (this exists by default with most modern Google or Gmail accounts).
• You must connect your Google Account to your Social Club account. This only needs to be done once and can be completed in-game during the upload process.
• Your YouTube account must be verified in order to upload a video longer than 15 minutes.
• You must accept the Rockstar Games and YouTube sharing policies for each upload.
• Your YouTube and Social Club accounts must have the relevant permissions (i.e. not banned for bad behaviour).