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Runway
Runway Editing

Runway Editing

Updated: 2026-05

1. About This Page

This course covers how to use the Timeline Editor in Runway to string together generated shots and assemble them into a short film. We will complete the entire process within Runway without using external editing software (such as DaVinci or Premiere).

2. Why Keep Everything Within Runway?

  • The entire process—creation, editing, and output—is handled entirely within a single tool
  • Eliminates the hassle of uploading and downloading files
  • More than sufficient for video prototyping needs
  • No need to learn how to use additional tools, allowing you to focus class time on production

While there are situations where you’ll need professional editing software like DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro, Runway is usually sufficient for video prototyping.

3. Open the Editor

How to send the generated video to the Editor:

  1. On the Generate screen, click the result video → Open in Editor
  2. Or open an existing project from Projects
  3. For a new project, go to the left navigation bar → Editor → New Project

The Editor screen uses a timeline layout, with a playback preview at the top and video tracks / audio tracks arranged below.

4. Adding a Clip

There are several ways to add clips to the timeline:

  • Drag and drop clips generated from Assets
  • Upload and drop external video files
  • Send directly from the Generate screen using “Send to Editor”

On the timeline, clips are arranged side by side = they play in chronological order.

5. Trimming

Basic steps for trimming unwanted parts from a clip:

  • Drag the ends of the clip to adjust the start and end points
  • Select the clip → Split it using the Slicer (Cmd+B or right-click → Split)
  • After splitting, select the unwanted portion → Press Delete to remove it

You can freely choose to use just the middle 3 seconds or just the last 2 seconds of a 5-second clip.

6. Rearranging Clips

You can reorder clips on the timeline by dragging them.

Before finalizing the order based on the storyboard, it is recommended that you try out several different sequences and compare them to see which one best conveys the story.

Note: If snapping is enabled on the timeline, the edges of clips will automatically align. To make fine adjustments, hold down Shift while dragging to temporarily disable snapping.

7. Transitions

Adding transitions between clips:

  • Cut (default, no effect) — The most commonly used option. For AI-generated videos, a simple cut is usually sufficient.
  • Cross Dissolve (crossfade) — For scene transitions or to depict the passage of time.
  • Fade In / Fade Out — For the beginning and end of a video.

Note: Overusing transitions can make your work look amateurish. The golden rule of video production is to stick to cuts and use dissolves only at key moments.

8. Speed Adjustment

Change the playback speed of a clip:

  • Select the clip → Speed menu
  • 0.5x (half speed, slow motion) to 2x (double speed)
  • AI-generated videos often look more cinematic at 0.7x to 0.8x (Runway’s output tends to be slightly faster)

9. Audio Tracks

The bottom section of the timeline is the audio track.

  • Separate the audio from the video clip (if available)
  • Add background music, sound effects, and narration to separate tracks
  • Adjust volume and fade in/out

We’ll cover the details in the next Audio section.

10. Text and Title

Overlaying simple text on the screen:

  • Add subtitles and titles using the Text tool in the Editor
  • Customize fonts, colors, and positions
  • Easily set up animations (such as fade-in and slide)

Runway is more than sufficient for title cards and end credits.

11. Editing with Aleph

Aleph is Runway’s video-to-video model. It uses AI to re-edit existing videos.

Examples:

  • “Change to a night scene” (change the time of day via text prompt)
  • “Add rain,” “Remove the car”
  • “Change the camera angle” (generate the same scene from a different perspective)

Aleph uses a different workflow from standard timeline editing. You launch it from the Apps menu and then feed the output back into the Editor’s timeline.

This consumes a lot of credits (e.g., 200–400 cr in 10 seconds, depending on resolution). Limit this to only the most important shots.

12. Export

Once you’re done, click Export in the upper-right corner to save it as a video:

  • Resolution: 720p (Free) / 1080p (Standard) / 4K (Pro)
  • Format: MP4 (H.264)
  • Frame rate: Choose between 24 and 30 fps (24 for a cinematic look, 30 for web use)

Outputs from the Free plan include a Runway watermark. The Standard plan or higher is required for final delivery.

13. Example of a Group Production Workflow

A 30-second short film by a group of five:

  1. Storyboard Creation (10 minutes) — Group discussion
  2. Character Image Preparation (10 minutes) — One person in charge of artwork
  3. Shot Creation (60 minutes) — 2–3 people working in parallel; Pro plan shared
  4. Timeline Editing (30 minutes) — One person assembles the timeline in Editor
  5. Audio Addition (20 minutes) — One person handles BGM and sound effects
  6. Export and Review (10 minutes) — Everyone watches and makes adjustments

Total: 2.5 hours. You can complete this at a pace of two 90-minute sessions.

14. What’s Next

  • Audio — Adding sound, using lip-sync
  • Video Prototyping Mindset — The mindset behind prototyping
Character ConsistencyAudio