I Built a Free Tool for Creating Shorts Videos
TL;DR: ShortsMaker is a free desktop app that generates TikTok/Reels-style videos from text. Write a script, pick a voice, add backgrounds — the app handles TTS, synced subtitles, transitions, and export. First beta is out now.
The Story
A few months ago a friend was making vertical videos — motivational content and horoscopes. Don't ask. His workflow was painful: generate voiceover in one app, sync subtitles in another, assemble everything in Premiere. For simple templated content it took way too long.
I thought: "Why not help him out?"
So I built a tool that does it all in one place — not just a generator, but an editor where you can tweak AI-created scenes exactly how you want. Then I kept adding features. Then it became... this.
The Problem
Creating short-form video content is tedious. Even a simple 30-second clip requires:
- Writing a script
- Recording or generating voiceover
- Syncing subtitles
- Adding transitions and effects
- Exporting in the right format
Professional tools like Premiere or DaVinci are overkill. Online services add watermarks or require subscriptions. Most "AI video generators" produce generic stock footage slideshows.
I wanted something different: a focused tool that does one thing well.
The Solution
ShortsMaker is a desktop app built with Electron and a custom WebGL rendering engine. Here's how it works:
1. Write Your Script
Type your voiceover text. Or describe your video idea and let AI generate a complete scenario with scenes, text, and overlay suggestions.
2. Pick a Voice
Choose from Edge TTS (free, 100+ voices) or ElevenLabs (realistic AI voices). The app generates audio with word-level timing for perfect subtitle sync.
3. Add Visuals
Select background images or videos. The app applies Ken Burns effects, slow zoom, pan, and other animations automatically.
4. Style Your Subtitles
Karaoke-style highlighting, typewriter effect, bounce, wave — pick a style that fits your content. Colors, fonts, and positioning are fully customizable.
5. Export
Hit render. Get an MP4 ready for upload.
Tech Stack
- Electron — Cross-platform desktop app
- React — UI with Tailwind CSS and shadcn/ui
- WebGL — Custom 60fps rendering engine
- FFmpeg — Video encoding
- Edge TTS / ElevenLabs — Text-to-speech with word timing
The entire rendering pipeline is frame-based. No timeline scrubbing lag. Real-time preview shows exactly what you'll export.
What's Included
- Scene transitions (fade, slide, zoom, wipe, glitch, cube, gradient)
- Subtitle animation styles
- Background animations (Ken Burns, drift, shake, pulse)
- Text overlays with entrance/exit animations
- Background music with automatic ducking
- Multi-scenario workflow for A/B testing
Download
Beta release is available now for macOS, Windows, and Linux:
It's free. No account required. No watermarks.
Working Directories
On first launch, ShortsMaker creates its working folder at ~/Documents/ShortsMaker/ with the following structure:
ShortsMaker/
├── assets/ # Your media library
│ ├── backgrounds/ # Images and videos for scene backgrounds
│ ├── overlays/ # Images for overlay elements
│ └── audio/ # Background music and sound effects
└── temp/ # Temporary files (cache, TTS, exports)
What's Next
This is a beta. Some things are rough around the edges. Planned improvements:
- More subtitle effects and animations
- Template library with ready-to-use scenarios
- Timeline editing with waveform visualization
- Performance optimizations
Try It Out
If you create short-form content — tutorials, memes, educational clips, storytelling — give it a spin. Feedback welcome.
GitHub: github.com/levskiy0/ShortsMaker
Built because I needed it. Sharing because others might too.
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