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Shreya Srivastava
Shreya Srivastava

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I built a free alternative to Screen Studio and Focusee

I was fascinated by the auto zoom effects offered by Screen Studio and Focusee. If you’ve seen modern tutorial videos, product demos, or coding videos on YouTube, you’ve probably noticed the smooth zoom-in effect that follows the cursor or highlights specific areas of the screen. It makes videos look professional and keeps viewers focused.

I wanted to use this feature for YouTube tutorials, presentations, and product demo videos. But I didn’t really like the pricing structure of existing tools. The idea of paying every month for a screen recorder and video editor, when I wasn’t even sure how often I would use it, didn’t feel right.

So I decided to build a video editor of my own.

Introducing RookieClip – A browser-based video editor

I built RookieClip, a browser-based video editor designed specifically for tutorial videos, product demos, and screen recordings.

It sits somewhere between Screen Studio / Focusee and traditional editors like Clipchamp. The goal was to combine auto zoom effects with a multi-track timeline video editor directly in the browser.

You can try it here:
https://rookieclip.com

Why I built this

Most video editors fall into two categories:

  • Simple screen recorders with zoom effects but limited editing
  • Full video editors but no smart zoom for tutorials

I wanted something that could:

  1. Record tutorials
  2. Add auto zoom effects
  3. Add text and transitions
  4. Handle multiple media tracks
  5. Export in high quality
  6. Work directly in the browser without installing software

So RookieClip was built to solve exactly that.

Features

Here are some of the main features currently available:

  • Auto Zoom

Automatically zoom into areas of the screen during tutorials or product demos to highlight important sections.

  • Multi-track Timeline Editor

Edit videos using multiple tracks similar to professional video editing software.

  • Transitions

Add transitions between clips to make videos smoother and more professional.

  • Text Animations

Add animated text overlays for titles, labels, and explanations.

  • Dedicated Tracks for Images and Audio

You can add images, background music, voiceovers, and other media on separate tracks.

  • Multiple Media Per Track

Each track can contain multiple videos, images, or audio clips, giving more flexibility while editing.

  • Export at 1080p

Export your final video in Full HD (1080p).

  • Spotlight Effect

Highlight a specific part of the screen while dimming the rest — useful for tutorials and presentations.

Who is this for?

RookieClip is useful for:

  1. YouTube tutorial creators
  2. Developers making coding videos
  3. Startup founders making product demos
  4. Teachers creating educational content
  5. Anyone making screen recordings or presentations

Final Thoughts

This project started because I wanted a free Screen Studio alternative and a Focusee alternative that works directly in the browser. It turned into a full browser-based video editor with auto zoom and timeline editing.

I’m still actively improving it and adding new features based on feedback and user experience.

If you create tutorials, product demos, or screen recordings, I’d love for you to try it and share feedback.

Try it here:
https://rookieclip.com

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