# How do I get started with Viditor?

Canonical URL: https://viditor.app/docs/getting-started
Last updated: 2026-10-13

> TL;DR: Download the DMG, install it and sign in with your email and the 6-digit code we send. Connect the Claude or ChatGPT plan you already pay for, let the transcription model download, then import footage and type the edit you want. Setup takes about ten minutes.

Viditor is an AI video editor for Mac that edits by chat, watches the actual frames, and runs on your existing Claude or ChatGPT plan. Getting from zero to a first edit has three parts: install, AI connection and a first project.

## What do I need before I start?

You need an Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later) on macOS 14 Sonoma or later, an email address to sign in with, and for chat editing, a Claude or ChatGPT plan. Intel Macs, Windows and the web are not supported. Viditor needs a licence: one payment for two Macs, bought in the app or on the [pricing page](https://viditor.app/pricing).

| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mac | Apple Silicon (M1 or later) |
| macOS | 14 Sonoma or later |
| Account | An email address |
| AI for chat | Claude Pro or Max through Claude Code, or ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business or Enterprise through Codex |
| Disk | Room for your projects plus about 490 MB for the English speech model |

## How do I install and sign in?

Download the DMG from the [download page](https://viditor.app/download), drag Viditor into Applications and open it. Type your email and the 6-digit code we send. The full walkthrough is in [Install Viditor](https://viditor.app/docs/install).

## What does the first-run setup do?

A **Set up Viditor** dialog opens on the home view with three steps: **AI access**, **Transcription** and **Demo**.

1. **AI access.** Choose "Use my Claude subscription" or "Use my ChatGPT subscription". Viditor checks whether Claude Code or Codex is installed and signed in, and shows the Terminal steps for whatever is missing. See [Connect Claude](https://viditor.app/docs/connect-claude) or [Connect ChatGPT](https://viditor.app/docs/connect-chatgpt).
2. **Transcription.** Download the English speech model (about 490 MB, once). It runs on your Mac, so audio never leaves it. Other languages use the [language pack](https://viditor.app/docs/language-pack).
3. **Demo.** Open the demo project and ask the assistant to change something.

Every step can be skipped. Editing and export work without chat.

## How do I make my first edit?

Import footage, then type a request in the chat panel. On the home view, **Import footage** starts a project; you can also drag files in. Then try something like:

> Cut the pauses and filler, add bold captions, and put quiet music under it.

The assistant edits the real timeline. Each request undoes in one step with ⌘Z, and you can adjust anything by hand afterwards. When it looks right, [export an MP4](https://viditor.app/docs/export). The **Exports** tab on the home view lists every export, ready for you to upload wherever you post.

## What should I read next?

Start with [Editing by chat](https://viditor.app/docs/editing-by-chat) for how requests, plans and undo work. Then [Captions](https://viditor.app/docs/captions) and [Motion and layers](https://viditor.app/docs/motion-and-layers) cover the parts people adjust most. If something breaks, [Troubleshooting](https://viditor.app/docs/troubleshooting) lists the messages you might see and what they mean.

## Steps

1. Download the DMG from the download page.
2. Drag Viditor into Applications, open it and sign in with your email and the 6-digit code we send.
3. In the setup dialog, connect Claude (through Claude Code) or ChatGPT (through Codex).
4. Download the local transcription model, or let the first transcription download it.
5. Import footage, then ask for an edit in the chat panel.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need a paid AI plan to use Viditor?

Chat editing needs a Claude Pro or Max plan signed in to Claude Code, or a ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business or Enterprise plan signed in to Codex. Manual editing, captions and export work without either.

### How long does setup take?

About ten minutes for most people. The slowest part is the one-time download of the local English transcription model, which is about 490 MB.

### Can I skip the setup dialog?

Yes. Every step in the first-run setup can be skipped, and you can open it again later from Settings → Assistant → Run setup again.

### Is there a demo project?

Yes. The last step of the setup dialog offers to open a demo project, so you can try a chat edit before importing your own footage.

## Related

- [How do I install Viditor?](https://viditor.app/docs/install)
- [How do I connect Claude to Viditor?](https://viditor.app/docs/connect-claude)
- [How do I connect ChatGPT to Viditor?](https://viditor.app/docs/connect-chatgpt)
- [How do I import footage into Viditor?](https://viditor.app/docs/import-footage)
- [How does editing by chat work in Viditor?](https://viditor.app/docs/editing-by-chat)
- [Edit video by chatting](https://viditor.app/features/chat-video-editing)

Download Viditor for Mac (one-time licence, see https://viditor.app/pricing): https://viditor.app/download