What It Does
RoughCut is a Premiere Pro extension that uses AI to analyze raw footage and separate it into three categories: shaky regions, stable regions, and scenes. Once analyzed, you can filter by type, adjust parameters, and insert only the footage you want directly into a sequence. The goal is to handle the tedious first pass of sorting through raw clips so editors can focus on the creative decisions.
It’s worth noting that RoughCut is currently disabled due to incompatibility with recent versions of Premiere Pro. The developer has indicated it will return once updated. Listed compatibility covers Premiere Pro CC 2014 through 2020.
Key Features
Shake detection model. Rather than flagging any fast movement as unstable, the algorithm looks for sudden changes in acceleration. Footage moving fast but consistently is marked as stable. Only abrupt, unintended motion triggers a shake flag.
Scene detection via object tracking. In stable regions, RoughCut tracks objects to identify when the subject changes. A pan from one subject to another gets split into separate scene regions, even without a hard cut. This keeps rough cuts subject-consistent.
Live video regions visualization. Results are displayed as color-coded overlays directly in the panel, so you can see the breakdown at a glance before committing anything to the timeline.
Proxy file support. Works with proxy files, which matters for editors working with high-resolution footage on limited hardware.
Adjustable parameters. After analysis, you can tune the sensitivity of shake detection and choose which region types to keep before inserting into your sequence.
Who It’s For
RoughCut is aimed at editors working with unscripted or run-and-gun footage where camera shake and subject changes are common, such as documentary, event, or travel video editors who regularly sift through large amounts of handheld footage before beginning a proper edit.
Pricing
RoughCut is a one-time purchase, listed at $249.00 (discounted from $299.00). No subscription or free trial information is available. Given the current compatibility issues, purchase is unavailable at this time.