What should I use to trim videos to size?

QI have been looking for a free download for a basic video trimmer, but I keep finding that everything I try is not actually free but just a sales pitch for a much more complex version. Can you suggest a free tool?

AYou’re right, Keith – programs like Movavi Video Editor ( www.movavi.com) can be installed for free, but then you’re redirected to a sales pitch and realise you’ve actually installed a seven-day trial.

It’s a similar story on Android and IOS. A couple of years ago I paid £1.76 for the Pro version of the excellent Android app Vidtrim ( www.snipca.com/24759), after getting fed up with the ugly watermark slapped across my trimmed videos by the free version.

There are properly free tools out there, though - for PC and for your tablet and phone. Open-source program Avidemux ( http://avidemux.sourceforge.net) is one, with no adverts and no upgrade option, even if it’s less easy to use than Movavi. Choose a video file on your PC (MP4, MKV and AVI are among the formats supported), use the sliders to choose your new start and end points, and then click the floppy-disk icon to save a new copy. You can also merge videos, add effects and convert formats. The quality of the copy can’t quite match that of the original, but I found the program likeable and no-nonsense - and at 76MB it’s much smaller than many paid-for rivals, including Movavi.

If you’ve got an Android device, try the free new app Timbre ( http://timbre-app.com). Again, there are no adverts and no paid-for versions. It lets you cut videos and audio files down to size quickly and easily. However, be careful - it overwrites the original unless you change the filename when saving. Timbre also lets you convert formats, join files, and add/remove audio from your videos. Do you need our advice on what software to use? Just email us at letters@computeractive.co.uk