Turn your own recordings into video ads

How to make a video ad in MirrorCut

1. 1

   Upload a recording or two

   A founder talking about the product, a quick demo, a customer testimonial. Phone footage is fine: MP4, MOV, MKV or WebM, plus your logo or product shots.

2. 2

   Ask for the ad

   Say what you're selling, how long the ad should be and the offer. The agent finds the strongest opening line, cuts the story to length and adds captions, graphics and music.

3. 3

   Review and export every format

   Every change is outlined on the timeline for you to accept, revert or adjust. Then export MP4 up to 4K in 9:16, 1:1, 4:5 and 16:9.

What makes a video ad work

Most short ads that perform do four jobs in order. Here's each one, and how to ask MirrorCut for it.

• Hook

  First 2-3 seconds

  Stop the scroll. MirrorCut scores moments by how quickly they grab attention and opens on the strongest line you said, not the first one.

  “Open on the strongest hook”

• Proof

  The middle

  Show why it's true: the product working, a number, a customer in their own words. Cut away to the demo while you keep talking, and put key numbers on screen as animated stats.

  “Show the 3x number as an animated stat”

• Offer

  Before the end

  Give a reason to act now. An offer end card can carry the discount and a promo code.

  “Add an end card with 20% off and the code CREATOR20”

• Call to action

  Last seconds

  Tell viewers exactly what to do next, in words and on screen, with captions so it lands with the sound off.

  “End on “Start your free trial” with the URL”

Video ad sizes for every placement

One edit becomes every version below; each shot is reframed around whoever is speaking. Platforms update their specs, so check the current requirements before you upload.

Your own footage or AI avatars?

Everything an ad needs, in one editor

• Your real footage

  The ad is cut from what you recorded, so it's your face, your product and your words. Stock B-roll or a generated shot can fill a gap when you ask.

• Motion graphics made for ads

  Stats, versus comparisons and offer end cards with a promo code, from over 200 animated templates.

• Captions for sound-off viewing

  Word-by-word animated captions in 48 styles, kept in sync through every cut.

• Music and sound effects

  A music bed from commercially licensed libraries, ducked under the voice, and sound effects on the graphics, on by default for ads.

• Every placement from one edit

  9:16, 1:1, 4:5 and 16:9 versions from the same edit, each reframed around the speaker.

• Your brand

  Brand kits keep your fonts, colours and logo on every graphic and caption.

See everything you can ask MirrorCut →

Guides

• Founder-led video ads: how to record and edit oneHow to make a founder-led video ad: what to say, how to record it without a script, and how to cut it into ads that open on the problem, with formats to try.
• Video ad hooks: 30 examples, and how to find yours30 video ad hook examples by type (problem, result, question, contrast, proof), and how to find the strongest hook already in your own recording.
• How to write a video ad scriptHow to write a video ad script: hook, problem, product, proof and call to action, with a template, word counts by length and tips to sound natural.
• How to make a product demo video adHow to turn a product demo into a video ad: one job, the result first, the waiting cut, proof and one next step. Structure, recording tips and mistakes.

Free tools

No sign-up; they run in your browser.

• Video ad script timerPaste a video ad script and see how long it takes to say, whether it fits 6, 15, 30 or 60 seconds, and how many words each length allows.
• Video aspect ratio calculatorEnter your video's size to see its aspect ratio, the largest crop for 9:16, 4:5, 1:1 and 16:9, and the standard HD and 4K output sizes for each.

Questions about making video ads

What is an ad video editor?

A video editor for ads, sometimes called a video ad maker: short videos with a hook, a message, an offer and a call to action, exported in the sizes each ad platform uses. MirrorCut is an AI ad video editor: you upload your own recordings and its agent edits them into the ad, with every change reviewable on a timeline.

Can I make an ad from phone footage?

Yes. Upload what you recorded on your phone, and the agent cuts it into an ad with captions, graphics and music. Talking straight to the camera about your product is often enough.

How long should a video ad be?

Common lengths are 15, 30 and 60 seconds, and short-form placements like Reels, TikTok and Shorts favour the shorter end. Ask MirrorCut for several lengths from the same recordings and test which performs best.

Do I need a script or AI avatars?

No. MirrorCut works from what you've already recorded and doesn't use AI actors. If you'd rather generate an ad without recording anything, an AI avatar tool is the better fit.

Can I make several versions of the same ad?

Yes. Ask for different lengths, hooks or formats from the same recordings; each version is its own editable timeline.

What does it cost?

Every account starts with 7 days of Creator free (a card is required). After that, Creator is $10, Pro is $30, Studio is $60 a month, and every yearly payment adds 50 bonus AI credits.