The AI Workflow: Turn 1 YouTube Video into 10 Viral Reels (Fast)
Quick Answer: Upload your long-form video to Scenith and use the **AI Subtitle Generator** to create a full transcript. Read the transcript to find 10 "golden nuggets" (key moments), then use Scenith's editor to 'Split' those clips, change the aspect ratio to 9:16, and re-frame the shot.
Here’s the painful truth for creators: you spend 20 hours editing a masterpiece YouTube video. It gets views for 48 hours, and then... it dies. 90% of your valuable content is now just sitting on your channel, collecting dust.
The solution is **content repurposing**—turning that one long-form video into 10, 15, or even 20 short-form clips for Reels, TikTok, and Shorts. But this creates a new problem: the manual workflow is a nightmare. You have to re-watch your entire video, manually cut clips, resize every single one, and then manually add captions to all of them.
This guide will show you the new AI-powered workflow that eliminates the grunt work. Using Scenith, you can batch-produce a week's worth of short-form content from a single video, all in under an hour.
Workflow Comparison: AI vs. Manual
| Method | Time to 10 Clips | Cost | Key Feature | Ease of Use | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenith AI Workflow | ~45-60 minutes | Free | AI Transcript Editing | Very Easy | All Creators & Brands |
| Manual (Premiere/etc.) | 4-5 hours | $20-$50/mo | Total Control | Hard | Dedicated Editing Teams |
The goal isn't just to make clips; it's to do it fast enough that you can be consistent. The AI workflow is built for speed and scalability.
Method 1: The AI Repurposing Workflow (Recommended)
This workflow uses Scenith's AI to help you *find* the best moments, and its simple editor to *transform* them at scale.
1. Find "Golden Nuggets" with AI Transcripts
Stop re-watching your 30-minute video. Instead, *read* it.
- Upload Your Video: Drag your entire long-form YouTube video or podcast file into a new Scenith project.
- Generate AI Subtitles: Click 'Subtitles' 'Auto-Generate'. In seconds, Scenith transcribes your *entire* video.
- Read the Transcript: In the subtitle editor, you can now read your entire video. Scan the text for compelling stories, punchy one-liners, or valuable 3-step lists. Copy the timestamps for every "golden nugget" you find.
This step alone saves hours. You can find 10 clips in 10 minutes, instead of an hour of re-watching.
2. Cut, Resize, and Re-frame in Batches
Now that you have your 10 timestamps, it's time to extract them.
- Go to Timestamp & Split: Drag the playhead to your first "golden nugget" timestamp. Use the 'Split' tool (scissors icon) at the start and end of the clip.
- Change Aspect Ratio: Click the 'Canvas' setting and change the aspect ratio from 16:9 (YouTube) to **9:16** (Reels/Shorts).
- Re-frame the Shot: Your 16:9 video will now look small. Select the video clip, and in the 'Transform' menu, increase the 'Scale' until your face fills the vertical frame. Drag the 'Position' to keep yourself centered.
Pro Tip: The AI subtitles you already generated will **automatically re-format** to fit the new 9:16 screen. You don't have to re-do them!
3. Add a Hook & Export
Each clip needs to stand on its own.
- Add a Hook: Use the 'Text' tool to add a new text layer at the top of the screen (e.g., "STOP making this mistake...").
- Export: Click 'Export', and your first Reel is done.
- Repeat: Delete that first clip from the timeline, find your second timestamp, and repeat the split/re-frame/export process. You can knock out all 10 clips in one session.
Learn more about hooks in our 3-Second Rule Guide →
✅ Advantages:
- Extremely fast (finds clips by reading text)
- AI Subtitles auto-reflow for 9:16
- Batch-process 10+ clips in one sitting
- Free and browser-based, no complex software
❌ Disadvantages:
- Requires a good internet connection for upload
- Less complex multi-cam re-framing than Premiere Pro
Stop letting your content die. Start repurposing your videos for free on Scenith today.
Start Repurposing Free →Method 2: The "Old" Manual Workflow
This is the old-school way using complex software like Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.
The Manual Pain Points:
- Find Clips: Manually re-watch the entire 30-60 minute video, writing down timestamps.
- Create Sequences: Create a *new project sequence* for every single clip, setting each one to 9:16.
- Cut & Re-frame: Import the long-form video into all 10 sequences. Find the clip in each one, cut it, and manually adjust the framing.
- Captioning Hell: Manually transcribe *or* use a paid plug-in to transcribe... *for every single clip*. This is the #1 bottleneck.
- Export Queue: Send all 10 sequences to the media encoder and wait.
✅ Advantages:
- Total granular control
- Works offline
❌ Disadvantages:
- Incredibly slow and inefficient
- Expensive software
- High skill barrier (keyframing, sequences)
- Leads to creator burnout
When to Repurpose Content
This workflow is essential for...
Case Study 1: Podcast Creators
Your 1-hour podcast has at least 15-20 "golden nuggets." Use the AI transcript to find them and turn your audio into engaging video Reels.
Case Study 2: Educators & Coaches
Your 30-minute "How-To" YouTube video can be broken into 10-15 "Quick Tip" Shorts, driving new subscribers back to your main content.
Case Study 3: Business & Marketing
That 1-hour webinar you hosted? It's a goldmine. Pull out the best Q&A moments, key stats, and customer testimonials for LinkedIn videos.
Best Practices for Repurposing
🎯 One Idea Per Clip
A short-form clip is not a mini-YouTube video. It should focus on *one* single, powerful idea. Keep it simple and punchy.
🔥 Add a New Hook
The start of your clip might not be "hooky" enough. Add a text layer (e.g., "This 1 tip saved me 10 hours") to grab attention.
📢 Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
Add a simple text CTA at the end. "Watch the full video on YouTube!" or "Link in bio for the full podcast episode!"
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Scenith find the best clips?
Scenith's AI generates a complete transcript. This allows *you*, the expert, to quickly *read* and identify the "golden nuggets" 10x faster than watching.
What's the best length for a repurposed Reel or Short?
Aim for 30-60 seconds. This gives you enough time to establish a problem, provide a valuable solution, and give a CTA.
Will the quality be bad if I zoom in to 9:16?
Not at all! If you shoot your main video in 4K, you can "punch in" or re-frame for a 1080p (9:16) vertical video with *zero* quality loss.
Conclusion
Content repurposing is the single best way to maximize your reach and grow your audience in 2025. The "create once, post once" model is broken.
But this strategy only works if it's sustainable. The manual workflow is slow, expensive, and a direct path to burnout. By using Scenith's AI-powered workflow, you can leverage your AI transcript to find clips fast and use the simple editor to re-frame and subtitle them in minutes, not hours.
Stop letting your best content die. Start repurposing.
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