Getting Started with CutServe

CutServe turns raw match footage into a polished condensed game automatically. You shoot the video, tell the app where players serve from, and it does the rest, detecting every rally, organizing your clips, and letting you fine-tune everything before you export. This guide walks you through the whole process from download to your first reel.

Step 1: Download and Install

Head to cutserve.app/download and download the latest version for your platform.

Getting Started

  1. Download CutServe for your platform from the Download page
  2. Mac: Open the DMG and drag CutServe to your Applications folder
  3. Windows: Run the installer and follow the prompts
  4. Launch CutServe and create your first project

CutServe automatically checks for updates. When a new version is available, it downloads in the background and prompts you to restart; no manual downloads needed.

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Windows first launch: If SmartScreen says the app is unrecognized, click More info, then Run anyway.

System Requirements

  • macOS 12 or later (Apple Silicon), or Windows 10 or later
  • At least 4 GB of free disk space recommended for video processing

Step 2: Create Your Account

CutServe requires a free account to track your projects and export usage across sessions.

  1. On first launch, you'll land on the sign-in screen
  2. Click Sign up to create a new account with your email and a password
  3. Check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link inside
  4. Return to CutServe and sign in

Your account works on the web at cutserve.app as well as inside the desktop app, and the same login gets you both.

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Free plan: Every account starts on the free plan, which includes 3 exports total. You can tag stats, edit clips, and use every editor feature without limits. Exports are the only thing metered.

Step 3: Import Your First Video

From the dashboard, click + New Project. You can bring in footage two ways:

  • From a file: A file picker opens filtered to MP4 files. Select your match recording and click Open.
  • From YouTube: Paste the video link, pick a quality, and CutServe downloads it to your computer before continuing.

Either way, CutServe will create a new project named after your video.

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File format: Local files must be .mp4. If your footage is in another format (MOV, MTS, AVI), convert it to MP4 first using a free tool like HandBrake before importing. YouTube imports are downloaded and converted automatically.
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File location: A local video file stays exactly where it is; CutServe never moves or modifies your source footage. YouTube downloads are saved to your CutServe library on disk.

Step 4: Choose How to Clip

After import, pick a clipping mode for the project:

  • AI Detection — opens directly into Zone Setup, where you mark the four serving positions and let CutServe find every rally automatically.
  • Manual Clipping — skips zone setup and AI processing entirely. You scrub through the footage yourself and mark each clip's start and end, useful if you'd rather multitask than wait on processing. See the Editor Guide for the marking workflow.

What Happens Next

In AI Detection mode, the flow is:

StageWhat you do
Zone SetupDraw four trapezoids around the serving positions
AI ProcessingCutServe analyzes the footage (runs automatically)
EditingReview clips, trim timing, tag stats
ExportRender the final reel or open Broadcast Studio

In Manual Clipping mode, the Zone Setup and AI Processing stages are skipped, you go straight from import to Editing. Each stage is covered in its own guide in the sidebar.