Selects works on macOS and Windows as a desktop application. Some of the work happens on your machine and some in the cloud, so your hardware, your formats, and your internet connection all affect how it runs.
Supported operating systems
Selects runs on modern versions of macOS and Windows. Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) are fully supported, though performance on M1 may be slower than newer chips. Macs with Intel processors are not supported. Windows 11 is supported on the Windows operating system.
Supported video codecs and formats
Selects supports most codecs and file formats used across professional video workflows.
Supported codecs: H.264, H.265/HEVC, ProRes, DNxHD/DNxHR
Supported video formats: mp4, mov, avi, mkv, lrv, insv, m4v, mxf, webm
Supported audio formats: mp3, flac, wav, m4a, ogg, aac, aif, aiff
Supported image formats: png, jpg, jpeg, webp, heic, heif, apng, svg
iPhone photos saved as HEIC or HEIF import like any other image. They need the latest version of Selects. Older versions skip these files. SVG, APNG, and animated WebP files also import and play back with the latest version of Selects.
Selects doesn't analyze images, so it can't tell what an image shows. That also means chat can't choose images for your edit. To use an image, add it to your project and drag it onto your timeline like any other clip.
If you're working with a codec or format not listed here, reach out to support. We're expanding codec support regularly based on user needs.
Project limits
Selects applies one length limit, and it is per analysis, not per project.
Each thing you analyze can be up to 10 hours long. For a file that means the file's own duration. For a synced timeline it means the timeline's length.
There is no limit on total footage in a project. A project can hold far more than 10 hours across many files, as long as each one you analyze stays within it.
Note: If a single file or synced timeline runs past 10 hours, split it before analyzing.
Multicam support
If you're shooting with multiple cameras, Selects can sync them for you. You choose which files to sync and whether to match them by audio waveform or timecode.
Hardware recommendations
Your hardware affects how fast Selects decodes, syncs, and exports your footage. Aim for a modern multi-core CPU, at least 16GB of RAM, and SSD storage for footage and cache files. The larger your projects, the more important these specs become.
SSDs matter more than CPU speed for media workflows. A slower CPU with an SSD will outperform a faster CPU with a spinning drive.
Exports need free disk space too. Before an export starts, Selects checks your free space and tells you how much it needs if there is not enough. If Selects detects slow data transfer, such as a slow external drive, it shows a warning.