The Rockstar Editor is a special feature in Grand Theft Auto V that allows players to record, edit, and share videos created from footage in both Story Mode and GTA Online.
This provides a robust suite of recording and editing tools: build a library of captured footage using Manual or Action Replay recording modes, add your clips to the Project Timeline, use Clip Edit mode for new camera angles and fine edits, and bring your project to life.
In addition, the unique Director Mode feature allows you to stage creative moviemaking sequences from a cast of characters ranging from familiar faces from Story Mode, to pedestrians, and even animals.
You’ll then be able to upload your finished masterpiece to YouTube and to the Rockstar Games Social Club to share with friends.
GTA V Rockstar Editor Tutorial
Recording Your Gameplay
You can record gameplay footage while on or off a mission. Use Manual Recording mode to start and stop recording with the push of a button, or save your last few moments of gameplay with the Action Replay feature.
Manual Recording
Hold DOWN and X to activate Manual Recording.
Start and stop recording during gameplay with the push of a button, or let the recording roll; clips will continuously record in the background until you press DOWN and choose ‘Save Recording’ X or ‘Cancel Recording’ O. Saved clips will playback in sequence as a continuous action.
Action Replay
Hold DOWN and SQUARE to turn on Action Replay.
This mode allows you to save moments after they have happened. With Action Replay activated, the game will constantly buffer recorded data in the background, but it will not save anything until you decide to create an Action Replay.
When a noteworthy event happens, you can retroactively choose to capture it by holding DOWN and pressing X to choose ‘Save Action Replay.’
GTA V Director Mode Guide
Stage your own scenes and create custom moments in Director Mode.
Director Mode is an option that, in conjunction with the Rockstar Editor, allows more freedom to create a truly unique video. Choose from a cast of characters to play as in the game world, including story characters, Los Santos and Blaine County residents, as well as animals.
You will be able to trigger a number of actions and phrases of dialogue, spawn vehicles, use cheats, and dictate other variables such as weather, time of day, and locations in the world. While playing in Director Mode, hold TOUCH-PAD to access the Director Mode Menu.
The Scene Creator allows you to create scenes (or stages) by placing props for your Director Mode actors to interact with while you record your clips.
Use all of these tools to create diverse video footage that can then be used in the Rockstar Editor in the same way as footage captured in GTA V Story Mode and GTA Online.
Rockstar Editor: Project Timeline
Create a new Project and use the Project Timeline to add, arrange, trim, and string together multiple clips.
In addition to providing a comprehensive visual of your clip sequence, the Project Timeline lets you edit your clips in full screen, add text, and select from a collection of music from GTAV radio stations.
Create drama by laying GTAV score tracks over your action – switch between five levels of score intensity to seamlessly change the pace of a scene. Fine-tune your masterpiece by adding ambient environmental sounds like rain or city noise for atmosphere, and use one-off sound effects like car horns or explosions to make a scene really pop.
Rockstar Editor: Clip Editing
Bring your project to life with a deep array of editing options, featuring multiple camera modes, including a free camera mode that allows you to move, position, and blend multiple cameras around your scene, camera shake effects, depth of field effects, camera filters, audio mix adjustments, and more.
- Markers: Add markers anywhere on your clip to adjust variables like camera angles, effects, clip speed, and more. Each marker allows for individual customization to create unique edits.
- Default Marker Settings: New markers inherit settings from the previous one, but changes made afterward don’t affect them. To apply a setting across multiple markers, use L1/R1 to cycle through and adjust the same property.
- Copy and Paste Marker Settings: Quickly duplicate a marker’s settings (filters, audio, brightness, etc.) onto another marker using the copy and paste feature.
- Take a Snapmatic: Capture and save still frames from your video to the Snapmatic Gallery by pressing SQUARE.
- Anchors: Add anchor points to markers for precise placement of text or audio. Options include Anchor Off (no anchor), Exclusive (anchor only, no edits), and Anchor On (anchor plus editable marker).
- Cameras: Choose from various camera types - Game Camera (original view), Pre-set Angles (fixed views of your character), or Free Camera (independent control with options like “Look at Target” and “Blend Mode” for smooth transitions).
- Effects: Apply visual effects such as intensity, saturation, brightness, contrast, and vignette to enhance your footage.
- Depth of Field: Control focus in your clip by adjusting focus type, intensity, and setting a focus target to track a chosen subject.
- Audio Options: Modify volume levels for sound effects, dialogue, and music, and adjust score intensity to build or ease dramatic tension.
- Speed: Change clip speed between markers to create slow-motion or fast-motion effects.
- Thumbnails: Capture and assign custom thumbnail images to easily identify clips in your timeline.
- Navigation: Move between markers with L1/R1, reposition them on the timeline, and save edits with TOUCH-PAD. Use CIRCLE to return to the Project Menu or move between views.
Rockstar Editor: Export & Share
Use ‘Save Project As’ in the Project Main Menu to change the name of your project or to save different versions of the same project.
Press TOUCH-PAD to use the ‘Save’ function periodically to make sure you don’t lose any of your progress.
When you’re finished with your project, you can export the full video to your Video Gallery at 1080p.
Review your exported videos in the Video Gallery and publish them directly to YouTube and the Rockstar Games Social Club.
Rockstar Editor: Clip Management
Recorded Clips are named automatically upon saving, in the format ‘Month DD YYYY Clip XXXX’ (e.g., ‘Jan 13 2015 Clip 0001’).
You can visit Rockstar Editor > Clip Management to browse all your recorded gameplay clips, choose favorites, sort them by name, size, and project usage to help you find what you're looking for.
You can preview your clips or delete them to free up more storage space.
Be careful not to accidentally delete any clips that display the 'link' icon, as this means that a clip is used in at least one of your projects.