How to Add Fade In / Fade Out Transitions in Avidemux
Fade in / fade out in Avidemux is done with video filters — and that single fact sets every expectation on this page. Filters only work when the video is being decoded and re-encoded, so Video Output cannot be set to Copy: you must pick an encoder (e.g. Mpeg4 AVC / x264) before any fade option becomes usable. The fade is applied to a time range you define — not necessarily the whole file — and the transition is baked into the exported video.
Most guides on the web (including Filmora’s own comparison pages) treat Avidemux transitions in one vague sentence. This page goes further: where the fade filters actually live, how to place them on exact timecodes using a trick Avidemux forum moderators recommend, the “navigation is locked while playing” gotcha, and how to combine a fade-in from black with a fade-out that holds black at the end.
The one rule: transitions need re-encoding
A fade is a pixel-level change: every frame in the fade range is blended toward or away from black. That means the compressed data cannot pass through untouched, so Copy mode is off the table for the video stream. The practical consequence:
- Video Output = Copy: all video filters are disabled, including Fade. (If yours are greyed out, this is why — see the filters greyed out fix.)
- Video Output = an encoder (x264, Xvid, …): filters unlock. The export takes longer and incurs one generation of quality loss, so pick a sensible bitrate or CRF in the encoder configuration.
If you are fuzzy on the trade-off, read what Copy mode actually means before continuing.
Note: only the video stream needs re-encoding for a video fade. You can keep Audio Output on Copy if you are not touching the audio — or re-encode the audio too if you want a matching audio fade (see below).
Where the fade filters live
Open Video → Filters. In the filter manager, look for an entry called Fade in the available-filters list. Depending on your build it is usually filed under the Misc category, but the exact category name and the dialog’s labels can differ between Avidemux versions and platforms — if you don’t see it under Misc, scan the other categories.
Select it and click Add. A configuration dialog opens where you choose the direction of the fade (in from black, or out to black) and — critically — the start and end of the effect. The units may be frames or a time value depending on the build; the dialog in your build tells you which one it expects.
Key concept: the fade does not have to cover the whole video. A fade-in normally covers only the opening seconds and a fade-out only the closing seconds. If you leave the range at its defaults and it spans the entire file, you will get one long fade across the whole video — almost never what you want. Always set the range deliberately.
The moderator’s trick: place fades on exact timecodes
Eyeballing the fade range with the slider is how people end up with a fade that starts mid-scene. Avidemux forum moderators recommend the precise route instead:
- Pause first. While the video is playing, frame navigation is locked — you cannot step frame by frame or land on an exact point during playback. This is the gotcha that trips up nearly everyone: press pause (or stop), then navigate.
- Use the arrow keys to step to the exact frame where the fade should start (for a fade-in: frame 0; for a fade-out: the frame where the fade begins) and the frame where it should end. The status bar shows the current frame number and timecode — write both down.
- For a fade-out, the end point is usually the very last frame: the total frame count shown in the status bar is your end value. Subtract the fade duration (e.g. 2 seconds × frame rate) to get the start value.
- Enter those values into the Fade filter’s start/end fields, add the filter, and check the result with the filter preview or by playing that section back.
Because the filter only touches the range you define, everything outside the range is exported exactly as the encoder would render it normally — no accidental fading in the middle of the video.
Step by step: fade in from black
- Open your video. Set Video Output to an encoder (e.g. Mpeg4 AVC / x264) and configure a reasonable quality.
- Open Video → Filters, add Fade, choose fade in.
- Set the effect range to the opening of the video: start at the first frame (0), end where the picture should be fully visible — 1 to 2 seconds in is typical.
- Close the filter manager, choose an output container, and save. The first seconds of the exported file now rise out of black.
Fade out to black — and how to hold the black
- Add a second Fade instance, this time fade out.
- Set its range to the tail of the video: end exactly on the last frame (use the total frame count from the status bar), start 1–3 seconds earlier depending on how slow you want the fade.
- Save. The video now dissolves to black and ends on a pure black frame.
Want the black to linger? A fade that ends on the last frame leaves the final frame black, which most players hold briefly — often enough. For a deliberate hold of several seconds, the robust combo is: export the faded video first, then generate a short black segment at the identical resolution and frame rate and append it in a second pass with Video Output on Copy. The appended segment must match the main video’s parameters exactly, or the join will fail — the same rule covered in the join/append guide.
Fade the audio out too
A video fade with the audio cutting off abruptly sounds broken. The fix is on the audio side:
- Set Audio Output to an encoder (AAC, MP3, …) — audio filters need re-encoding just like video filters do.
- Open Audio → Filters and add the fade out audio filter. Depending on your build, the available audio filters and their parameter names can differ; the dialog lets you set the range the fade covers.
- Set the audio fade to cover the same closing seconds as your video fade-out so picture and sound land together.
The same applies in reverse at the head: an audio fade-in paired with the video fade-in makes the opening feel professional instead of abrupt.
When things go wrong
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Fade filter is greyed out / cannot be added | Video Output is on Copy | Select an encoder; see the full fix |
| Can’t step to an exact frame while checking placement | Navigation is locked during playback | Pause or stop playback first, then use arrow keys |
| The whole video slowly fades | Fade range left at defaults spanning the file | Set explicit start/end values in the filter dialog |
| Fade-out ends, then the picture pops back | Fade range ends before the last frame | End the range exactly on the final frame |
| Exported file is much larger / slower than a Copy export | Expected: re-encoding always costs time and size | Raise compression (lower CRF / bitrate) in the encoder settings; see the video filters guide |
Frequently asked questions
Can I add fade in / fade out transitions while using Copy mode?
No. Fades are filters, and filters require the video to be decoded and re-encoded. You must set Video Output to an encoder such as x264; with Copy selected, all video filters stay disabled.
Where is the fade filter in Avidemux?
Open Video, then Filters, and look for the Fade entry in the available filters list. In current builds it is usually under the Misc category, but the exact category name and dialog labels can differ between builds, so scan the full list if you do not see it there.
Why is the Fade filter greyed out or impossible to add?
Almost always because Video Output is set to Copy. Switch to a real encoder and the filter becomes available. A second, subtler trap: while the video is playing, frame navigation is locked, so pause playback before positioning the fade range precisely.
How do I make the video fade out to black at the very end?
Add the Fade filter set to fade out, and set its range to end exactly on the last frame — use the total frame count shown in the status bar as the end value. Start the range 1 to 3 seconds earlier for the fade duration, and pair it with an audio fade-out over the same closing seconds.