How to Make Instagram Reels Out of Long Video Reels with AI & Create Them From Scratch

Short videos nowadays are an essential part of almost any social media. One of the most prominent and popular ones is, of course, Instagram with its Reels. Reels have become an instrument for social media marketing in general, grabbing attention with their short, binge-worthy format that almost everyone spends their time watching. Statistically, Reels posts receive 22% more interactions than standard videos on the platform. It is an excellent tool for everyone looking for self-promotion or product promotion, and it has become one of the leading influencer instruments that could be even more important than standard Instagram feeds or stories. This article will cover creating Reels from scratch or from existing videos using both AI and traditional methods.

How to Make Best-Performing Instagram Reels

The key is to find segments that will capture attention quickly. The two main ways how you can do it are either by using an already existing template or a built-in video editor. It is also essential to think through an Instagram Reel, its target audience, and the time when you want to post it. Instagram prioritizes new content and is more likely to show it than some older videos. In addition, the more engaged your audience is, and the more likes, comments, and other interactions your account and the video itself receive, the more likely it is to be shown to a broader audience. You can also pay Instagram to boost your video performance by tapping three dots on the reel and choosing “boost.”

Another option to make your Reel perform better is to follow the latest trends. Instagram really helps with that by suggesting the best-performing templates and trending music. You can also make a duet with other influencers or use hashtags and locations that will lead the target audience to your Reel.

What Is the Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram?

The time to post your Reel varies depending on the target audience. Different sources suggest different posting times, but according to SocialPilot, the best posting time for maximum reach is between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

How Long Can Instagram Reels Be?

There are a few things you need to know about Instagram Reels specifications to make sure your content looks its best on the platform. Videos should be between 3 and 90 seconds long, while the optimal video length to capture maximum attention is between 7 and 15 seconds. The aspect ratio of Reels is 9:16, and a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. However, if Reels are shown in the feed, the aspect ratio is 4:5, which makes it important to keep the critical information in the center so that viewers still see it. For the best quality, the videos should ideally not exceed 15MB. You can use MP4 or MOV files with a minimum frame rate of 30 frames per second.

How to Make Instagram Reels from Scratch

Making Reels from scratch basically requires having some pre-filmed material that you want to put into one short video clip. You can either choose a video with engaging content suitable for a short Reel or look for moments that are visually appealing and interesting in the photos

💡Small tip: Live Photos can be turned into videos, too.

How to Make Instagram Reels from Templates

Every so often, you can come across Templates as suggestions while you are scrolling through Reels, but you can also find them when you start posting. You can easily browse through the available templates, which are either recommended for you (usually based on the Reels you watch) or trending.

They are easy to find:

1. Tap the + button to post.
2. Choose “Reel.”
3. Tap “Templates” at the top of the screen.

Instagram frequently updates its template library, offering various styles and themes. The editing is also relatively straightforward, as the music is already chosen for you, as well as the duration of each Reel element to go along with the template track. So, the whole process is very easy and intuitive.

How to Make an Instagram Reel and Upload It

If you are not satisfied with the templates, you can do the whole editing yourself and have more control over the whole creative process. Instagram's built-in video editor is a great option that allows you to use the track you wish, the number of video parts and their duration, and other editing tools to enhance your video. In addition, you can also use some text functions, effects, gifs, stickers and other tools.

💡Good to know: There are other ways to post a Reel as well. For example, if you wish to film the video right away, you may swipe right on the home screen to switch to the stories’ camera, choose “Reel” on the wheel below, film your video right away, and then proceed with editing.

However, the easiest posting strategy that does not involve any serious editing is posting from the Instagram home screen. Here are 8 easy steps for creating and posting an Instagram Reel made from existing videos:

1. Open Instagram, tap + button for posting.

2. Choose “Reel” on the wheel below.

3. Choose videos or photos you want to add. You can change their sequence at the bottom of the screen.
   

4. Tap the audio if you want to add one to your Reel. The most popular ones are suggested by the app, but you can search for other tracks as well.

5. As the next step, you can add text, gifs, and effects to your video. Instagram also makes suggestions and allows you to choose the aesthetics for your content.

6. Watch the video preview to ensure everything is in order, and choose the cover.
7. Add captions and locations, tag people, and choose your audience and profile display if needed.
8. Save it as a draft to post later, or share it straight away.

Read also: How to Make Facebook Reels: An Ultimate Guide

How to Create Instagram Reels from Existing Videos

Creating Instagram Reels from existing videos is a smart and quick way to raise the reach and engagement rates of your content while spending less time filming something specifically for this Reel. Reels can act as teasers or highlights to draw viewers to your longer videos. This way, you can motivate viewers to visit your profile and watch the full-length version; just leave the link to the original video! It is also great to repurpose your old Reels and photo content to do compilations and recaps to get more views without using extra resources. We know how much time and effort you put into creating each video. That's why it makes sense to get the most out of it. By repurposing your videos into Reels, you can get even more engagement from each piece of content.

How to Generate Instagram Reels Using AI

With AI Video Cut, you can quickly and efficiently create engaging Instagram Reels from existing videos. This tool uses OpenAI tech to help you make Reels without any manual editing. You don’t even need to upload the whole video, only the link is enough. The tool also provides you with captions for the video and the ability to choose the aspect ratio in case you need another social media format. AI Video Cut has two main formats: Trailers and Topics-Clips. You can access both formats via the website, and you just need an email to get your processed files.

The Trailer format shows the most engaging and intriguing parts of your video to attract more viewers. You can also pick the duration of your resulting Reel (Short: maximum 7 quotes, Medium: maximum 15 quotes, Long: maximum 25 quotes). You can always watch the processed video and restart the process if you are not fully satisfied with the result.

The Topics-Clips format lets you create reels that focus on specific topics from your video. AI Video Cut will identify and segment these topics for you. Here you can also select a duration for your clips and specify the number of topics you want to highlight (minimum 1 and maximum 10). The last step allows you to choose the number of topic videos you will get at the end. You'll get one or more videos, each focusing on a different topic from the original video. This format lets you get the most out of your existing content without having to create new footage and attract audiences interested in different aspects of your video.

Let us break it down for you in a step-by-step guide:

1. Visit the AI Video Cut website.
2. Open a video that you want to repurpose.
3. Paste the video URL in the dedicated field.

4. Select the type of video you want to create, such as catching trailers or topic-based viral clips.
5. Choose your preferred duration (7, 15, or 25 phrases).
6. Tap Submit.
7. Click the Download button to save the results straight away.

The results will also be sent to the email you entered upon the signup, so you can download them from there by clicking the link.

8. Then just upload the short videos to Instagram as Reels.

How to Make Instagram Reels Without Using AI

If you prefer a hands-on approach, you can create reels from existing videos without AI. As we mentioned earlier, you can just use an Instagram video editing tool or templates. If you need something more professional for more complex editing, you can use a program like Adobe Express or CapCut. Video editing software interface is usually quite similar in different programs but still requires getting used to.

However, this way, you will have to do everything yourself. After choosing a video that has engaging content suitable for a short Reel, you will need to watch it over and over again to look for moments that are visually appealing and interesting. After that, you will need to trim the video to the desired length, typically 15-30 seconds, focusing on the most compelling parts of the video. Afterward, you could also enhance your reel with effects, text overlays that you will have to write yourself or use something extra to provide you with the captions text and music to make it more engaging.

Wrap-Up

There are lots of ways to create Instagram Reels. You can make them from scratch, repurpose existing videos, use AI tools, or opt for manual editing. Each method has its own advantages, and the best way to do it depends on what you like and what resources you have at your disposal. Some people prefer to have more control over the editing process, while others choose to use tools that make it easier and quicker. You're free to choose whatever works best for you. That way, you can create engaging and impactful Reels to boost your social media presence.