Landscape to vertical, reframed automatically
octuedit converts landscape footage into vertical 9:16, Instagram feed 4:5 or square 1:1 video on your Mac. Ask for a vertical version and it tracks faces, bodies and the main subject with Apple Vision to keep the important part in frame, writing the reframe as keyframes you can adjust. For two people filmed in one wide shot it can stack them top and bottom or follow whoever is talking. Captions and titles stay inside the Reels, TikTok and Shorts safe areas, and you export each shape in 1080p or 4K from the same edit.
Updated 27 October 2026 · By Shivank Goura, co-founder of octuedit
What can you ask for when turning landscape into vertical?
Type the edit you want in plain words and your own Claude Code or Codex carries it out on a real timeline, which you can still adjust by hand. These requests work well for vertical video; each one shows what octuedit does with it.
- “Make a vertical version of this video”Switches the canvas to 9:16 and reframes every clip around the subject.
- “Stack the two of us top and bottom”Splits a two-person wide shot into a stacked vertical layout.
- “Follow whoever is talking”Detects the active speaker and cuts the frame between people.
- “Give me a 4:5 version for the Instagram feed too”Builds a 4:5 version of the same edit, with captions clear of the profile grid crop.
How do I convert horizontal video to vertical on a Mac automatically?
To convert landscape video to vertical on a Mac automatically, use an editor with subject tracking rather than a fixed center crop. In octuedit, an AI video editor for Mac, you ask for a vertical version and it tracks faces, bodies and the main subject with Apple Vision to keep the important part in frame. The reframe is written as keyframes, so you can nudge any shot by hand. For two people in one wide shot it can stack them or follow whoever is talking. You can export 9:16, 4:5 or 1:1 from the same edit in 1080p or 4K, with captions kept inside the Reels, TikTok and Shorts safe area. It all runs on your Mac, with no upload, and the AI side runs on your own Claude Code or Codex. A fixed center crop often cuts people out of frame, which is why tracking matters. octuedit is $99 once.
How does reframing work in octuedit?
octuedit reframes with Apple Vision on your Mac: it finds faces, bodies and the most important part of each frame, smooths the path so the camera doesn't jitter, and writes it as position keyframes on the timeline. Because it is keyframes, not a baked crop, you can drag the frame wherever the tracking guessed wrong.
For interviews and podcasts filmed wide with two people, octuedit can give each person their own half of a stacked vertical frame, or follow the active speaker, detected from mouth movement, one person full frame at a time. Other layouts include side by side, picture in picture, a face circle and blur fill. Captions are placed clear of each platform's buttons and captions.
| Capability | In octuedit |
|---|---|
| Shapes | 9:16, 4:5, 1:1 and 16:9 in 1080p (for example 1080x1350 for 4:5) or 4K (up to 3840x2160); can pick the shape from the footage |
| Tracking | Apple Vision face, body and subject tracking, smoothed and saved as editable keyframes |
| Two people | Stacked split, follow the active speaker, or a mix of both |
| Layouts | Full frame, side by side, stacked, picture in picture, face circle, blur fill |
| Safe zones | Captions and text kept clear of Reels, TikTok and Shorts interface areas |
| Export | MP4 (H.264, hardware encoded), MOV (ProRes 422), WebM (VP9) and GIF |
What should you know about reframing in octuedit?
- 4K exports render from your original footage, never the preview copies.
- You can make vertical, square and widescreen versions from one project.
- Screen recordings can zoom in automatically on what changes.
What are the limits of automatic reframing?
- 4:5 captions keep clear of the profile grid crop and carousel dots, but always check on the platform.
- 4K exports need 4K source footage to look 4K.
- GIF exports stay small (480 wide by default).
Questions
How do I convert a horizontal video to vertical on a Mac?
In octuedit, ask for "a vertical version". It switches the canvas to 9:16 and reframes each clip around faces and the main subject, as keyframes you can adjust, then exports 1080x1920 or 4K.
Can octuedit follow the person who is talking?
Yes. For two people in one wide shot it detects the active speaker from mouth movement and follows them, or stacks both people in a vertical split.
What aspect ratios does octuedit support?
9:16, 4:5, 1:1 and 16:9, each in 1080p or 4K. There is also a Feed post template laid out for 4:5.
Does reframing upload my video?
No. Tracking runs on your Mac with Apple Vision, and exports are made locally.