How do personal trainers make follow-along workout videos?
Short answer: Most trainers use one of three workflows. Film each exercise once and let software compose the video from a workout plan (the Creator in Fit Cut Pro), film the whole class in one take and let AI add the timers afterwards (the AI Editor), or record with the timer overlay live on camera (the Recorder). All three add countdown timers, exercise names, rest screens, music and branding without a timeline editor, and export an MP4 up to 4K for YouTube, Instagram or a course platform. Plans start at $49.99 per month with a 14-day free trial.
How it works
- 1
Film your exercises or your class
Either 10 to 20-second clips of each exercise for a reusable library, or one continuous take of the full session.
- 2
Build the plan or analyse the recording
Enter sets, work and rest times per exercise, or let the AI Editor detect them in the recording.
- 3
Choose the look
Timer style, colours, font and logo, saved once and applied to every video; 16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for Instagram and TikTok.
- 4
Export
The video renders on Fit Cut Pro servers as an MP4 up to 4K and downloads automatically.
What a follow-along video needs
A visible countdown for every set and rest, the exercise name on screen, a preview of what comes next so nobody scrambles, clear rest screens, music the platform will not claim, and your branding. Doing this by hand in a general editor means placing and syncing every element per set, which is why most trainers give up after a few videos.
Equipment
A phone on a tripod, a plain background and daylight or one soft light are enough. Film landscape for YouTube and portrait for Instagram and TikTok, or export both from the same plan. A green screen is optional; Fit Cut Pro can remove it from exercise clips.
Time and cost
A planned workout composes in about three minutes of work once the clip library exists; a filmed class takes a few minutes of AI analysis plus a quick check of the cues. Fit Cut Pro includes 10, 40 or 100 videos per month for $49.99, $99.99 or $199.99. Hiring an editor is typically priced per video with days of turnaround.
Live classes
The same timer, exercise names and next-exercise preview can run live inside Zoom through the Fit Cut Pro Zoom app, with nothing for participants to install.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need video editing skills?
- No. There is no timeline: you enter the plan or upload a recording, choose a design and export.
- How long does one video take?
- About three minutes of work for a planned workout, a few minutes of AI analysis for a filmed class, plus server rendering.
- Can I reuse my exercise clips?
- Yes. Clips live in your library; name them after the exercise and they auto-match when you type the name in a new plan.
- Which format should I export?
- 16:9 for YouTube and course platforms, 9:16 for Instagram Reels and TikTok. Both up to 4K.
- Is the music safe for YouTube?
- Yes. Every track in the Fit Cut Pro library is licensed for commercial use, so videos are not claimed.