How to Match a Reference Video's Editing Style With AI

A look is hard to describe in words, and “make it punchy” can mean ten different things, so we made it possible to show Ponder the video you have in mind instead. Watch the demo.

Paste a link to a public video, like one on YouTube, Instagram or TikTok, and Ponder matches that video’s pacing, titles, captions, color and audio.

How do I pick a good reference?

Choose a video that’s close to what you’re making, because a talking-head ad and a wedding film don’t move the same way.

If you only want to copy one thing from an unrelated video, like the color, the motion graphics or a specific effect, you can do that too.

How do I change the result?

Use review mode, the way you’d brief an editor sitting next to you. Play the cut and talk through your notes without typing, and point, draw a box or scribble on the frame to show what you mean, like “this title should pop more” or “the color here is too warm.” Your notes queue up so you can give a few fixes at once, and Ponder changes only what you asked about while the rest of the look stays matched.

How do I get my client’s feedback on the look?

Send them a share link. Your client watches the edit in their browser and leaves comments on the video, like “can the captions match the reference more closely?” Then ask Ponder to work through their comments, so you don’t have to copy notes over from emails or texts. More on this in How to Get Client Feedback on a Video Edit With Timestamped Comments.

What else should I know?

• Which links can I use? Any public link works, and you can even point Ponder to your own projects from your editing app on your computer.
• Can Ponder remember how I work? Yes, tell it how you like to work once, and it uses that in your next edits.
• What if I want to keep using the look? A reference is great for one video, but if you’ll keep using it, save it as a style for that client or brand.

Is it free to try?

Yes, there’s a Ponder free trial, so you can paste a link to a video you wish your edit looked like and see what comes back.

If you love it, you can keep going for free by inviting a friend. Click the invite button in Ponder, and your friend gets a free month of Starter, then you get one too once they make and export their first cut.