TCG Machine vs editing every clip by hand
Editing by hand gives you full control and costs the most time. TCG Machine finds the highlights, builds the vertical frame, and drafts titles, descriptions and thumbnails, and you approve every clip. On my own channel I went from 1 to 2 posts a week to 2 posts a day. That's my result, not a promise for yours.
I'm not here to tell you editing by hand is wrong. It isn't. It depends on how much time you have and how many clips you want to post.
Where the time goes
Picture one great fight in a 2 hour stream. Finding it, cutting it, captioning it and exporting it can take longer than the fight did. Do that once and it's fine. Do it every day around a full time job and it becomes the reason clips don't get posted.
Side by side
- Finding the moment. By hand, you scrub through the recording yourself. With TCG Machine, it reads your scoreboard, opens a clip every time your kills or assists go up, and you review them.
- Building the vertical frame. By hand, you crop and position it in your editor. With TCG Machine, it builds the 9:16 frame, either the facecam split or full gameplay on a blurred background.
- Hook and title. By hand, you write and place everything yourself. With TCG Machine, titles and descriptions are drafted for you, and you set where the hook falls and edit the words.
- Thumbnail. By hand, you design it. With TCG Machine, you pick a line or type your own and it goes on the frame.
- Posting. By hand, you upload each one in a different app. With TCG Machine, you stay on one screen: YouTube can be scheduled here, Facebook and Instagram open Meta Business Suite, and TikTok is a manual upload.
- Control. By hand, you decide every frame. With TCG Machine, you decide every clip: you review, change what you want, and approve before anything goes out.
What editing by hand does better
- Any game, any editor. TCG Machine works with League of Legends today. Your own editor works with anything.
- Control of every frame. In your own editor you decide everything. TCG Machine gives you control of each clip, not each frame.
- No new software. TCG Machine is a Windows app, and the site doesn't list a Mac or Linux version.
- It exists today. TCG Machine is in free beta now.
What my numbers say
These come from my build log and my own channel.
- Posting. I went from 1 to 2 posts a week to 2 posts a day, every day since July 15 2026. I still record the same amount of time.
- Finding clips. TCG Machine reads the kill and assist counter on the scoreboard, so it isn't guessing from volume.
- The catch. A hook score is not proof a clip is worth posting. I still review every clip, and so would you.
See what it did for TheCollinsGaming for the analytics screenshots.
Who might prefer editing by hand
If you post once a week, enjoy editing and don't mind the hours, your own editor may be all you need. If you record hours of League and the clips keep piling up unposted, a machine to dig them out is what I built.
You focus on the creative part, we bring it to life. See how it works, check what it costs, or join the beta.
Frequently asked questions
Is TCG Machine faster than editing by hand?
It did the finding, cutting, titling and scheduling for me, and I went from 1 to 2 posts a week to 2 posts a day. That's my result, not a promise for your channel, and you still review every clip.
How is TCG Machine different from other clip tools?
Other tools put every button on one screen. TCG Machine is one step at a time, so you never face every button at once.
Can I still edit clips myself in TCG Machine?
Yes, within the review step. You set where each clip starts, ends and where the hook falls, edit the title and description, and pick the thumbnail line. You approve every clip before anything goes out.
What does editing by hand do better than TCG Machine?
It works with any game and any editor, gives you control of every frame, and needs no new software. TCG Machine works with League of Legends today and is a Windows app.
Does TCG Machine replace my video editor?
It takes the repeat work of finding moments, cutting, captioning and scheduling. You can keep using your own editor for anything else you make.
How long does it take to make a clip with TCG Machine?
Not confirmed yet. We haven't published a processing time.
Does TCG Machine work on Mac?
TCG Machine is a Windows app, and the site doesn't list a Mac or Linux version.
Is TCG Machine out yet?
Yes, as a free beta, and it's open now: join the beta, confirm your email, and you'll get a key and the download link while places last.