Embodiments disclosed herein enable a user to generate an audio-visual project. Certain embodiments enable a user to use one of a plurality of predefined templates to generate a project easily and quickly. Other embodiments enable a user to generate a custom project that gives more control to the user, compared to if the user selected one of the predefined templates. Each project includes one or more segments, which may be specified by a user directly, or may be specified by the template selected by the user. An effect is applied to each segment, wherein the effect specifies how many video and audio slots are included in the segment, if any, and can specify one or more other properties of the segment. Projects generated using embodiments disclosed herein can be saved and shared with other users.