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Video Editing Guide – Learn how to edit your videos by adding special effects, soundtrack, titles and lot more.
Once you have finished shooting your video, there are various more features that you can add to your video, to make it look polished & interesting.
You may want to add a soundtrack, or some sound effects, or some special effects to your video.
Besides, you may also want to delete some shots from your video which you think are not needed in your final video.
All this is possible if you have a software to edit video on your computer.
Since re-shooting your video is not an option always, editing the video on your computer gives you that opportunity to further enhance your final video.
Understanding Non Linear Video Editing
Long back in the past, people were happy to shoot movies and then watch them as it is. Then a few adventurous people decided to take it further; they tried to edit their source footages in their quest to make interesting films.
At that time, editing actually meant cutting the films with a razor blade. The unwanted scenes would be removed and then the pieces of film would be attached together using tapes.
This is what Linear Editing is, and all motion pictures used to be edited this way in the past!
Linear editing was never efficient, but video editors at that time did not have much of a choice!
Just imagine the amount of rework that was involved! To perform any additional edit after a video was dubbed, the subsequent video after the edit usually had to be redubbed.
So much waste of time and effort!
Non-Linear Video Editing is much more efficient.
In non-linear editing, you don’t have to edit the captured video in any specific order. You choose to perform the edits in any order you like.
For example, if you want to insert a scene between two existing scenes, you simply have to drag-and-drop that scene in the Timeline, between those two scenes.
The non linear editing software will automatically make the necessary adjustments to make room for the new inserted scene.
All editing software nowadays are non linear editing software.
Main Features of a Video Editor
A Video editing software is actually no different from the numerous software programs you may already have installed on your computer. The only difference being the purpose for which it is going to be used.
The basic principles of any video editor are more or less the same. You will need to start with:
- Understanding the timeline
- How to use it
- How to import clips on the timeline
- How to edit the clips
- How to use the various effects and transitions, and so on.
In the end, what you get is a finished video file.
The first step in home video editing is to import the video file in your editing software. Once that is done you use the various menus & buttons to begin the editing process.
You can now edit and arrange the scenes as you like on the video editing timeline. You can easily delete unwanted scenes using software to edit home video.
You can easily add soundtracks to your video.
You can add titles to organize various sections of your video and give it a professional look.
You can add Screen Transitions. This feature helps you to move from one scene to another in an effective manner, it gives a better effect to your video. All the video editing software packages give you a number of different built-in screen transitions, which you can choose from.
Screen transitions like dissolving, rolling over, breaking into pieces, flying away, etc. to the next scene are part of the standard screen transition in most video editing software.
The best part about learning video editing is that very easy to adapt/use those skills to another editing program.
The basic concepts are similar, doesn’t matter if you’re using Windows movie maker, which is the simplest program that you could ever find, or whether you’re using FinalCutPro, which is one of the most complex products out there used by professionals. They all are essentially laid down the same way.
Things to Look for in a Video Editing Software (Useful Features)
Here’s what you should look at when evaluating the best professional video editing software:
Editing Tools
Professional video editing software goes far beyond timelines, effects and transitions. The best moviemaker programs provide advanced tools such as multicam support, animation tools, color correction and more. These tools allow you to not only arrange audio and video clips in the right order, they also enhance the footage you’ve captured with the camera.
You may already be familiar with some of these tools because of your experience with consumer-level editing programs. You’ll be pleased to find that they work on the same principals and offer a wider range of control and more power than their consumer counterparts.
Special Effects & Transitions
Another important point is the availability and customization of special effects & transitions in the video editing software. Beginners should be ok with the available features in the entry level editing software, but if you are looking for more flexibility & customization of the special effects, packages like Adobe Premiere will be more suitable.
Capture & Playback
The best video editors are compatible with footage from high-end cameras and sound equipment; they’re quite versatile when it comes to capturing footage from various sources. The movie editing software you choose should give you the ability to capture content found in anything from an iPhone to a DSLR or a RED camera.
A better playback image means you can choose high quality shots. High quality rendering gives you a crisper view of the video you are editing. Additionally, the introduction of features such as background rendering and enhanced media organization greatly reduce the downtime associated with video editing.
Remove Unwanted Scenes
This is one of the features that you would be using a lot! No matter how much ever care you take while shooting your video, there would be scenes which you would not like in your final video. You can easily delete unwanted scenes using software to edit home video.
Adding a Soundtrack
All the video editing software programs allow you to use MP3 or WAV files to be used as soundtracks for your video. You don’t have to necessarily use a soundtrack in all your videos but for certain videos it really helps in making a good final product. There are a lot of sample sounds & effects available in video editing software which you can use.
Add Titles
If you have carefully observed the DVD of any movie or an event, you will notice an index like page in the beginning which gives you options to go to different sections within the video directly. The Index page is created by adding titles! Adding titles helps you to organize various sections of your video and give it a professional look.
Adding Screen Transitions
This feature helps you to move from one scene to another in an effective manner, it gives a better effect to your video. All the video editing software packages give you a number of different built-in screen transitions, which you can choose from. Screen transitions like dissolving, rolling over, breaking into pieces, flying away, etc. to the next scene are part of the standard screen transition in most video editing software.
Ease of Use
A professional video editor goes through years of training to learn how to use these applications to their full potential. For them, using all these applications and their features seems to come naturally. However, for amateurs and self-taught editors, they are quite daunting. Each of the products on our lineup has a consumer-grade counterpart that follows the same principals as its older sibling. Professional video editing software should be at least somewhat accessible to those who have a basic understanding of video editing.
Technical Requirements
In general, any video editing software program has to provide / meet some technical requirements like –
- Computer Configuration – Ideal configuration that the computer must have for the editing software to work efficiently. Its specified by the software provider; in general these software require your computer to have top configurations
- Operating System – Is it Mac or Windows that it supports (some will run only on one)
- Upgradability – Does the vendor provide patches for newer versions of the operating system? Does it provide discount when a newer version of the video editing software is release?
- Support – In case you are stuck installing or using the digital video editing software, do they provide a telephone number or email-id where you can reach them?
Best Video Editing Software Programs
Here are some of the best video editing software programs for beginning videographers. All of these are good value for money.
Pinnacle Studio Ultimate (Win)
Whether you’re a beginner or video enthusiast, its now easy to capture, edit, and tell your story with the Pinnacle Studio. You get improved user-friendly drag-and-drop interface which makes it a breeze to create high-quality movies with music, montage themes, transitions, animations and effects. You can easily share your masterpiece on DVD, the web, or upload to YouTube in widescreen.
Sony Movie Studio Platinum Suite 12 (Win)
You can now create movies in AVCHD and stereoscopic 3D, edit the audio in Sound Forge Audio Studio, upload movies to Pixel cast, and burn to DVD or Blu-ray Disc; all with the Movie Studio Platinum Suite. You can use surround sound mixing tools to create 5.1 soundtracks, and add style with the NewBlueFX 3D Titling and Video Effects.
Corel VideoStudio Pro X4
Easier to use and faster, you can not get creative with amazing effects, music, titles, transitions, including new Stop Motion animation and Time-Lapse tools, that you can use with SD or HD video clips. Easily share the videos on iPhone, mobile device, disc, your favorite website or even your Television. With enhanced speed and performance, you can now focus on the creative aspects, without the software getting in your movie-making.
Ulead VideoStudio and Pinnacle Studio Plus are video editing software programs that can be easily learnt & used by beginners. Besides, they also have more advanced features for the intermediate users – something that you can use as you get more experienced.
Final Cut Studio by Apple (Mac, PowerMac, Mac OS X)
Edit, animate, mix, grade, and deliver on a Mac with Final Cut Studio. It includes more than 100 powerful new features. Use new versions of the ProRes codec to edit at high quality with reduced file sizes in a wide variety of workflows. Work with clients or colleagues in real time from anywhere in the world using iChat Theater. Add dramatic 3D graphics, repair common audio problems, and automate delivery in just a few clicks. The leading post-production suite now includes significant upgrades to Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Soundtrack Pro and updated versions of Color and Compressor. It also includes DVD Studio Pro, the industry standard for DVD authoring.
Top Professional Video Editing Software
Here are the top 3 editing software:
- Final Cut Pro X: Apple also recently revamped its signature video editing software. Final Cut Pro X is leaner and faster than previous iterations of the software. The new interface also makes the software more intuitive and accessible to new users. Innovative new features such as background rendering and the magnetic timeline set the standard for future generations of video editing applications.
- Adobe Premiere Pro CS6: This software is the best video editing software available without the need to buy specialized hardware. Adobe redesigned the user interface for this iteration of Premier Pro with the intent to remove all the obstacles in the way of the creative process. The redesign is successful, for the most part, without compromising the tools and features that put this product in first place.
- Sony Vegas Pro 11: Sony’s latest foray into video editing sees marked improvements over their past efforts. All the features and tools needed to create a great video project are present and functional. It has excellent integration with Sony hardware such as cameras and audio equipment. However, it just doesn’t quite live up to the high standards set by Adobe and Apple.
List of Free Video Editing Software
Here is a list of the best freeware video editing software, available for you to use.
- YouTube: We all know YouTube for watching videos, but what most people don’t know is, it has a video editor. And since the likelihood of most of the videos we create for our business will end up here, you should give its editor a try. What this tool lacks in features it makes up in ease of use and deployment. It just has a single track timeline with basic transitions, effects and a simple soundtrack feature, and in most cases that is all people need.
- Windows Movie Maker: Although not supported for the new Windows 10, you can still download and use this long time video editing application. Windows Movie Maker has basic tools that are very easy to use with an interface designed for that very purpose. This application can perform transitions, timeline narration, effects, background music and lets you combine your clips with titles. If you want to quickly edit, add text and post it on your site or social media account, this is it.
- iMovie: This is the free version that comes on Apple computers, but it packs a punch. The latest version of iMovie has a timeline, color correction, contrast brightness and saturation. It also provides a separate editing panel for audio, green screen controls, lowered background noise and sharing options that lets upload your video directly to YouTube, Facebook and other sites.
- Magisto: Magisto uses a technology that analyzes your best photos and video clips in movies. It applies video stabilization, facial recognition, video filters, video effects, and smooth transitions automatically. So it basically does all the hard work for you, and lets you post it easily on the more popular social media sites.
Here are some more options:
PowerDirector (By Cyberlink): Decent Video Editing Software for Android
Android: Let’s be honest. The list of robust video editors on Android has been meager to non-existent for a while. You can do okay casual stuff with Vine or Instagram, but getting serious work done has been reserved for other platforms. Until now.
![zohra sehgal on death](http://www.studiopsis.com/images/powerdirector-android.jpg)
Cyberlink is known in the Windows world as making serviceable video editing software. It’s no Final Cut, AVID, or Premiere, but for the semi-pro, it’s a step in the right direction. On Android, however, the mobile version of PowerDirector shines. You can trim, cut, and split video clips, add transitions, title effects, soundtracks and more.
Unfortunately, the app isn’t compatible with a ton of devices (according to Google Play, this app is incompatible with my Nexus 7 and Moto X), and the UI only seems ideal for editing on tablets in the first place. You also probably won’t be getting much pro-level work done.
For hammering out a more complex edit on the go, though, PowerDirector has quickly become an obvious choice.
Microsoft Movie Maker
Microsoft Movie Maker comes along with windows Vista or above, in almost all the new computers nowadays. It is one of the best free video editing software programs available and the latest upgrades are easily downloadable from Microsoft’s website. Windows Movie Maker has many features to help you create/edit your home videos.
Animoto Video Editor
More than a video editor, its used for creating some cool video slideshows. You can create beautiful videos out of your photos and video clips in just a minutes. Just upload your images/video clips and choose a suitable music, Animoto does the rest. The best part is that it produces a unique video each time. You have several sharing options for the Videos.
Apple iMovie
Another free Video Editing Software which is good but is available only on the MAC operating system…not on Windows. It is the best freeware video editing program for MAC users, but is available free only when you buy a new MAC. Apple iMovie has many advanced features for you to try out.
Avid FreeDV
Another good editing program which includes basic video and audio editing capabilities! Though not as user friendly as Movie Maker/iMovie, Avid FreeDV is till a good option to learn video editing. It is available for both Windows and MAC operating systems.
Top Online Video Editors & Video Makers
Here are some of the popular online video editors recommended for you.
- Pixorial: A very popular site for video creation and editing sites. Its user friendly and has got an intuitive user interface. Pixorial also has an android as well as an iOS app that you can install on your mobile device.
- WeVideo: WeVideo is a shared online video creation tool, which means several people can work on the same project at one time. Another good thing is that WeVideo saves all your projects, complete or incomplete directly to your google drive account. The Android app also allows you to capture raw footage for your projects directly from your phone.
- PowToon: If you want to make a video that will be used as a guide or tutorial, then PowToon is a great website to use. It allows you use a digital version of paper cut-outs superimposed on colourful backgrounds. The only downside is that PowToon allows you to create or edit only 45 seconds of video, unless you purchase the full version.
- Wideo: Wideo is another great site for creating regular videos, animated videos and other videos. You are free to upload you own images, video footage as well as audio files.
More popular online video editing sites include Weavly, Kaltura, MIXMOOV, Shotclip, Video Toolbox, Magisto.
How to create a movie with Windows MovieMaker
Here is a short tutorial on how to create a movie clip using the free Windows MovieMaker, which is a basic video creating & editing software program included in Microsoft Windows.
Windows Moviemaker is an impressive video tool that comes with features such as effects, transitions, titles/credits, audio track, timeline narration, and Auto Movie.
If you understand a bit of programming, you can even take this further. You can make new effects & transitions and modify existing ones using XML code.
So here is how you will go about using the important features of Moviemaker, for your home video production needs.
You begin by capturing/importing the video footage into the program. You can either Capture Video from your camera or you can import video/picture files into the user’s collections.
As with most of the editing software program, the application provides a storyboard view and a timeline view for you to arrange your video clips. You will also find collections for organizing imported video, and a preview screen
It is here where you do all the arranging, trimming and reordering of the clips. The audio bar can be modified to lower, increase, or mute the volume wherever needed.
Once you have your clips on the timeline, you can just play around with the clips. The clips can be duplicated, split, copied, pasted, deleted, trimmed, or dragged to another position. Just use the right click of the mouse and you will see the various editing options.
Using Transitions adds smoothness to your video, as the clips play one after the other.
Windows Movie-maker provides you plenty of transitions, effects, title and credits animations to add some spice to your video. They all can be applied using the usual drag and drop feature.
To access transitions, you can go to Tools and then select Video Transitions. You can preview any transition in the preview window by double-clicking on it.
As for Titles, you have both static i.e. non-animated as well animated Titles. Animated titles include fly in, fading, news banner, or spinning newspaper.
You can add background music or/and narration to your edited video.
The last and the easiest option, is to copy your final video to some media.
Go to the Tasks Pane and choose Finish Movie. You can select one of the various output options – send to web, save to hard disk, and soon.
Computer for Video Editing
The reason a basic computer is not enough for video editing work is because it interrupts the creative process. And above all, it can be really annoying to the video editor.
It is because video is the most demanding of most applications that you will deal with on a computer. In fact, it can be even more demanding than some of the latest video games that are available out there.
On a basic computer, you may apply a transition or an effect or any other command, and it could actually make you wait for 20 to 30 minutes to see what the results look like, if the computer’s configuration is really bad.
Video editing is a creative work, and once you are into the groove you just want your creativity to flow without it getting interrupted for technical reasons.
If you don’t have the right computer, video editing can be very restrictive, very tiresome, and above all, it will be something that you’ll not enjoy at all.
A professional video editing computer has a powerful CPU; the latest CPUs are powerful enough to easily process video files, without putting any brakes on your creativity.
When using professional editing software, a good graphics card (along with a good CPU and lots of RAM) is a must for good performance. You need a top of the line video editing card. You also needs lot of memory.