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Only FREE video editors are used in this tutorial! The below videos cover each of the basic editing techniques of this article in detail. They utilize three different freeware video editors depending on your taste or needs (FileLab, VSDC, and Freemake). These programs are all no-kidding free and fully functioning programs, with no trialware, no watermarks, and will not ask for money. In other words, you should be able to start video editing soon after reading this article!
Like most people, you probably have a very large library of video clips taken with your digital camera. Unfortunately, they're all very short clips. You've only viewed them maybe once or twice using either your camera, or possibly your computer screen. How can you compile them into a seamless video that can be viewed just about any time that you want on your TV or, better yet, YouTube? To do such, you'll need to learn the basics of Joining/Merging, Splitting & Cutting, and Transitions.
Like most people, you probably have a very large library of video clips taken with your digital camera. Unfortunately, they're all very short clips. You've only viewed them maybe once or twice using either your camera, or possibly your computer screen. How can you compile them into a seamless video that can be viewed just about any time that you want on your TV or, better yet, YouTube? To do such, you'll need to learn the basics of Joining/Merging, Splitting & Cutting, and Transitions.
The first thing you'll need to do is identify the files that you'd like to utilize in your video. If you haven't already done so, download your video files from your camera to a folder on your computer (recommend that "Videos" folder located within "My Documents"?). This is important not just for video editing, but also to ensure that you have a backup of your videos in case something unfortunate happens with your camera's memory card.
Within your videos folder, right-click and create an additional folder for your video project. Identify and drag into that folder all the specific videos that you'd like to combine into a single video. Now we're ready to start editing.
Joining/Merging
Joining/Merging is the first step that would be needed to produce your video. You'll want to combine all your project clips into a single video. This is done using a video editor. Some software may allow you to simply drag them into the program. But others may ask you to load them or add them. Don't worry, this step will be covered in detail in each of the tutorial videos.
FileLab Tutorial, Free and Easy Editor (download FileLab here)
This video is in HD. Click "Full Screen" in lower right corner.
This video is in HD. Click "Full Screen" in lower right corner.
Splitting & Cutting
Your individual clips may also have short sections that you'd like to remove. A particular section might be too jerky. Or maybe someone walked in front of the camera. With most editors, it is easy to identify these specific sections (splitting) and remove them (cutting) from the clip. This is also covered in detail in each tutorial video.
VSDC Tutorial, Basic Video Editing
This video is in HD. Click "Full Screen" in lower right corner.
This video is in HD. Click "Full Screen" in lower right corner.
Note that VSDC downloader will suggest installing additional bundled software along with VSDC. This is why VSDC is free. Carefully read those installation screens and make sure to uncheck or decline any software that doesn't interest you (probably all).
Transitions
Viewing your current combined video "as-is" may be unpleasant as it would abruptly transition from from one clip to the next. We'd like to smooth those "Transitions". Most video editing software enables you to do such. At the very least, we'd like a "cross fade" as one clip would smoothly dissolve into the next. Most software also have special transitions such as flipping or rotating. However, care should be taken as overuse of these special-effect transitions may also make your video appear amateurish. As mentioned, a simple cross-fade is suitable in most cases.
The following video includes a download link for Freemake, the simplest of these free editors. Freemake is included here, as IMO it is the easiest freeware software to accomplish all of the above steps. It will even automatically upload your final video to YouTube, if you so desire. But note that the Freemake downloader will suggest installing additional bundled software along with Freemake. This is why Freemake is free. Carefully read those installation screens and make sure to uncheck any software that doesn't interest you (probably all). In other words, don't just hit Next, Next, Next, or you might install additional programs that you did not want:
Read each screen when installing Freemake
Freemake Tutorial, Easiest for Most Tasks (download Freemake here)
This video is in HD. Click "Full Screen" in lower right corner.
Freemake also requires Microsoft's Net 4.0 to run (if you don't have it, get Net 4.0 here from MS).
Read each screen when installing Freemake
This video is in HD. Click "Full Screen" in lower right corner.
