Beginners Guide to Video Editing (Start to Finish)
Entertainment
Introduction
Editing videos for the first time can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be frustrating. Building a solid foundation is key to improving your skills and enjoying the process. In this guide, I'll walk you through my five simple steps to editing any video so you can start creating impactful edits today!
Step 1: Get Organized Before You Start
Before you even open your editing software, take a moment to organize your materials. On your computer, create a new folder and title it with today’s date and your video title. For example, “2022-03-15_How to Start a Podcast.” Inside this folder, create separate folders for your A-roll (talking head footage) and B-roll (supplemental footage).
Once your folders are set up, transfer your video files from your smartphone or SD card into the appropriate folders. If you're running low on space, consider investing in an external SSD, like the Samsung T7, to keep your files organized and easily accessible.
Step 2: Setting Up Your Editing Software
Now that your footage is organized, open your editing software. In this guide, we'll be using Camtasia, which is beginner-friendly and doubles as a screen recorder. When your software is open, use the “File” menu to save your project in the folder you created in Step 1.
Import your A-roll footage and drag it onto the timeline in your editing software.
Step 3: Trimming Down Your Footage
Every editing software has a splicing or splitting tool. For Camtasia, you can use Command + T (on Mac) to split clips. While reviewing your video, trim out mistakes, unnecessary pauses, or filler words like "um." A handy tip is to edit in reverse: often, your best takes are at the end of your recording.
As you trim, you can use the magnetic tool to quickly eliminate mistakes, ensuring a polished edit. Continue refining your A-roll until you achieve a concise sequence.
Step 4: Incorporating B-Roll
B-roll is supplemental footage that enhances your main content. If you don’t have original B-roll footage, consider using stock footage. TechSmith Assets, available with Camtasia, offers a vast library of video clips and templates.
To add B-roll, search using relevant keywords, select the clips you want, and import them into your timeline. Mute the audio from the B-roll layer if it’s not needed, allowing the primary audio to shine.
Step 5: Adding Text and Finalizing Your Edit
Text can be a powerful way to emphasize key points in your video. Camtasia offers templates for easy text addition. You can also save presets for consistency in future videos.
After incorporating B-roll and text, watch your edit through with fresh eyes. Look for any remaining mistakes or typos before you proceed to render.
Rendering and Exporting Your Video
When you're satisfied with your edit, it’s time to render the video. Make sure your export settings match the original video quality, especially if you filmed in 4K.
Camtasia allows for easy exporting directly to your YouTube channel, simplifying the process.
By focusing on these foundations of video editing, you’ll find the experience becomes more manageable and enjoyable. Keep striving to improve with every video you create!
Keyword
- Video Editing
- A-Roll
- B-Roll
- Organization
- Camtasia
- Stock Footage
- Text Addition
- Rendering
FAQ
1. What is A-Roll in video editing?
A-Roll refers to the primary footage featuring the main speaker or subject, usually the talking head shots.
2. What is B-Roll?
B-Roll is supplemental footage that enhances the primary content, providing context or visual support to the main narrative.
3. How do I organize my video files?
Create folders for each video project with subfolders for A-roll and B-roll footage. This makes accessing files straightforward during editing.
4. How can Camtasia help beginners?
Camtasia is user-friendly for beginners, offering both video editing and screen recording capabilities.
5. What should I do after editing my video?
After editing, watch through your video for any errors, render it to a chosen format, and then consider exporting it directly to YouTube for efficient sharing.
