Praise be to Windows 10 for making usable video editing software. Finally, everyone can snip, trim and edit their videotape transfer without having to spend a penny!
"What's more?" I hear you ask.
Well, if you have Windows 10, the editing software is already installed on your computer - search for 'Video Editor' on your Windows search bar (found at the bottom left section of your screen). Once opened, you can begin a new project and give your video a name.
1. How do I select what video I would like to edit?
Once you have begun a new project, click the add button in the 'Project Library' section and find your videos in File Explorer. To select more than one video, hold down CTRL + Select the video.
Next, select the video you want to edit and add it to your storyboard. Bam. You are now ready to edit.
2. How do I get rid of unwanted footage?
The tool you will want to use to delete unwanted footage is 'Trim'. Select the video you want to edit in your storyboard and click on 'Trim' at the top of your storyboard section.
A pop-up editing screen will appear. There are three toggles you can move on the video's timeline to use the trim tool. Above the line, a circular toggle will preview which section of the video you are at on the timeline.
Below the timeline are two more toggles. Drag them to where you would like your video to begin and end:
To check how your video looks, click on the play button at the bottom left of your screen. Then, once you are happy, select 'Done'.
3. How do I edit different sections of the same video?
Tapes are funny little things. Sometimes the chronology of your video is all wrong, or you have stuck a television recording slap bang in the middle of your home filming. To edit different sections of the same video, you will need to split the video into separate clips.
To begin,insert the videotape transfer you want to edit into your storyboard and click on 'Split' in the Storyboard section:
A pop-up screen will come up again. Here you can drag the toggle to where you would like to split the video. You can also see how long each section of the video will be:
Once you click 'Done', you will return to the storyboard where you can select which clip you would like to edit, or you can even change the chronology of your video by dragging the clips left and right.
4. Can I add music to my cine transfer?
Yes! If you want to add your music to your cine films, then Video Editor has a selection of royalty-free music you can use. To add music to your video, click on 'Background Music' at the top of the page.
If you would like to add your own music, click on 'Custom audio' instead. This option will let you add files from your PC. Adding custom music is an excellent choice for those who want to add narration to their video.
5. How do I add text to my video?
You can add either a title card or text to a clip. A title card is perfect for introducing your video, whereas text on the screen means you can add narration or subtitles to your video.
To add a title card, select 'Add title card' in the storyboard section:
A new section will appear on your storyboard. To write your title and edit the background, click on either 'Text' or 'Background'. A pop-up will appear with a selection of different styled fonts and colours you can use.
To add text to your video, select the clip you would like text over and click on 'Text' in the storyboard.
Move the toggles to choose where you would like the text inserted and use the text box to the right to write the message. Select 'Done' when finished.
6. Can I put a filter on it?
Oh yes! Filters are not just an option on Instagram. To add a filter, click on 'Filters' in the Storyboard section.
Next, you can play around with the filters Video Editor offer by clicking on each style. Once you have found your favourite one, click 'Done'.
7. How do I save my video once finished?
To finish and save your video, click on 'Finish Video' at the top right section of your screen and choose where you would like your video to be saved (exported).
Once saved, you can share your videos with friends, family, and social media (don't forget to tag Digital Converters too!)
Do you want your videos to have a more professional touch? Check out our article on finding the best video editing software.
