The Editing Timeline



Understanding Movie Maker’s InterfaceCompared to other video editing?programs, Movie Maker’s editing interface is pretty basic. Similar to Office programs, it has useful tabs at the top. For example, the Animations and Visual Effects tabs (which we’ll get to later) let you add those options to your files. Similarly, the Project tab lets you modify the video layout, and change your sound levels;?while?the View tab gives you options to make your editing timeline easier to use.If you can’t finish your edit in a single sitting, then save it as a “project” so you can quickly pick up from where you left off.??To do this, click the Movie Maker drop-down menu at the top left, click Save project as, then name, and save it on your PC. When you want to continue editing, simply launch this project on your PC.Importing Your Media FilesThe first step in any editing process is to import the media files that’ll form your movie. To do that in Movie Maker, click Add videos and photos in the Home tab, navigate to the first media file you want to add, then click Open. To?add several files at one go, press?the Ctrl key, select all your files, then click?Open.We’ve previously listed other websites and useful resources?from where can?download copyright-free music, and even free-to-use images.The Best Sites to Download Free Music The Best Sites to Download Free MusicRead More To add music, click the Add music drop-down menu. The first three options in the drop-down menu (AudioMicro, Free Music Archive and Vimeo) take you to websites that let you download royalty-free music or background scores. To add a track from your PC, click Add Music after clicking the drop-down menu, select the track, then click Open.Windows Movie Maker also lets you?record a voice-over or webcam video. If you want to import files from your video camera, USB drive, or memory card, then click the Movie Maker drop-down menu at the top left, click?Import from device and follow the steps to add those files.The Editing TimelineImported files appear as small thumbnails on your timeline (right). Click and drag the black cursor on your?timeline to preview that section in the preview pane (left). Use the spacebar to play and pause the video on your timeline while editing.Click and drag any file to reorder it within your timeline. Similarly, you can select any thumbnail you don’t want, then press Delete to remove it from the timeline. Also, remember that Window’s keyboard shortcuts for Cut, Copy, and Paste all work within in Movie Maker, so you can easily?create multiple versions of the same file.To increase the size of?the thumbnails on your timeline, click the View tab. Here, you can use the zoom options, or use?the Thumbnail size drop-down menu. You’ll notice that your music appears as a thinner section?below your video. Once all your files are in order on your timeline, you’re ready to start editing.Editing PhotosSelect a photo you added on the timeline. The Home tab has options to rotate it. You’ll notice that each of your photos play for seven seconds (Movie Maker’s default time) before moving to the next file.To change this duration, select the photo on your timeline, click the Edit tab, then select another value from the Duration drop-down menu. Do this for each of your photos, then check and confirm you’re happy with?their new durations.Editing VideosEditing videos is where the fun really starts. It’s basically a case of arranging your videos by dragging them across the timeline, then trimming them?to crop out any unwanted parts.What if you want multiple smaller clips from the same (longer) video file? Simply copy and paste the video thumbnail on the timeline to create multiple versions of that file, then trim each version?separately.To trim your videos, you need to define their start and end points. Drag the black cursor on the timeline to the point at which you want to start trimming, right-click your mouse, then click Set start point. Now do the same at the end point, and?click Set end point. It’s as easy as that. You’ll notice that the right-click menu also lets you add other media files to that specific point on your timeline.Editing MusicBy default, your music file is added to the start of your timeline. If you want the music to start a little after your video, select the small musical bar on your timeline, then drag it to where you want the music to start.If the music file is too short for your video, then simply make copies to loop it or add another file. You can trim your music file in the same way you trimmed your videos.Adding a Title, Caption, and CreditsMovie Maker lets you add a title, caption, and credits. You’ll find these options within the Add section of the Home tab. “Title”, for example, appears as a pink section at the start of?your timeline. Type out your video title?in the preview?pane.Click the Format tab to change its text?font, style, and size, and reposition your text box within the window. Like photos on your timeline, titles, and other sections also play for seven seconds by default, but you can?change this duration from the Edit tab.Adding the Finishing Touches With EffectsWindows Movie Maker has a few simple effects that liven up your videos.?The AutoMovie themes section in the Home tab adds automatic transition effects to your video.To add your own transitions between different slides, press the Ctrl key, click to select the files?you want to add the transition effect to, click the Animations tab, then select the effect you want. Similarly, the Visual Effects tab has options (including Sepia, and Black and white), which can be useful?to for?particular slides – for example, to denote a dream sequence.You can also add fade in and fade out effects to your video and audio files. Select the file?on your?timeline, click the Edit?tab, the Fade In?(or?Fade out) drop-down menu, then?choose one of the three options – Slow, Medium, and Fast.There are other ways to enhance your music. Select it within the timeline, then click the Project tab where you’ll see options to boost its?volume, boost the narration, and even fit the slide to your background score.Save Your Edited MoviePlay your entire sequence from start to finish and ensure you’re happy with it.?Movie Maker has many?options to export your edited movie. Click the Home tab, the?Save movie drop-down menu at the top right, then select one of the options. Just go with?For computer if you’re unsure which one to choose.Name your edited video?and select where you want to save it on your PC. Depending on your chosen export format, the number of files and effects you added, and your?total video file size, your edited movie?can take up to a few minutes to save. You’ll see an option to play it using?your default media player when that’s?done. ................
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