Chapter 4

How To Edit

Level 2

4.4 How Do I Edit In Windows Movie Maker?

Swap between timeline and storyboard view

Click on the "Show timeline/storyboard" button above the timeline. Changing from timeline to storyboard view allows a wider overall view when moving your clips around. This is about all it is good for!

Scroll and zoom

You can move the content of the windows around using the "scroll" bars next to them. You can zoom in or out of the timeline by clicking on the magnifying glass button on the top left of the timeline.

Examine your "collections"

On the top under the drop down menu called "collections" are the different video folders, transitions and fx available. The beauty of this system is that you can use clips from different projects on the same timeline. So if in your last project you had a sunset you want to use again, go to the collection folder from that project and drag your sunset onto the present timeline!

Preview your clips

Click on the clip you want in the collections window or on the timeline and it will appear and play in the preview window.

Move your clips on to the storyboard/timeline

Click and drag your clip from the browser window to where you want it in the timeline.

Delete clips from the timeline

Highlight a clip and press delete, the other clips will fill the gap if you press forward delete in the timeline view.

Oops! Undo it! Or correct your mistakes.

Click Edit>Undo or press the keys "Ctrl" and "Z", you can undo multiple steps backwards.

Trim clips

In the edit view on the timeline, place your mouse over the end of a clip. If available the mouse will change appearance to a double headed arrow, if you click at this point and drag this will extend or reduce the length of the clip. This option isn’t available after or before the point you stopped capturing the clip or cut the camera.

Split your clips

If you want to place a cut in your clip so you can alter the two halves separately, highlight your clip, click and drag the play cursor or play until the the play cursor is at the point you want to split your clip. In the preview window you will notice a symbol that looks like fig 4.8. Alternatively go to "Clip>Split" on the top menu. The clip will now split in two in it’s original window, either the timeline or the clips collections window.

Change the order

If you click and drag a clip in the timeline or storyboard view you can move it anywhere you like. We recommend doing it in the storyboard view as it clearly shows what you are doing. Besides, what else will you use it for?

Preview your first "cut"

Make sure you have not highlighted any clip in the timeline, click rewind above and to the right of the timeline, and click play and your clips will play in their new order.

Insert cutaways

Move your clip onto the timeline close to the right place, then see below for how to separate audio.

Using audio

You can use the audio from your video clips by placing the clip on the audio/music track in the timeline. Only the audio will appear. This way you can use the voices from interviews with images of what they are discussing.

Add audio

In the tasks panel click "Import audio or music" and navigate to the CD or folder your clip is in. It is worthwhile thinking about the sound design of your video. A subtle atmospheric effect like the wind or music can really improve it.

Record a narrative directly to the timeline

By clicking on the microphone symbol top left of the timeline you open the Narrate Timeline window. This is basically a capture window like the one you used with your camera only this is connected to the microphone input of your PC. Once you have connected a mic you will notice the audio levels move up and down. After a few sound tests to make sure the levels are peaking below the red areas (adjust the levels by moving the slider next to the levels) you can begin to record. Make sure your play cursor is at an empty space on the Audio/Music track as the audio will record directly to this. If there is already audio there you will not get the option to Start narration.

Capturing audio using a tape player

The headphone out socket on a tape player can be plugged directly into the microphone input on your computer using a commonly available cable, mini jack to mini jack, just like the end of your headphones cable.

Balance/adjust track volume

By clicking on the levels slider on the left of the timeline area you can balance the sound between the audio from your video and the additional music or audio you add. A window appears with a slider to adjust the balance between the tracks. Adjust this as required.

Adjust clip volume

Go to Clip>audio>volume on the top menu, you also will find fade in and out and mute there too! Mute silences the track.

Move audio and keep it in "sync"

If you have lost sync and your interview looks like it is in a foreign language, it is quite difficult to realign clips. The best way to do it is to use a marker, visible as the end of the clip on the timeline or in the image such as hands clapping, which will tie the image to the audio

Add stills

Like any other file click import pictures (from the tasks pane) and navigate to where you have stored your picture. To make these more interesting you can explore the various effects such as "Ease in" you can apply which gives life to your stills when used in a video context. (See below for how to use effects.)

Create stills

WMM has a very handy camera button bottom right of the preview window. Click on this and a still of whatever is in the window will appear in your collections. Very handy when your camera’s a bit wobbly!

Use video transitions

After choosing your transition from the transition window (found in the Collections drop down menu) and deciding the options available drag it to the area you want.

Use video effects

In the Collections drop down menu you will find these effects which are surprisingly good. Drag and drop them onto the clip you want to use them on. Experiment and see what type of look it can give to your film. Make sure they don’t distract the audience from the main story though!

Create titles

Click the "Make Titles or Credits" line in the Movie Tasks Panel. You will see a lot of options to help you prepare your clip. Read them carefully. If you want to create a standalone title with a black background, choose a title which does not appear on another clip. Type the words for the title in the text boxes. Choose any of the animation or font options if you want. Again there are some great options here but make sure they fit with the piece you are trying to create. There is a lot to be said about title sequences, as they are called, they can put the audience in the mood, and there are even Oscars now for best title sequence! Think of the title sequences of good films like "The Matrix". When you’re ready to add the title to the project, click "Done" and add title to movie. The fun doesn’t stop there though! Once your title is in you timeline you can still move it to the overlay track if you decide you want it over a bit of video after all. Or onto the video track if you want it over a plain background. If you click and slide your title on the video into a video clip, you will create a fade between the title and the clip.

Render your clips

When you create a special effect like a title the computer needs to create a copy of your clip with the title on it, remember this is non destructive editing so your computer makes a copy, it doesn’t alter the original. You will notice a red line appearing on some clips, this is to show your computer is doing the work needed, rendering. Until this is complete you will only see a low quality version of your effect.

Export to camera

When your film is finished you have a range of options to save your movie. They are all in the tasks window under the finish movie menu. Exporting to camera means you will have to render your movie before you are able to record it on your camera. It will play after telling you to press record on your camera (not the same button as for filming).

Export to VHS

If you connect your camera to a VHS player via the scart connection you can press record on that too and get a VHS copy. These are handy as everyone has a VHS player and tapes are very cheap. Specialist shops or internet sites sell short tapes, like 15 minutes,for as little as 50p!