A Beginner's Guide To Video Editing, Part 2

In the first part of this 2-part series on video editing, we discussed how
to upload video from the camcorder to the computer, how to sequence your clips,
and adding a professional touch by using transitions. In this article, we'll
discuss how to add the finishing touches to make your home movies sparkle.

Audio is every bit as important as video in adding to the overall feel of
your movie. There is an Audio/Music track beneath the Audio track in which
you can add background music or narration. Background music can really enhance
your movies and make them more entertaining and interesting. For example, let's
say you were filming your friend surfing the pipeline in Maui. Before the surfing
begins, you film the waves in the ocean. Adding background music, such as the
theme from the movie "Jaws," can make that scene quite entertaining
and gives the viewer a shot of adrenaline as your friend prepares to tackle
the surf.

Use the Import audio or music option in the Tasks pane to import audio. Drag
the music clip to the Audio/Music track in the desired location. You can import
a variety of formats, such as WAV, MP3, or WMA. However, Movie Maker cannot
import copy-protected audio.

The last track is called the Title Overlay track. This is where you can add
text and titles to the video. For example, you can put the title of your video
at the beginning of the first clip. You can add "subtitles" to your
son's kickboxing tournament to simulate a martial arts movie. You can add names
at the bottom of the screen when a person is speaking to give it a "newsy" feel.
Finally, you can add closing credits at the end of your movie. To add text
to your movie, use the Make titles or credits option in the Tasks pane. This
will take you to a screen that will allow you to add text. You can customize
the font, color, and even add animations to the title.

People love special effects. Movie Maker has 53 special effects built in.
The effects can be accessed by selecting Video Effects from the Collections
list box. Some of the effects are similar to transitions, such as the Fade
In and Fade Out effects. Drag and drop the desired effect on top of the target
clip to apply a special effect. Not only can special effects add to the excitement
of your movie, it can also correct deficiencies in the original footage. If
your video is underexposed, for example, you can lighten the video with effects.
You can use third-party software for more advanced and sophisticated effects
and correction options. Like transitions, use special effects sparingly. Too
much can detract from the video.

Not only can you capture video clips with Movie Maker, but you can also import
your digital photos to create a slide show on film. To import your photos,
select Import pictures in the Tasks pane. There are other software products
available that are more geared towards creating slide shows versus movies,
and offer more sophisticated effects and options. Movie Maker does have a feature
called AutoMovie. This nice addition takes your clips and makes them into something
that resembles a music video. You can use this feature by selecting the desired
clips from the Collections pane, then select Make an AutoMovie from the Tasks
pane. You can choose from different Editing Styles, depending on how you want
the video to look and feel. You can then input a title and choose your background
music. Movie Maker does the rest. When you are done with your editing, choose
one of the five output destinations. This will bring up a wizard which will
walk you through finalizing the video.

With Windows Movie Maker and a digital video camcorder, anyone can edit their
own videos to create a production that your friends and family will enjoy.