Windows MovieMaker The Basics (PC only)

Windows MovieMaker – The Basics (PC only) Introduction to the Workspace Collections Button Clips Preview Collections panel Controls Storyboard mod...
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Windows MovieMaker – The Basics

(PC only)

Introduction to the Workspace Collections Button

Clips Preview Collections panel

Controls Storyboard mode

Audio levels

Split Controls

Take Picture

Timeline Tapehead Record narration

Zoom in/out

Hints and Tips General notes  

The version detailed here is the one for Windows XP. Please note the version for Windows 7 differs significantly. MovieMaker is a very simple piece of editing software, and those editing more complex projects should consider using a more professional package, such as Adobe Premiere, if possible. However it does have the advantage that it is included as standard with most Windows PCs.

Importing existing files    

MovieMaker sorts your video, audio and images into folders called Collections. To view these click on the Collections tab on the top of the screen, or go to View > Collections. Select the collection you want to import into by selecting it in the Collections pane on the left. To create a new Collection, right click on Collections on the Collections panel, and select New Collection, or go to Tools > New Collection Folder. Go to File > Import into collections and select the files you want to import. These can be video, audio or still images. Note – WMV or AVI is the recommended file format for video (MovieMaker can import some Mpeg files, but will not support all). MovieMaker will automatically split your video files into smaller clips when importing. If you want to switch this feature off, deselect Create clips for video files when importing.

Capturing from MiniDV tape       

If using the Creative Media Room, switch on the DV tape player. Insert your tape into the DV player, ensuring the Firewire cable plugged into the back is labelled „Video to PC’. If using a camera to play back your footage, attach the camera to the PC using the relevant Firewire cable, and ensure it's in play mode. Go to File > Capture video. On the first menu screen, when asked what Video Capture Device you want to use, select the correct one (Sony DV Device in the Creative Media Room), and click Next. Select a filename for your video, and select the destination to save to (please save to your own folder in User Projects, which can be found on the Desktop). Then click Next. On the video settings screen select Best quality for playback on my computer. On the capture method screen, you have a choice of: o Capture the entire tape automatically, which will rewind the tape to the start and capture its entire contents.



o Capture parts of the tape manually, which will allow you to move the tape to specific portions you want to capture. Unless you have an entire tape of footage you want to capture in one go, this is recommended. The next window is as below: Start/stop capture

Preview

Tape controls

Timecode

   

Move your tape to the desired location using the tape controls (the onscreen controls do not work with all devices, and if using your own camera you may need to use the controls on the camera itself). When ready click start capture, and stop capture when the section you want is complete. MovieMaker will automatically split your video files into smaller clips when capturing. If you want to switch this feature off, deselect Create clips when wizard finishes. Repeat these processes until you have all the sections you need captured, and then click Finish. Your video files will now be in their own collection ready to edit.

Capturing from Webcam 

If using the Creative Media Room, follow the same process as above, except select USB video device on the Video Capture Device menu.

Aspect ratio 

Note – if your footage was shot in 16:9 mode (widescreen) then you will need to go to Tools > Options > Advanced, and change the aspect ratio in the Video Properties.

Editing video   

To place a clip on the Timeline, drag it from your collection down into place on the Timeline, or go to Clip > Add to Timeline. You can drag these around on the Timeline to change the order. There are two ways to edit your clips, splitting and trimming. Splitting will make one clip into two. It can be applied either to an individual clip, or to the Timeline. o To split a clip in the collection, double click on it to play it in the preview window. At the point you want to split it into



two, click the Split button under the preview window. You will now have two clips to select in your Collection, split at the point you selected. o To split a clip in the Timeline, move the tapehead to the point where you want to split the video, and Split as above. This will split the video on the Timeline, but the clip will not be split in the Collection. Trimming removes part of the beginning or end of your clips on the Timeline. There are two ways of doing this: o Select the clip, and move the Tapehead to where you want the clip to start. Then go to Clip > Set Start Trim Point. This will trim the clip to that point. Then do the same again at the end, going to Clip > Set End Trim Point to trim the end if needed. o Alternatively, select the clip on the Timeline, and click and drag the start and end of the clip to the desired point.

Audio    

As well as the audio from your video, you have a second audio layer where you can drag extra audio files (e.g. background music). If you have a video file that you just want to use the audio from, without the picture, you can also drag it to this layer. If you want to mute the sound from your video layer select the clip on the Timeline, and go to Clip > Audio > Mute. To set audio levels, click on the Set audio levels button above the Timeline. You can add a narration to your video by going to Tools > Narrate Timeline.

Transitions   

Transitions can be found in the Collections panel, and can be previewed by double clicking on them. To use one, drag it down on to the join between two clips on your Timeline. To remove a transition, press the expand (+) icon next to the video layer on the Timeline, which will reveal the transitions layer. Right click and select Cut to remove. (You may need to zoom into the Timeline to do this) You can also add fade to black on to your clips by right clicking on the clip on the Timeline, and selecting Fade In and/or Fade Out.

Video effects  

Video effects are also found in the Collections panel, and can be added by dragging them on to a clip on the Timeline. A clip can have several effects added to it at once. To edit and remove these, right click on the clip and select Video Effects.

Titles    

Titles can be added by going to Tools > Titles and Credits. The first menu will ask if you want to add the clip at the start of the movie, before the selected clip (on the Timeline), on the selected clip, after the selected clip, or at the end of the movie. Note – selecting “on the selected clip” will superimpose the text over the top. On the next window there is a box to write your text, and options to change the animation and change font size and colour. Experiment with these settings until you have your desired text, and select done, add title to movie. Once on your Timeline you can move your text around like any other clip. If you want to move it so that it‟s superimposed on top of a video, then drag it on to the Title overlay layer.

Exporting 

To export your finished video, go to File > Save Movie, and follow the instructions. The default settings should be fine in most circumstances.

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