help with a video- edit My first video

[Christabelle]

Most of us you 'Windows Movie Maker', it very easy to use. It comes at standard with most PC's. And the effect that you want to do, you can. Check if you have it..? If you do, i'll happily give you a step by step guide.

[autumn]

These are directions from GHVT.

Basic Windows Movie Maker Tutorial

Many computers with Windows XP actually come with Windows Movie Maker and you just don't know it. The program is fairly simple to use and this simple tutorial will help you guys get started in making Music Videos.

1. Open up Windows Movie Maker. Click on 'File', then 'New Project.' You should see a black screen to your right and at the bottom either a Timeline or a Storyboard. I find it easier to work with 'Timeline' so if necessary click on 'Show Timeline.'

2. Notice at the top near the toolbar 'Tasks' and 'Collections.' If you don't see them then you can also view them both by clicking 'View' and then either 'Task Pane' or 'Collections.'

3. Before you can make your video, you need to import your files. I'm assuming that you would be making General Hospital videos and would have the file on your computer prior to beginning. View the 'Movie Tasks.' Under 'Capture Video' click on 'Import Video.' Select the file (scene) that you want to use for your Music Video and click okay. Make sure that you click the tiny option that says ‘Create clips for video files.’ It will take a couple of minutes for the file to import so be patient. You may want to import several different episodes depending on what clips you need.

4. Once the file(s) have been imported into WMM, you can view them under ‘Collections.’ Select the Episode that you want to use and then let the clips build until you can see the where they begin. To view a clip you can select it and press play on the screen that is on your right.

5. Now you want to import a song to use for your video! Follow the steps you used for importing the episode, but instead select ‘Import audio or music’ Let it import and load. Don't know if you want to add this, but you may want to make a new folder to keep the music in. Select the music file and place it in your ‘Timeline’ in the Audio/Music slot. When placing it you may want to leave a tiny space in the beginning, but it depends on how you want your video to be presented. Click on the ‘Audio Levels’ button (blue button that has an arrow going up) and drag the bar all the way to Audio/Music. If you can't find this button, click on the "Tools" dropdown, and select "Audio Levels".

6. If you want to add a title, this would be the time to do so. From the "Tools" dropdown, select "Title Options". You will be given a choice of adding your title to the beginning a the movie, before a selected clip, after a selected clip, or on a clip. Credit options are also included on this menu. In this case, select "At the beginning". A box will come up to enter text into. You can enter text on one line or two lines. You will have different animation options depending on what you select. Click the link for the text font size. You will get options for changing the font, the font color, the background color, and the font size. Find a combination that looks right to you. Next click the title animation link. You will recieve a scrollbox with many animation options. Different options will default depending on whether you chose a one line title or a two line title. Try out different animations until you find one that feels right. You can preview the options on the screen to the right. When you have it just right, click the "Done, add to Movie" link. The title should now show on the Video line. Test it out to see if you like it with the music. If not, right click and select Edit title to start over again.

7. Time for the fun part! Once you slide in the music, you can add in clips. Find a clip that you are looking for and slide it in starting at the same spot where the music starts in the ‘Video’ section of your ‘Timeline.’ If you are having trouble with the ‘Timeline’ you can view it as a ‘Storyboard’ and drag in the clips that way too. Put in all your clips. You can preview your video at anytime by clicking play if you arrow is somewhere in the ‘Timeline’ or ‘Storyboard’. Adjust your place in the video by using the preview on the side.

8. Make sure you are in the ‘Timeline’ view. You can resize your clips by dragging in the arrows to make it whatever size you please. You may want to constantly preview your video to make sure you like the adjustments you are making. I preview after every glitch I change but it’s up to you. If you can't drag your clip to start or stop at the exact second you want it to (you keep going past it), click the magnifying glass to zoom in. The more times you zoom in, the more control you can have over the placement of your clips. Occasionally, instead of dragging your clips, you may want to split them. You can find the split button under the viewer. You can split clips in the collections or clips from the timeline.

9. Now if you want to try to make it harder, you can add ‘Transitions.’ They are the effects that help move you from clip to clip. You can find them under ‘Collections’, ‘Video Transitions' You can also right click to bring up Transitions. Some of the shaped ones are really fun too! Warning: every time you pull in a transistion, preview your video. Transitions can and will affect your timeline. If a transistion is messing up your timing, try lengthening the clip you are transitioning from.

10. Some of your best tools are the "Video Effects". You can find them under Collections>Video Effects. You can also right click to go to the Effects Menu. Here is where you can lighten or darken your video, add a slo mo (slow down to half), speed it up, or Fade. Fades are more versatile than Transitions because they do not affect your timing. If your slow-mo isn't slow enough, add a second one. If your "Increase Brightness" doesn't increase your brightness enough, add a second one. Like Black and White? Select Grayscale from the Video Effects menu.

11. Most people do not complete an mvid in one sitting. In addition, WMM is notorious for locking up. It is highly recommended to save every couple minutes or you will lose your work. To save before you are completed, click File>Save Project As. Put a name on it (this is the project name, not the permanent name). The video will be considered a project until it is complete.

12. When you like your completed movie and you have previewed it to make sure you are complete, go to ‘File’, ‘Save Movie File.’ You will be given a few options on how to save it and it depends on how your computer is. Save the file. A good rule of thumb is the keep decreasing the MBs until the screen size decreases from 640X320 to 320 X ?. Then click the arrow once to increase it back up to 640 X 320. It should be somewhere between 18-22 MBs. People will generally watch a video of this size. When it's up in the 40's (MB), a lot of people will cancel the download. This is where you put your final name on your mvid, so be sure to name it something you will remember. It will take a couple of minutes so don’t worry. When you’re all done, open up your files to where you saved it to and then select it.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

I hope that helps.

[Rach :)]

i like it, very different!

well done!

Rachel xox

[*Natalie*]

Great vid
Different but very good

natalie x

[juju]

andrejia said:

Later edit- thx for all the responses...I've postponed my current fic when I got the idea for this video.
it's my point of view form the break-up to them getting back together...everything they've been through...

So..here's my first video

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrqKSBcoZzc

I love your video!!!!! Just LOVE it!!!
It's amazing..and different than which I've seen before..but I really love it!!!!!!!