How To Edit Home Movies

Home-based Video Editing: It's Simple as 1-2-3

Do you want to know how to edit home movies with ease? It's simple! Before you know it, you're a pro.

1. You need to choose your own editing software.

MAC and Windows PC's usually have built-in video editing applications such as iMovie HD and Windows Media Maker that work perfect for your home editing. But if you want to produce superior-quality edits of your videos, you can settle for high-end and sophisticated audio and special effects by purchasing software such as the Avid Xpress, that suits both Windows and MAC, or the Final Cut Studio exclusively for MAC. The catch, however, is they're quite expensive, selling for about $1,500. So you'd better think if these are what you truly need.

2. Select an easy project.

Editing software is normally project based, so you begin selecting a project that's easy and limited in its scope. You can opt to cover your sons first big game, your sisters wedding, or other personal special events. Should the running hours be lengthy, say, 20 hours, learn to divide the project into subprojects.

3. Create your project.

In your chosen editing software, create your project. A tutorial or an online manual of the editing system can help you out with this one.

4. Import the chosen tapes.

You can now start importing your selected tapes as your new project. You can utilize the camera so you can play back those tapes. This is the best time to begin critically looking at the tapes and whether there are certain sections that are not worthy to be imported.

5. Perform actual editing.

You can start your actual editing once all of the selected tapes are already imported. You may begin creating sequences, wherein you'll place your video footage that's imported. You can go back to your software tutorial to show you how you can add or delete some scenes in the sequence.

6. Read the manual.

The manual can teach you all the technical aspects of home video editing, but creativity solely depends on you. You are to be the best judge of all the sequences. You have to remember one thing, though: less is more. Instead focus of a short sequence with big impact. Make each one as entertaining as possible.

7. Do well with your sequences.

They should be coherent and consistent. Learn to start and end on a high note with them.

8. Add special effects.

Once you're satisfied with your edited sequences, you can add additional special effects, photos, or music.

9. Share the video.

Unless you want to keep the home-made video all to yourself, you can export the edited video and burn it into a DVD, using the instructions provided in the tutorial or manual.

Now you have a movie that can be treasured and watched for years.

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