A beginner’s guide to editing videos on iMovie
iMovie is the most sought-after free video editing application. The app allows users to make videos on their iPad, iPhones, and Mac. At first, it might appear a bit complex to use the iMovie app, but the user interface isn’t difficult. You will quickly get the hang of it and will be capable of making blockbuster movies on this app. Sometimes, you might notice the app freezing or crashing. When that happens, you need to clear some storage space and quite a few programs to free up RAM so that you can speed up iMovie. You can also consider upgrading your hardware if the app has been unresponsive or crashing regularly.
In this post, you will learn how to edit videos on iMovie to become a pro in no time.
Editing videos in iMovie on macOS
To edit videos in iMovie on your Mac system, start by launching the program. Then, select the project you wish to create – Theater, Projects, or Media. Navigate to Create New and edit your project in the timeline screen. Find the Share icon and click on it when you are done so you can export or share your project.
You can also polish your project to fit various platforms you want to share, like Pinterest, Vimeo, Facebook, etc.
Editing videos in iMovie on iPhone
Before editing videos on the iPhone, you have to create a video, and for doing so, navigate to the iMovie app and tap the plus icon. You have to click on the Movie option and choose the media you want to include in the video. Then, tap on the Create Movie option. Now, you must be on the iMovie editor page.
After your project is in the timeline, there are several ways to polish and edit your videos to get the desired result. Some of the things you can do to make your videos stand out are explained below. Also, know that you can add more media files by tapping the plus icon during the editing process.
- Add voice-over
Do you want to add voice-over to your media projects? If so, the process is similar to adding audio effects. You have to tap the plus icon and choose the Voice-Over option > tap record > record your voice-over > when you are done recording, tap Stop > if you are happy with the voice-over, tap the Accept option. These are the steps you need to take.
If you want to adjust the voice-over’s speed, volume, or duration, you need to tap the purple Recording layer found below the clip.
- Trim the clips
Tap on each one individually when you want to trim the clips. When you see the yellow highlight appearing, you need to hold the edges of the clip on either side and then drag them to trim the video. You can also lengthen or shorten the clip’s duration or even delete the parts of the videos you wish to include in your project.
The position of the clips in which way they appear can also be changed. You can do this by tapping and holding the clip you wish to move. Then, you have to drag the clips to fit the sequence you want.
- Split the clips
The clips can be split into two or more individual ones, and you can edit them according to your needs. You can split the clip by placing the play head to the spot where you wish to split the clip > tap the clip > choose the scissors icon > tap split.
- Speed up or slow down the clips
You can lengthen or shorten the clip by trimming the yellow edges, but if it isn’t working, it is because the app does not support clips that are shorter than 0.3 seconds or more than twenty seconds. To speed up or slow down the clips, you need to tap the clip > tap the clock icon > drag your finger along with the range handle > tap on the phone screen outside of the speed options to finish the process. If you drag the yellow speed slider to the right, it will increase the clip’s speed. If you drag it left, it will decrease the speed.
- Add audio to the clips
Videos are visual art, but if they lack sound, they will not have the impact that you wish to achieve. You have to open the iMovie application and choose to share three types of audio such as My Music, Soundtracks, and Sound Effects. You can add music by tapping the plus icon and then tapping the Audio option. The categories mentioned above will pop up, and you can add the audio.
The bottom line
These are the steps to follow when you wish to edit video clips on iMovie. As you work on it more, you will explore more features and become a master at it. All the best!
