Video editing

[pglaser01]

I put this in miscellaneous, but mods if this thread is actually recording gear/equipment please move as needed.

While I know we have a lot of sound and recording engineers here I have a question about video editing. My wife and I have volunteered to take over our kids’ elementary auction and trivia night for the PTA. Obviously I am making this trivia a music theme!!!

One of the categories I want to do is show iconic music videos, but only snippets of them and with no audio. I plan on purchasing the music videos if required, however do any of you know of or have experience with software that would allow me to cut up parts of the videos so I can put 10 of these snippets in a singular file like a playlist?

Apologies if this is easier to achieve than I’m assuming. I’m not top level with software.

EDIT: I REALLY would like to avoid having things like YouTube or multiple tabs open to jump between videos, just so nothing is messed up as these will be on a large project for over 400 people

Thanks all for any ideas!

 

[JRA]

google "free video editors" --- you can download them and try them to guess which one(s) might be more helpful to your workflow/preferences. the "pro" version of the one you like will be better/faster without any limitations, often cheap, but at least you'd know what the software can do. e.g., and FWIW, i use the paid version ($20 annually) of VSDC.

good luck finding the editor that suits your needs!

 

[Raenil]

Hi,
An unorthodox suggestion: If you are PowerPoint proficient, it might be the least painful route to use PowerPoint.
Steps:

1. Import each video in a slide and right click to trim the video timings
   • Rember to set the video to full screen and autoplay
2. Set each slide to advance automatic in the transitions tab
3. Export the Slideshow as Video.

The above route only makes sense, if you know how to use PowerPoint.

Other than that, you can take two routes:

1. Cut out each video, and use video player software to handle the playlist. VLC is free and works with everything on all operating systems. Windows has "Media Player", Apple has its own.
2. Create the video from the parts, using a "Real" video editor.

• Again, try the easiest path for your fairly basic needs
  • Windows has ClipChamp.
  • Apple has IMovie.

Other free software works great also:
DaVinci Resolve does a LOT of stuff for free, but has a complicated interface. It is really mostly meant to be used in production houses with expensive hardware stuff - think expensive (Blackmagic) video consoles. But it works on most desktop computers.
Openshot is completely free and Open Source.
Lossless Cut is a little special in that it only "cuts" the video and allows you to paste segments together in other ways.
This is a limited way to do video edits, but has two distinct advantages:

1. The video is not reencoded in the process, which retains the video quality.
2. It is a much faster process.

You could just cut out the parts you need and save them as a new video each - to create the playlist as mentioned in the "create a playlist" option.

Last but not least - be a little reluctant with free software.
Some of it takes money from installing dubious software on your computer.
Most of this software is probably not dangerous to your personal financial health.

Bonustip, but not requested: 4K Video Downloader is great for downloading YouTube videos, and was malware free last time I checked.

 

[pglaser01]

Hi,
An unorthodox suggestion: If you are PowerPoint proficient, it might be the least painful route to use PowerPoint.
Steps:

1. Import each video in a slide and right click to trim the video timings
   • Rember to set the video to full screen and autoplay
2. Set each slide to advance automatic in the transitions tab
3. Export the Slideshow as Video.

The above route only makes sense, if you know how to use PowerPoint.

Other than that, you can take two routes:

1. Cut out each video, and use video player software to handle the playlist. VLC is free and works with everything on all operating systems. Windows has "Media Player", Apple has its own.
2. Create the video from the parts, using a "Real" video editor.

• Again, try the easiest path for your fairly basic needs
  • Windows has ClipChamp.
  • Apple has IMovie.

Other free software works great also:
DaVinci Resolve does a LOT of stuff for free, but has a complicated interface. It is really mostly meant to be used in production houses with expensive hardware stuff - think expensive (Blackmagic) video consoles. But it works on most desktop computers.
Openshot is completely free and Open Source.
Lossless Cut is a little special in that it only "cuts" the video and allows you to paste segments together in other ways.
This is a limited way to do video edits, but has two distinct advantages:

1. The video is not reencoded in the process, which retains the video quality.
2. It is a much faster process.

You could just cut out the parts you need and save them as a new video each - to create the playlist as mentioned in the "create a playlist" option.

Last but not least - be a little reluctant with free software.
Some of it takes money from installing dubious software on your computer.
Most of this software is probably not dangerous to your personal financial health.

Bonustip, but not requested: 4K Video Downloader is great for downloading YouTube videos, and was malware free last time I checked.

Interesting….i use PowerPoint all the time for work, but I wasn’t aware you could trim the videos . I may have to try this out as the trivia rounds will likely be in PowerPoint format anyway!!

thank you!

 

[SoulReflection]

Check out AVS4YOU...it is free or low cost. I used to be in the video production business using expensive software/hardware. With the introduction of free PC software, this is all I use for a quick and easy solution. I used it with video I took myself, however.

Check out the free video clips on line. Maybe there are some that you can use without cost.

 

[rwkeating]

I highly recommend Kdenlive Kdenlive - Video Editing Freedom It is free and open source. It is available for Windows, Linux and Mac

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

I use NCH software (Video Pad). Not very difficult to learn and removing the audio from desired clips is a snap.

 

[Kerplunk]

I've used microsoft clipchamp to great effect. Comes with Windows 11 or you can download it from the microsoft store. There are plans you can pay for, but the free one was plenty good enough for me.

Of course there are plenty of critics of clipchamp and VSDC seemed to be one of the most recommended free editors, but it's a little more complicated. Here's a homemade music video I made. First attempt.

I googled for a tutorial, which unfortunately I can't find now, or I would have linked it. It was a 10 min video which explained everything in a logical, precise and non bloated way. Shoulda bookmarked it. Anyway, you can import the files you want to use into the app, then onto it's timeline, then remove their audio in app. Drag the beginnings and ends of videos to shorten them down to the areas you want, or cut them off entirely. Add text, transitions, fades, greenscreen and other effects.

 

[mikewalker]

Another vote for Resolve. Single user version is free!
It's overkill for simple things, but you can work quick and dirty with it just using three of its tabs.
IMO it is the one video editor you can go on and use forever if you get more involved in video projects...

 

[TOOL460002]

Pirate Premiere and upload the result to YT.

EDIT: I am legally kidding.

 

[Barticus]

Use PowerPoint to create your trivia questions, and individual slides with the snippets.

For what you’re trying to do, you can use the online version don’t pay for anything the free stuff will get you there.

You can assemble the videos, put them into slides, do transitions between them (Mac or PC).

Edited this after re-reading what you’re trying to do.

 

[Clark W]

I put this in miscellaneous, but mods if this thread is actually recording gear/equipment please move as needed.

While I know we have a lot of sound and recording engineers here I have a question about video editing. My wife and I have volunteered to take over our kids’ elementary auction and trivia night for the PTA. Obviously I am making this trivia a music theme!!!

One of the categories I want to do is show iconic music videos, but only snippets of them and with no audio. I plan on purchasing the music videos if required, however do any of you know of or have experience with software that would allow me to cut up parts of the videos so I can put 10 of these snippets in a singular file like a playlist?

Apologies if this is easier to achieve than I’m assuming. I’m not top level with software.

EDIT: I REALLY would like to avoid having things like YouTube or multiple tabs open to jump between videos, just so nothing is messed up as these will be on a large project for over 400 people

Thanks all for any ideas!

I use mostly high end, expensive video editing software, but...

There are some good enough freebies and cheapies out there for you to choose from.

Right now Corel has what they call VideoStudio Pro, normally sells for 79.99, but is currently 40% off for 49.99 AND you can download a free 30 day trial to try before you buy.

They also have some pretty good training / tutorial stuff under their resources on their website to help yo get up to speed. You should give it a try.

Here's a link
Corel VideoStudio | Easy & Fun Video Editing

 

[Nighttrain1127]

MOVAVI free software that is easy to use.

 

[Raenil]

Interesting….i use PowerPoint all the time for work, but I wasn’t aware you could trim the videos . I may have to try this out as the trivia rounds will likely be in PowerPoint format anyway!!

thank you!

Final tip: if you decide to stay in Powerpoint, you can remove the trimmed part entirely from the PowerPoint file. Use the feature Compress Media Files.
It removes the part of the media files you don’t need and recodes the rest, for a smoother experience.
Be aware that the rest of the video will be lost from PowerPoint, of you need it, you will have to reimport the video.

 

[ricardol]

MOVAVI free software that is easy to use.

The free version of MOVAVI imposes a watermark: