A basic tutorial on how to use Windows Movie Maker 2012 inclusive of some shortcuts

1. MOVIE MAKER
Basic tutorial
By Siti Mariam BAB

2. Purpose of Editing
• Remove unwanted footage
• Get rid of flawed and NG footage
• Choose the best footage
• Only the best take (version) of a scene is used
• Create a flow and continuity
• Make sure the video is following the story
• Add effects, graphics, music, etc
• Beautify the video by adding extra elements

3. New/Save
project
Open Windows
Movie Maker and
start a new
project. Save
project
immediately.
This menu is
where the File
menu would be
but it is not
labelled.

4. Select
aspect ratio
This depends on
the video clips
and the settings
on the camera
that was used
while shooting
the video.
Select Standard
or Widescreen
according to your
source video.

5. Add clips to
project
Locate the clips
in your computer.
Open the folder.
Select all clips
needed. (CTRL +
CLICK / SHIFT+
CLICK to select
more than one)
Click Open.

6. Playing a clip
Click on clip to select it.
Press the spacebar once to play. Press the spacebar again to stop.
Grab and drag the playhead to “scrub” the video forward and back.
Playhead

7. Trimming a
clip (1)
Find the best
starting point for
the clip (“In”).
Right-click and
select Set start
point.
Pressing I on the
keyboard also
does the same
thing.

8. Trimming a
clip (2)
Find the best
ending point for
the clip (“Out”).
Right-click and
select Set end
point.
Pressing O on
the keyboard
also does the
same thing.

9. Trim tool
Provides better
control for
trimming.
Click and drag
the sliders to
adjust the in and
out points.
Click on save
trim.

10. Moving a
clip
Drag and drop
the clip to where
you want to
place it.

11. Adding a transition to a clip
Click on clip to select it.
Click on the Animations tab and choose your transition.

12. Muting a
clip
Click on a clip to
select it.
Click on Video
volume and bring
the volume all
the way down to
the left.

13. Adding titles/
captions/
credits
Default duration
is 7 seconds
long.
Click Edit text to
change the
words.
Drag the text
bounding box to
reposition.

14. Adding
audio
Locate the audio
clips in your
computer.
Open the folder.
Select all clips
needed. (CTRL +
CLICK / SHIFT+
CLICK to select
more than one)
Click Open.

15. Positioning
audio
The green bar
represents the
audio file. Drag
and position
anywhere you
want.
Audio files can
also be trimmed.

16. Positioning
audio
The green bar
represents the
audio file. Drag
and position
anywhere you
want.
Audio files can
also be trimmed.

17. Exporting a
video
To make your
project into a
video, you have
to export the file.
Click the arrow
beside Save
movie to view
the presets for
exporting.

18. Creating a video
• To produce your finished video, trim each clip and move
it into position. Adjust the in and out points as needed.
• Adjust volume of clips.
• Delete any other unnecessary clips.
• Export your movie.
• If audio is needed, import audio and position as
needed. Trim and adjust volume if needed.
SAVE OFTEN!

19. Keyboard shortcuts
• CTRL + S = save
• CTRL + Z = undo
• CTRL + Y = redo
• F11 = Preview full
screen
• F12 = Save as
• Spacebar = play/pause
• I = set start point
• O = set end point
• J = move playhead left
• L = move playhead
right
• K = play/pause
• + = zoom in
• - = zoom out