How to Edit Your Vlogs

How to Edit Your Vlogs

Kamera Express

How to edit a vlog! The basics

You've filmed your vlog and the files are fresh on your camera. Now what? Make a video, of course! But how do you best edit your video? Filming your vlog is one thing — editing it is a whole different side of the craft. We understand this can be quite a challenging process, especially if you have little to no experience with it. That's why we're giving you a helping hand. In this article we explain the basics of video editing, so that after reading it you can immediately start editing your own vlog or video.

Video editing software

With a vlog editing program you can edit and assemble your videos, and you have many different options to choose from. Some are free, others are paid. You can also choose to edit the video on your phone or computer. In this article we focus on software for the computer. Editing on a computer usually gives you more control and options, and it's easier for larger videos. Are you making a short vlog for Instagram, for example? Then of course you can opt for a video editing app on your phone. That way you can edit and post the video right after filming.

Free video editing software is often a bit simpler because many professional features are absent. For a beginner, that's actually a good thing. Premiere Elements and Pinnacle Studio may be better suited for slightly more advanced or serious vloggers, but they are extremely user-friendly. With various automatic functions you can quickly create your own vlog.

We've listed the best apps and software for editing your videos below. Think in advance about what you prefer to work with — phone or computer — so you don't have to switch devices halfway through. Each program has its own editing specifications, meaning some will suit your needs better than others.

Smartphone apps

Adobe Premiere Rush – Free

iMovie – Free

FilmoraGo – Free

Free software

VideoPad

Hitfilm Express

Paid software

Adobe Premiere Elements

Corel Pinnacle Studio

Adobe Premiere Pro

Layout of the program

Depending on the program you're using, the layout of the screen can be quite overwhelming at first. Don't worry — it's actually all quite logical. In principle, every software works from the same basic setup. The screen is divided into three main areas.

At the bottom you have a (1) timeline. This is where the magic happens. Here you can drag all your video footage, sounds, and music tracks next to each other to create a video. We'll tell you more about this in a moment. On the right side of the screen is the (2) media player. This is where the video you're assembling in the timeline plays. You can also preview individual clips here. Then on the left side you have your (3) gallery where all the files are stored that you can drag into the timeline. You'll also often find options here to add effects and titles.

This layout is the basis of many video editing programs. It's possible that in the software you're using, the gallery and media player are switched around. You can often adjust the layout yourself to make things a bit easier (or harder) for yourself. In this article we use the free software VideoPad. This is a very useful program for learning how to edit because it's quite simple and clear.

Importing files

Now that we know how the program is structured, we can start editing the video. The first step is to get all your files into the program. To keep things organized, you can make an initial selection of your footage. Only import the videos you want to use in your vlog. This keeps everything clear while editing.

In the software you can find an import option in the top left. This might be via a menu in the top left, but some programs also have a handy import button with a + symbol ready to go. Then select all the files you want to use and wait for the program to load everything. Now we can really get started!

When you start, you create a new project. Here you select the format of the video you ultimately want to make. This could be 720x480p, but also full HD 1920x1080 or 4K 3840x2160 pixels. You also choose the frame rate or frames per second. Try to match the format to the format your videos were shot in — that way the footage fits well and runs smoothly. Did you film in full HD at 30 frames per second? Then also select the option 1920x1080 30p.

Timeline

Your timeline is divided into two parts: video and audio. All software uses a simple 'drag and drop' principle — you can drag and drop files to place them. Drag a video file from the gallery into the timeline. You'll see a video track and an audio track appear. Here you can trim the video so it's the perfect length. Maybe you said something wrong at the beginning of the clip, or there was a loud noise at the end you'd like to remove. You make what's called a 'cut' — a cut in the video. This option is usually found just above the timeline in the form of a scissors icon. Then you trim the video to size. You can also trim a clip to the right length before dragging it to the timeline, by adjusting a file directly from the gallery where you can easily set the start and end of the clip.

Do this a few times with multiple video clips and drag them one after the other. Voilà! You now have a video ready. Easy, right? You can make this video as long as you want. Make sure there's a logical order in your video, otherwise it will be hard for viewers to follow. Do the transitions between your video clips not flow together smoothly? No problem — we'll fix that with effects in a moment.

Adding effects and transitions

Nothing is more annoying when watching a video than a transition between two clips that doesn't flow well, or audio that doesn't have a smooth transition. Every program has handy effects to prevent this. To make transitions smooth, we use 'fades'. Just like videos, you can drag these effects or transitions into your timeline and place them over the relevant clip. The footage now fades into each other! You can also do this to handle abrupt audio transitions.

At the beginning and end of your vlog, you can add a special 'fade': the 'fade in' and 'fade out'. This makes your video start from a black screen and slowly fade into your first clip. At the other end, your video ends by slowly fading to black. The audio also goes from quiet to loud or vice versa.

Once you've practiced a bit and feel more comfortable in the program, you can also add other effects. These can be quirky transitions, but also color adjustments, shapes, and other special effects. It's your vlog — make it as wild as you want. In addition to effects, you can also add titles at the beginning, in between, or as subtitles.

Sound and music

Is the audio of a video too loud or too quiet? Select the clip or audio file and then you can adjust the volume level in the options. Make sure every file produces approximately the same volume so your viewers won't suddenly be startled by loud volume or unable to hear anything. You can fill in silences with fun sound effects or music. These can be dragged into the timeline just like your videos.

Music is very important in vlogs. It can be in the intro, at the end, or in between when no one is speaking. Music can set the entire mood of the vlog. A tropical tune under your holiday vlog from Ibiza will let the video shine more than, say, a heavy metal song. Drag your favourite music under your video, trim it to size so it fits perfectly, and use audio 'fade' transitions to let the music start and end smoothly.

VlogTip: Something many vloggers — and other filmmakers — do is use the beat of the music as a guide for their video transitions. Every time there's a deep bass hit or a drum strike, you can make a cut in your video footage. By editing to the beat of the music, your video will quickly seem to flow much better and have a great rhythm for the viewer.

The 'Look and feel'

Your video is done. There's a story in your vlog, the footage flows together well, and the music underneath creates a beautiful whole. Yet it might still feel like something is missing. The footage looks a bit dull and there are differences in the lighting. Almost every editing program has options for adjusting colors and lighting. Select a clip and go to the options or effects. Here you can adjust the exposure, contrast, and color saturation. By keeping this roughly the same for every clip, your video will look more like a cohesive whole and flow better.

Want to give the video a special look? Then you can use a color filter. Just like with photos and Instagram, these filters adjust the colors of your video footage to create a completely different feel. More advanced programs give you more freedom and control to do this yourself. Many basic software programs let you choose from a number of standard filters. Doesn't your program have this? Even without it, you can make a great vlog. Besides, websites like YouTube and Facebook also have effects you can apply to your video before uploading it.

Exporting and uploading

Your vlog is now completely ready to share with the world. You need to export the video. The program will then neatly save everything as one video, so you can upload it to your favourite platform. Many software programs nowadays even have built-in functions to export and upload directly to YouTube — saving you one extra step.

When exporting, just like at the beginning, you can choose a format, but also the file type. The higher the resolution, the larger the final file will be. The best approach is to export in the same resolution and frame rate as your project and video footage. As a file type you can usually choose from popular formats like .avi, .mov, or .mp4. Generally, mp4 files are a bit smaller with less quality loss due to compression. We recommend mp4 if you want to share your vlog online and via YouTube.

Tips from professionals

  • Learn keyboard shortcuts of the editing programs. This allows you to cut or add effects even faster.
  • Fun or funny sound effects can make your vlog even more enjoyable.
  • Keep your vlogs short. The internet loves short videos because people's attention spans are short.
  • Stand out! Use time lapses, slow motion effects, or cool filters.
  • Add extra explanation to footage via a voice-over. A good microphone is important for this.
  • Watch tutorials on YouTube. There are hours of material available where you can learn to edit directly from professionals.
  • Fill your vlog with beautiful atmosphere shots of the surroundings or small details.