Getting started with Windows Movie Maker

Transcription

1 Getting started with Windows Movie Maker Windows Movie Maker is a feature of Windows Vista that enables you to create home movies and slide shows on your computer, complete with professional-looking titles, transitions, effects, music, and even narration. And when you re ready, you can use Windows Movie Maker to publish your movie and share it with your friends and family. If you re new to digital video editing or just new to Windows Movie Maker, keep reading for an introduction to the different tools you'll use in Windows Movie Maker and for links to help you learn more. Understanding the Windows Movie Maker tools Windows Movie Maker is divided into three main areas: the panes, the storyboard/timeline, and the preview monitor. URL Source:

2 Overview Import photos and videos To make a movie with Movie Maker, you'll need some photos and videos on your computer. You can import photos and videos from your digital camera, a flash memory card, DVDs, or your mobile phone. To import your photos and videos into Movie Maker, connect the camera to your computer by using a USB cable, and then turn on the camera. Click the Movie Maker button, and then click Import from device. If the Photos and videos will be imported into Photo Gallery message appears, click OK. Click the device you want to import photos and videos from, and then click Import. On the New photos and videos were found page, click Import all new items now, type a name for all the photos and videos, and then click Import. In Photo Gallery, select the check box in the upper-left corner for each photo or video you want to use in your movie. On thecreate tab, in the Share group, click Movie. When the photos and videos appear in Movie Maker, you re ready to start making your movie. Select photos and videos in Photo Gallery to import into Movie Maker. URL Source: < T1=t3#t1=import>

3 Add narration to your movie You can make your movie more personal by describing in your own words what happens in your movie. The following steps describe how to add narration to your movie. 1. If the Storyboard view is visible, click View, and then click Timeline. 2. Move the playback indicator, which appears as a square with a vertical line below it, to a point on the timeline where the Audio/Music track is empty, and where you want to begin your narration. 3. Click Tools, and then click Narrate Timeline. 4. If Show options is visible, click it. 5. To prevent any audio from playing over your speakers while you record your narration, select the Mute speakerscheck box. This helps to keep unwanted audio or echoes out of your narration. 6. Under Audio device, click the audio capture device that you want to use. This option is available only for analog devices, and the audio device will usually be the name of the sound card that is installed on your computer. 7. To adjust the recording level of your narration, speak into your recording device and move the Input level slider to a place on the meter that registers your voice at the volume you want. You'll probably want the slider toward the upper part of the meter, but below the red-colored area. 8. Click Start Narration and begin to narrate the contents of the timeline. 9. When you finish your narration, click Stop Narration. 10. In the File name box, type a file name for your narration, and then click Save. 11. Click Close. Windows Movie Maker automatically imports your narration into the current collection and puts it on the timeline at the point on the Audio/Music track where you first began to narrate. Windows Movie Maker saves the file with a.wma (Windows Media Audio) file name extension to the folder you choose.

4 Tips If you want Windows Movie Maker to automatically stop recording when you reach another audio track on your timeline, select the Limit narration to available free space on Audio/Music track check box before you begin recording your narration. You can wear headphones instead of muting your speakers to keep unwanted audio out of your narration. By using headphones, you can also hear any other audio on your video clip. This gives you a better idea of what your audience will hear when they play your published movie. Notes If you find that the volume is too low when you play back your narration, and your audio card supports Microphone Boost, verify that Microphone Boost is enabled. For more information, see the documentation that came with your sound card, or go to the manufacturer's website. If the playback indicator is at the very beginning of your project, it may be difficult to see the vertical line because it merges with the left border of the timeline. Drag the square at the top of the playback indicator to the right to see it and place it where you want. URL Source: <

5 Edit your movies Using the video editing features in Movie Maker, you can make your movie look the way you want it to. Add a video Get started with making a movie and editing it by first adding any videos that you want to use into Movie Maker. On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add videos and photos. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the videos you want to use, and then click Open. Trim video To trim the beginning or end of a video clip so only the part of the video you want appears in your final movie, click the video you want to trim, and then drag the playback indicator on the storyboard to the point where you want the video to start or stop playing in your movie. Do one of the following: To set a new start point, under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Editing group, click Set start point. To set a new end point, under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Editing group, click Set end point. Split a video You can split a video into two smaller items and then continue editing. For example, after splitting a video, you can move one video in front of the other to change the order in which the videos play in your movie. To split a video into two items, click the video, and then drag the playback indicator to the point where you want to split the video. Under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Editing group, click Split. Speed up or slow down a video You can change the speed of your video in Movie Maker to make the video play faster or slower in your movie.

6 To change the speed of a video, click the video. Next, under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Adjust group, click the Speedlist, and then click a speed (depending on how much you want to speed the video up or slow it down). Adjust the video speed in your movie. URL Source: < T1=t3#t1=movies>

7 Edit the audio Get great sound in your movie by using the audio editing tools in Movie Maker. Make your finished movie feel polished and professional by adding a soundtrack and using the editing features to adjust the volume, fade music in or out, and more. Add music You can add music that plays during your movie. After you add music, you can edit it so it plays how you want in your movie. On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add music. Click the music file you want to use, and then click Open. Fade music in or out Make the audio fade in nicely at the beginning and fade out smoothly at the end to make a movie that looks and sounds professional. To make the music fade in or out, click the music. Then, under Music Tools, on the Options tab, in the Audio group, do one or both of the following: To make the music fade in, click the Fade in list, and then click the speed for the music to fade in. To make the music fade out, click the Fade out list, and then click the speed for the music to fade out. Change the start or end point of the music Trim the beginning or end of the music, so only the part of the song that you want plays in your final movie. To trim the beginning or end of the music, click the music, and then drag the playback indicator on the storyboard to the point in the music where you want it to start or stop playing in your movie. Do one of the following: To set a new start point for the music to start playing at the current point, under Music Tools, on the Options tab, in the Editing group, click Set start point.

8 To set a new end point so the music stops playing at the current point, under Music Tools, on the Options tab, in the Editing group, click Set end point. Change the audio volume You can change the volume of a music item or the audio in a video. This way, regardless of the audio or music that's playing, it sounds just right in your movie. To change the volume of a music item, click the music. Under Music Tools, on the Options tab, in the Audio group, click Music volume, and then move the slider left to lower the volume or right to increase it. To change the volume of the audio in a video, click the video. Under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Audio group, click Video volume, and then move the slider left to lower the volume or right to increase it. Change the volume in your movie to make it sound just right. URL Source: < T1=t3#t1=audio>

9 Choose a theme Use AutoMovie themes to make a great-looking movie in just a few clicks in Movie Maker. Just pick your photos, videos, and a theme, and then the transitions and effects are added for you. Add photos and videos On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add videos and photos. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the photos and videos you want to use, and then click Open. Add music On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add music. Click the music file you want to use, and then click Open. Choose an AutoMovie theme On the Home tab, in the AutoMovie themes group, click the theme you want to use. Movie Maker automatically adds titles, credits, transitions, effects, and more for you. You can continue editing as you normally would, or just save your movie. Choose from several different AutoMovie themes to get the look you want for your movie. URL Source: < T1=t3#t1=theme>

10 Share on the web With Movie Maker, you can quickly publish your movie to popular websites, and then share your movie with friends, family, or the whole world. Add photos and videos On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add videos and photos. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the photos and videos you want to use, and then click Open. Edit your project Edit your project so it appears how you want. This includes adding any music, titles, effects, and transitions, or making other edits that you want. Publish your movie on the web On the Home tab, in the Sharing group, click the website where you want to publish your movie. Enter your user name and password, and then follow the steps to publish your movie. To publish a movie to your computer 1. Click File, click Publish Movie. 2. Click This computer, and then click Next. 3. In the File name box, type a name for your movie. 4. In the Publish to box, choose where you want to save your movie once it's published, and then click Next. 5. Choose the settings you want to use to publish your movie, and then click Publish. 6. If you want to watch your movie after it has been published, select the Play movie when I click Finish check box. 7. Click Finish. Watch your movie online After your movie is published on the web, click Watch online to watch your movie on the website. You can then send a link to your movie in an message to friends and family, so they can watch your movie online.

11 Publish your movies on popular video sharing and social networking websites, right from Movie Maker. URL Source: < T1=t3#t1=web>