Video Editor

Use free video software to create and edit videos of any complexity from a family greeting card to a company presentation. Cut, merge video files, apply visual and audio effects, use filtration and image correction, make slideshows and add an appropriate soundtrack. Use multi-color Chroma Key and advanced parameters settings to give your video a professional look. All popular video and audio formats are supported.

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Video Converter

This program is intended for converting video files from one format to another. Nearly all popular video formats are supported (both reading and saving). In addition, the program drastically simplifies the task of converting videos for playback on specific multimedia devices, such as iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Huawei P30 Pro. The program is extremely easy to use, has a modern interface and all necessary video processing functions.

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Audio Converter

The audio converter will help you convert audio files from one format to another. All key audio formats and codecs are supported. The program also allows you to manage playlists and meta tags, extract audio from video files and save these tracks on your computer in any format.

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Audio CD Grabber

This audio tool is intended for grabbing audio tracks from compact discs and saving them to the user’s computer in any format. Nearly all popular audio formats and codecs are supported. The program can also extract track details from the FreeDB server for automatic file renaming and updating meta tags.

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Multifunctionality

Multifunctionality

A wide array of multimedia processing tools in one free video software suite.

High speed

High speed

Our programs use fast
and high-quality algorithms optimized for single and multi-core CPU’s.

Affordability

Affordability

VSDC video software is freely available for download to Windows OS-based PCs and laptops.

How to Create Effect of Raindrops in VSDC Free Video Editor

Video editing technology has advanced so much, you can now control the weather in your videos! Let’s suppose you want to create an illusion of falling raindrops or severe fog that makes the camera lens look steamy. In VSDC Free Video Editor, you can do all of that – and even more.

How to create an effect of raindrops or a foggy glass in a video

Download VSDC Free Video Editor for Windows

The new feature allows you to add the effect of falling raindrops to your video, achieve the foggy glass look, and the best part – you can customize those effects very precisely. That means VSDC doesn’t just provide you with an all-size-fits-all “filter” to lay over your video, but it allows you to control such parameters as the size and the number of water drops, the speed they are falling with, and even imitate raindrops freezing on the camera lens.

Note that you’ll be able to apply this effect to the entire scene or to a particular area using video masking. For example, if there is a window or a glass in the scene you’d like to use this effect on without modifying the entire footage, you’ll be able to do that.

In the tutorial below, we’ll show you how the raindrops video effect works in VSDC, and how you can use it for your projects.

How to add the raindrops effect to a video in VSDC

First, we recommend downloading the latest version of VSDC. Even if you already have this software installed on your PC, it’s always better to upgrade whenever a new version is released.

Once ready, launch VSDC and follow these steps:

  • Import your footage to the scene using the Import content button on the start screen.
  • Make a left-click on the footage and select Video effects. Proceed to OpenGLRaindrops.
  • In the pop-up Object’s position setting window, hit OK.

How to apply a raindrop video effect in VSDC

Now, the default version of the Raindrops effect is applied to your video.

Next, you have a set of tools to fine-tune it to your needs. To get started, make a double-click on the footage, left-click on the effect layer and open the Properties window.

This is what it looks like:

Raindrop effect settings available in VSDC Free Video Editor

There are three groups of setting available for the raindrops effect in the Properties window:

  1. Common settings
  2. Adjustments effect settings
  3. Effect settings

Common settings allow you to add a title to the effect layer, set the moment when the effect will appear in the video (by seconds or by frames), and the duration of the effect (in seconds or in frames).

Adjustment effect settings enable you to choose the transparency level for the effect. You can have the same level of transparency for the entire effect duration or you can have it gradually increase/decrease to the desired level.

For the latter, the Initial value and the Final value of the Transparency parameter should be different. For example, here is what the effect will look like if we set the Initial value at 100% (completely non-transparent) and the Final value at 10%:

Effect settings include multiple options to change various parameters, such as:

  • Intensity of the fog on the glass
  • Size and number of raindrops
  • Trails that running drops leave on the glass
  • And more

Because there is a lot to unveil, this group of settings deserves a review on its own. Below, we’ll take a closer look at each parameter and show you the results they produce when you increase or decrease their values.

Raindrops video effect: advanced settings overview

The first parameter is called Effect type and it opens two options: Rain and Foggy glass. “Rain” creates an imitation of raindrops falling on the glass (or camera lens), and “Foggy glass” creates the look of a steamy glass with water drops and traces here and there.

The difference between the raindrop effect and the effect of a foggy glass in VSDC

The next parameter is called Blur type. It allows you to adjust the level of blur and therefore - control the fog intensity. There are three blur types available:

  • None – the absence of fog
  • Type 1 – the glass is slightly fogged-up
  • Type 2 – the glass is covered with fog

If you select Type 1 or Type 2, you can also set Blur quality and Blur radius. The latter defines how much fog there will be on the surface, and you might want to set a dynamic change of this parameter using the Initial and the Final values.

For example, here is how a window becomes more fogged-up over time if you set the Final value for Blur radius higher than the Initial value.

Increasing blur radius for the raindrop video effect in VSDC

Next comes the Droplet visibility parameter. By changing it, you can make the droplets more distinct. Again, if you want to show the dynamics and increase (or decrease) the visibility of raindrops during the playback, the Initial and the Final values for this parameter should be different.

Here is what the effect will look like if the Initial value equals 1 and the Final value equals 10.

When you increase the drop visibility parameter for the raindrop video effect, the droplets become sharper

Note that if the Droplet visibility value is equal to 0, no droplets will be visible.

Trails intensity is the parameter that helps you control the intensity of water drop trails. Again, if you want to show the effect progress, use the Initial and Final values.

For example, in the video below, the Trails intensity parameter goes from 0 to 200.

Increasing the intensity of raindrop trails in a video

Notice that when the value is 0, there are no trails visible.

The next parameter named Continuous trail will only be available if you choose the Foggy glass effect type and set the Droplet visibility value is above 0. When switched to “True”, this option helps imitate smooth, uninterrupted trails.

What does the continuous trails parameter mean in VSDC when you work with the raindrops effect

If you want to create an illusion of raindrops freezing as they fall on the surface, use the parameter called Frozen raindrops. When its value equals 0, the effect isn’t being applied, but the higher the value is, the deeper the water freezes.

This is what frozen raindrops effect looks like in VSDC Free Video Editor

Density of drops allows you to control how many random-size droplets will be added by the effect. The higher the value is, the more of the surface will be covered with raindrops. In the example below, the Density of drops parameter value increases from 0 to 100.

The density of raindrops allows you to decide how many raindrops should appear on the surface

Notice how the number of droplets in the video increases along with the size of some of them.

Drops scale simply allows you to enlarge the drops of water that leave trails. In the example below, the Drops scale value is gradually increased from 20 to 200.

Increasing drop scale from 20 to 200 when using the raindrop effect in VSDC

If you want to change the speed of water drops running down, use Drop falling speed. Note that this option will only affect the droplets with trails.

To adjust the look of the water drops that don’t have trails, use the Small drops menu. It includes the parameters similar to the ones we’ve reviewed above: Density of drops, Drops scale, and Drop falling speed.

Finally, the last group of settings is called Adjust image, and it enables you to correct the colors of the raindrop effect. Specifically, you can correct the colors of the footage you’re applying the effect to and the color of the water drops as well.

There are three editing modes available for you:

  • Don’t use adjustment (no color correction applied)
  • Image adjustment (color correction applied to the footage only)
  • Effect adjustment (color correction applied to the water drops):

For the Image and Effect adjustment modes, you get the Red/Green/Blue value scale to multiply values of the selected tones in the footage by the number you input.

For example, this is what Image adjustment will result in if we gradually increase the blue tones.

Raindrop effect settings: gradual increase the blue tones of the footage

And this is the result of blue tones increased in the Effect adjustment mode.

Notice that the color adjustment menu also includes Red/Green/Blue value offset parameters. By increasing the value for the selected tones, you increase their intensity by the value you input.

Here is an illustration of gradual Blue value offset increase for the footage.

Raindrop effect settings: gradual blue value offset increase for the footage

And notice the difference when we perform a similar parameter adjustment for the effect.

Gradual blue value offset increase for the raindrop effect in the video

Go ahead and try the new effect available in VSDC

The new effect can be a stylish addition to your video and help create a realistic look of raindrops, fogged-up windows, or just condensate on any surface. If that sounds like something you’ve been willing to try, download the latest version of VSDC and try it for yourself!

Join our community on Facebook and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly editing tutorials.

VSDC Artificial Intelligence Art Generator: Presets & Tutorial

At VSDC, we believe that Artificial Intelligence is the future of creative tools, and the AI Art Generator is a great example to illustrate that. It employs the power of neural networks to help you turn images and videos into unique, stylish masterpieces.

By using the presets from the collection below, you’ll be able to edit your footage in one click – without performing any editing! Check out the collection, download any preset to your taste, and scroll down to see how to apply it to your video.

 

Movie Artificial Intelligence Art Generator

How to Create Video or GIF with Transparent Background in VSDC

Videos and GIFs with transparent background are very handy for applying special effects, creating custom transitions or animated title templates.

If you have just a little bit of imagination and you know how the idea of transparent backgrounds work, you’ll be able to perform real magic tricks.

In the tutorial below, we’ll show you how to make a video background transparent and how to remove background from a GIF using a free video editor for Windows called VSDC. You can download VSDC here.

But before we start, let’s get a couple of frequently asked questions out of the way.

How can a video have a transparent background?

Some people think they can take any video and just remove its background leaving the selected parts or object only. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work that way.

The only way to create a video with a transparent background is to have it initially shot in front of a green screen. Once you upload a green screen video to VSDC (or any other video editor that has the Chroma Key tool), you can remove the green color from it, thus leaving the background transparent.

 

Basically, the same rule applies to GIFs with transparent background – especially given that most GIFs are just converted videos.

Which video formats support transparency?

The reason why many people fail to export videos with a transparent background is that most video formats and codecs don’t support transparency.

If you want to avoid the common export mistake, you should remember: transparency only works with the MOV (PNG lossless codec) and GIFs.

Now that we’ve sorted things out, let’s see how to create a video with a transparent background in VSDC. We’ll assume you already have a video with a green background. If not, you can practice on free stock footage from marketplaces like Videvo and Pexels.

How to create a video with transparent background in VSDC

Step 1. Launch VSDC and click the Import content button on the start screen. Then select the green screen video from your PC.

Step 2. In the Project’s settings window that pops up, find Opacity and set it at zero. Then click Finish.

Step 3. Open the Video effects menu, proceed to Transparency >> Background remover. In the pop-up window, click Ok.

Background remover feature in VSDC

Step 4. If there is a green light border remaining around the object, go to the Properties window and manually change the Brightness threshold and the Chromaticity threshold parameters until the green color disappears. For more detailed guidance, check out our tutorial on removing background from a video.

Step 5. Once ready, open the Export project tab. Among “Media devices” (top left corner), select PC. Among “Output video formats”, select MOV. Find the “Edit profile” button under the preview window and click on it to change the codec of the video. On the Video settings menu, select Video codec >> PNG lossless. Hit Apply profile and export the project.

And this is it! In just five easy steps, you’ve got a video with a transparent background. You can now place it over any other video or image and create mind-blowing effects:

Now, if you need to create a GIF with a transparent background, everything works exactly the same way. You can either export the video you were working on as a GIF instead of a MOV file by selecting Web >> GIF on the Export project tab, or you can import a GIF with a green background to VSDC and follow the background removal steps described above.

If you’re having a hard time removing green shades around the object, chances are that the lighting was uneven during the shoot. It’s also a common issue if a model in your video has loose hair: the space between hairs gets very stubborn when it comes to removing green background. The best solution in this case would be to switch to the HSL chromakey mode. HSL is only available in the premium version of VSDC (you can get it for $19,99 per year), but it’s the most effective solution if you’re struggling with green screen videos.

Before we wrap this up, here is one more trick you can do with transparent background videos.

How to create animated text with transparent background

So far, we’ve been talking about removing a background from the video. In this last part of the tutorial, we’ll talk about creating a quick transparent background intro.

Let’s suppose, you want to have an animated title on a transparent background, so you could use it multiple times without creating the entire intro from scratch. Or you might need to have a transparent background overlay with moving icons, shapes, or images.

Here is how to do it.

Step 1. Launch VSDC and hit the Blank project button. In the Project’s settings window, set the Opacity at 0% and click Finish.

Step 2. Add text using the T icon from the left-hand side menu. Add the placeholder to the scene, type the title, and adjust its style using the text editing menu. Similarly, if you need to add an icon or a PNG image, you should use the Shift + I hotkey combination to import the desired file from your PC.

Tip: it might be convenient to place a contrasting rectangle to the scene, one layer below the text layer on the timeline. This way, it will be easier to preview the effects applied to the text title. Once you’re done editing, just delete the rectangle and save the video with transparent background as originally planned.

Step 3. Make a double-click on the text and use the Movement button from the left-hand side menu. Then point the vector to the place in the scene where you want the text to move.

Note that the free version of VSDC only allows for creating one movement path that consists of 2 control points. If you need to create a trajectory with more than 2 points, you should consider VSDC Pro.

Step 4. You can apply any effects from the Video effects menu to the text title to make its appearance (and disappearance) more impressive. For instance, in the example above, we used a simple Diffuse transition. To quickly apply it, right-click on the text layer, select Video effects >> Transitions >> Diffuse.

Step 5. Once ready, go to the Export tab and save the video in the MOV format with PNG lossless codec selected.

As you can see, this is a very basic version of an animated title, but our goal was to show you the key principles. The ball is in your court now! Use your imagination, get inspired by other video tutorials, and combine the techniques you’ve learned. Just go ahead and experiment! You have all the tools for creating an awesome video.

The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Stop Motion Video on Computer

Stop motion animation is currently gaining a new wave of popularity. It’s unbelievable how the technique that used to dominate the storytelling genre for kids is now used for all types of videos! It serves perfectly to illustrate tutorials, promote products, show work in progress, or just impress and entertain your audience.

How to create a stop motion video from scratch - step-by-step tutorial

And if you’re a parent of school-age children, you might already know that making stop motion videos can be a perfect DIY project to keep kids busy at home!

The best part about it? Stop motion is super easy to shoot even if you have absolutely zero experience, zero professional equipment, and zero budget. All is required is a bit of creativity and patience.

From this article, you’ll learn how to create stop motion videos. We’ll walk you through the setup process, the shooting, and editing. This is a no-budget tutorial, which means you probably already have all the things you’ll need:

  • Any camera. Smartphone, GoPro, DSLR – it doesn’t matter
  • Laptop (we’ll be using a Windows PC)
  • VSDC Free Video Editor (if you’re on Mac, use iMovie)

Need ideas, too? At the end of the article, we’ll share 7 easy ideas for stop motion animation that you can borrow for your project.

Before we get to practice though, let’s make sure we have the theory sorted out.

Still confused about what stop motion is?

If you know nothing about stop motion, at first, it looks like magic. Just think about it. Objects – dolls, Lego parts, food, or pieces of paper – move around and change their shapes! All without human presence.

Stop motion video example with paper - origami

In reality, a stop motion video is just a bunch of photos of an object taken between the moments when you manually change its position or shape.

Here is what the process looks like: you place an object, take a photo, make a teeny-tiny change, take another photo, make another change, take another photo, and so on. When you stitch all the photos together and play their sequence at high speed, it looks as if the object is moving independently.

The smaller the changes are, and the more frames you take, the more realistic your stop motion animation will look. We’ll talk about all these details in a couple of paragraphs.

How to make a stop motion video step by step

Now that you have an idea of how stop motion animation works, let’s see exactly how you can bring your ideas to life.

Step one: create a storyboard

If you’re making your first stop motion video, it’s always a good idea to have a plan. And if you get your plan sketched – that’s even better. Storyboards will help you with that.

A storyboard is a visual breakdown of your stop motion animation – either by frames or by groups of frames. This is what your storyboard may look like:

How to create a storyboard for a stop motion video

Source: Storyboard

Depending on your project, you will need to take from dozens to hundreds of photos. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming. Having a storyboard will help you ensure everything is going according to the scenario and you’ve shot all the frames you need.

You can create your own storyboard from scratch or find templates on Pinterest. Feel free to pick one and print it out for your convenience. Some creators prefer writing a bullet list of frames instead of sketching them. And if you decide to go that route – it’s up to you.

Step two: set up your camera

While the objects in your stop motion video will be moving, your camera shouldn’t. It is crucial for the frame to stay steady.

Sure, you will be able to fix minor frame shifts with the help of video editing software. However, to avoid that extra work, we strongly recommend using some sort of stabilization for the camera. You want to place it in one spot and leave it there until the end of shooting. Ideally, you shouldn’t even touch the shutter button.

What can you use? Depending on your camera, the ideal solutions would be a tripod, a gimbal, a selfie stick, a mount, or a car holder. If you have none of these, shooting will be less convenient, but still possible. Just keep in mind that once you find the position for the camera, you cannot move it even one bit.

Want to go the extra mile? Search for DIY ideas for an overhead camera rig or a smartphone stabilizer and use them to be on the safe side.

DIY idea for stabilizing camera before starting to shoot a stop-motion video

Source: Nofilmschool

Step three: start making pictures

You have the scenario, the props, and the camera waiting. Time to start the photoshoot.

Now, you might be wondering how many frames you need to take. To answer this question, we’ll need to do some math.

Regular non-animated videos typically contain anywhere from 30 to 120 frames per second. When you’re making a stop motion video, you want to have at least 10 frames per second for a decent looking animation.

The number of frames has a direct impact on the resulting animation. The more frames per second a video has, the smoother the motion looks.

Based on the number of frames, you can estimate how long your stop motion video will be. For example, if you’ve shot 100 photos and you stick to the 10 frames per second rate, the duration of your video will be 10 seconds. If you, however, decide to make a smoother 25 fps animation, the same 100 photos will result in a 4-second video.

The other way to think about it is the duration of each frame. If you want to create a 10 fps stop motion video, there should be 10 frames within one second. That means each frame’s duration will be 1/10 of a second or 0.1 sec. If you set the duration at 0.04 sec for each frame, you’ll get a 25 fps stop motion animation, and so on.

This brings us to a popular question:

How many frames are in 30 seconds of animation?

The answer is: it depends on the frame rate you select. If you choose 10 fps, there will be 300 frames in 30 seconds of animation. If you set a 20 frames per second rate, the animation will look much smoother, but it will require 600 frames. Easy!

Step four: merge photos in VSDC

VSDC Free Video Editor provides a convenient way to create stop motion animation. Once you’ve taken all the photos and uploaded them to your computer, here is what you need to do:

  1. Launch VSDC on your computer and start a blank project
  2. Go to the left-hand side menu and select Animation
  3. In the Pop-up object’s settings window, hit OK
  4. Go to the Properties window and click Edit animation object
  5. Set the width and the height based on the resolution of your photos
  6. Set the desired frame rate
  7. Select and delete the embedded .PNG file
  8. Hit Add images
  9. Select the photos from your computer and hit OK

How to create a stop-motion animation for free in VSDC

And this is it! Use the preview feature to make sure your stop motion video looks the way you expected.

Note, that you’ll be able to change the frame rate at any point. Just select the animation layer on the timeline and go to the Properties window. Then hit the Edit animation object button and adjust the frame rate. Each time the frame rate changes, the duration of the video will be changing accordingly.

Step five: add titles

You might want to add titles or captions that will appear at the selected moment and provide context for your story. You can easily add various text objects to a video in VSDC.

Use the left-hand side toolbar to create a text object and adjust its appearance: size, font, color, style, and other parameters. Next, drag the text to the designated area in the scene and set the moment when it should appear. To do that, you can just manually drag the text layer on the timeline or find the Object creation time parameter in the Properties window and set the exact frame (or second) when the text should appear. In the same window, specify how long the text should stay in the scene.

Step six: add audio

No matter what your story is about, you probably don’t want to end up with a silent movie.

To add music, use the Shift + A shortcut and import an audio file from your computer. Then cut it if needed, change the volume, apply the fade-in effect – in other words, tailor the audio to your needs.

One of the go-to places with a large collection of royalty-free music and sound effects on the Internet is the YouTube audio library, but feel free to check out other marketplaces offering similar collections.

Step seven: export your stop motion video

When you’re done editing the video, go to the Export project tab and select the desired format. The best options would be the “Web –> for YouTube” profile or “Web -> GIF”.

How to save a stop-motion video to the computer in the correct format

Note that you’ll be able to adjust the quality, the resolution, and the framerate using the Edit profile button located under the preview window.

How to make a stop motion video: tips for beginners

Before you dive right into the shooting process, check out these quick tips to avoid common beginner’s mistakes.

Tip 1. Keep it steady

We can’t stress it enough: the area where you’re shooting, the camera, the camera settings, and the light must be steady while you’re taking pictures. If you’re shooting on an iPhone or a tablet, Rob from the Science Filmmaking Tips channel recommends downloading an app to control the shutter button remotely, so you don’t have to touch the device every time to take a shot. Another option is using time-lapse apps that will help you take pictures automatically with time intervals. They are called intervalometers, and they minimize manipulations with the camera during the photoshoot.

Tip 2. Watch the shadows

… and don’t rely on the sunlight. That’s a small addition to the previous tip about keeping the light steady. If you’re shooting near the window or outdoors, the light in your photos will vary from picture to picture. And unless having a changing light is a part of your story plot, it may mess up the result.

Tip 3. If you can’t find the desired sound effect, record it

Sometimes, the free sound effects available in online libraries are not what you are looking for. Other times, you just don’t know how to describe the sound you need, and therefore it’s hard to search for.

If that happens to you, consider recording your own sounds or voice commentaries.

7 Stop motion video ideas for beginners

For this chapter, we’ve compiled a list of popular stop motion video ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Most of these videos are created with a 30 frames per second rate.

Toys come alive

You’ve probably seen Lego stop motion videos hundreds of times, so how about we skip this idea and go straight to animating one of your favorite toys? This adorable stormtrooper walk is created by Snooperking for the Videvo marketplace and it looks way too real!

Toys coming alive is a popular stop-motion animation scenario

Work or growth in progress

Okay, we know this is not exactly the same pepper, but you can borrow this idea and apply it to lots of scenarios showing a dynamic over time. On the Internet, you’ll find stop motion videos of plants, flowers, pets, bellies, and babies growing. Some of those took months to shoot, but the result is surely worth it.

You can easily show work in progress using stop-motion videos

Drawing and painting

Want to take the artist out of the picture? Then create an illusion of a drawing that appears on a piece of paper by itself.

A drawing that doesn’t include the artist - stop-motion video idea

Wrinkled paper

Paper is often used for stop motion animation, both as a stage prop and a background. The video below is courtesy of Videezy, and if you have a channel on YouTube, you can use this idea for a video intro or an outro.

Wrinkled paper is an excellent prop for a stop-motion video

Visual tutorials

Stop motion is a perfect technique to illustrate and explain almost everything, including science and technology, even if you know nothing about filmmaking! Check out this short animation illustrating file downloading from the global network to a local folder.

Cooking videos

What can be more satisfying than cooking videos? Perhaps, cooking videos with no people in them. Just look at this pasta marching to the saucepan! Feeling hungry yet?

Food stop-motion video ideas

Marketing videos

If you are a business owner, you know that video marketing is at its peak right now. You also know that video production can be pricey. Unless you know how to make stop motion videos! Shoot your product in action, create an explainer video or a fun teaser for social media. The opportunities are endless.

Marketing videos shot with the stop-motion technique

How long does it take to make a stop motion video? (it’s probably faster than you thought)

We hope you have a clear idea of how to make a stop motion video and now are off to a great start!

But here comes another popular question: how long will it take you to shoot your first animation? Well, that entirely depends on your approach and the storyline.

Let’s try to do basic calculations for a simple project. Say, you want to create a 30-second stop motion animation and you have everything ready for the shoot. If you use an intervalometer app, and it’s set to take pictures every 10 seconds, it will take you about an hour to shoot enough frames for a 10 fps video (given that you’ll be able to move fast and change the object’s position within those 10-second intervals). Double that if you want to go for 20 frames per second. Add another hour (give or take) for the setup, image uploading, and merging – and voila! You have a 3-4 hour project for a rainy day.

Sounds like fun? Then happy editing and good luck.

How to Edit Your Gameplay. Step-by-Step Guide, Best Practices, and Free Game Video Editors Reviewed

YouTube is full of raw, unedited gameplays nobody wants to watch. And that’s a shame because with just a little bit of time and effort, many of them could be turned into engaging clips and attract lots of viewers. (If you didn’t want views, you wouldn’t be uploading your gameplay videos to YouTube in the first place, would you?)

The truth is, sometimes people don’t want to watch your entire gameplay. Their attention span is short, and they either need to solve a specific problem when they’re stuck in a game or they just want to get entertained by the most epic moments. And how do you deliver that? By editing your gameplay video and making it helpful and enjoyable.

In this article, we’ll show you how to edit gaming videos for free. We’ll walk you through the preparation process step by step and show you how to perform basic gaming montage. Plus, we’ll give you a few tips for producing a better video. Finally, we’ll also review free game video editing software you can use for your project.

Which gaming video editor should you use?

Good news. There are a lot of decent free NLEs (non-linear video editors) out there that can become your game video editing software of choice.

For the purpose of this tutorial, we’ll be using VSDC Free Video Editor. It’s recommended by many gaming YouTubers because it’s free and lightweight (works even on low-spec PCs). Plus, it brings screen and webcam recorders on board which comes in handy if you want to record yourself while playing.

Note that VSDC works on Windows only. You can download it from the official website.

If you’re on Mac or Linux, we’ll provide you with alternative game video editing software in a few paragraphs. Stay tuned!

Before you get to edit your gameplay video: step-by-step preparation plan

If you want to create a Let’s Play or a walkthrough, there will be very little editing involved – mostly, cutting and merging. However, if you’re working on a guide or a supercut of the best moments in the game, you’ll need to go beyond basic editing.

The tips we’ve put together below should help you with any project, be it a walkthrough, a gameplay, a trailer, a gag with fun moments, or a Let’s Play.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Step 1. Plan your gameplay production ahead

We know, we know. You probably can’t wait to start playing. But hold your horses – having a plan is key.

You might not need a detailed scenario with a script for voice commentaries, but you should have a clear idea of what you’re producing. Start by answering these questions:

Which genre will your gaming video be?

Are you recording a walkthrough or an LP? A gag or a game review? Once you make that choice, stay focused. Imagine a YouTuber promising to show you how to do something in a game and taking way too long to get to the point wandering around and talking off-topic. That’s annoying. Don’t be that guy.

What’s your goal?

Are you doing it for fun or you want to maximize the number of views? The answer to this question will help you decide which game to choose and what exactly to show in the video.

If you couldn’t care less about the views and getting found on YouTube – go ahead and just do what you love. But if your goal is to grow the channel and attract viewers, you might want to do a quick research and find out what people are actually looking for. By producing a gaming video that meets viewers’ requests, you get higher chances to be indexed by the YouTube search engine and show up among the first results where all the eyeballs are.

For keyword research, use free tools like Answer The Public (above), Online Keyword Tool, or just check related searches in Google. For example, you can type “name of your game of choice + walkthrough” and see what comes up at the bottom of the page.

What will you choose for a soundtrack?

This might sound like a simple question, but you should dedicate a couple of minutes to it before you start recording. For instance, if you’re planning to use voice comments, you should make sure your microphone works properly. And even if you’re planning to add background music, you might need the sounds of the game too. Forgetting to record the sound of the game is one of the most common rookie mistakes!

And that brings us to the next step: installing video capturing software and recording the game.

Step 2. Record the gameplay

Whether you’re using your gaming laptop, or you’re a lucky owner of the latest PlayStation, there are dedicated apps and devices to help you record gameplays.

Now, finding the right software for laptops is easy. OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free screen capture program you’ve probably already heard of. Plus, there are many other screen recording tools for both Windows and macOS computers (including VSDC Free Screen Recorder, Apowersoft, Screencast-O-Matic, and others).

If you’re using a console though, you should consider buying a gameplay capturing device. It will help you connect your TV to the computer and record everything happening on the screen – to later upload the footage to a game video editor quickly and easily. Keep in mind that the ideal device should allow you to record both – the game sound and live commentaries via a microphone or a headset.

And in case you were wondering – no, recording your TV screen with a camera is rarely a good idea. Don’t do that.

Step 3. Get yourself a soundtrack or record voice comments

You’ve made it this far – good job! Now, before you upload the footage to the game video editor of your choice, there is one tiny detail left. The audio.

If you were recording the game and making voice comments in real-time with your headset – skip this part. But if you need to create a voiceover, you’ll need to do it separately either before or after editing the gameplay video.

Background music is also a great idea, it helps make videos more engaging. You can’t add just any music to your gameplay though because of the music copyright law. The easiest option will be to find a nice tune in the YouTube music library. All tracks there are royalty-free and available at zero cost. Plus, there are sound effects there too!

Step 4. Download game video editing software

Now you have everything to start editing the gameplay. Time to choose your tool.

Depending on which OS you’re using, here are the free gaming video editors to consider:

VSDC – free gaming video editing software for Windows

VSDC is a lightweight, newbie-friendly video editor for gameplay footage. It works even on PCs with limited RAM, allows for importing and exporting any video format, and brings all the essential features you’d expect from a gameplay video editor.

VSDC is a free lightweight gameplay video editor

VSDC has a Pro version that boasts advanced tools like masking and motion tracking. However, chances are, the feature set of the free version will be sufficient for you at the beginning. In a couple of paragraphs, we’ll show you how to edit a gameplay video in VSDC.

iMovie – free gaming video editing software for macOS

iMovie is a great choice of a gaming video editor if you’re using Apple products. It’s available for free, and you can use it seamlessly across devices. That means you’ll be able to edit mobile gameplays right on your smartphone or tablet. Or you can start editing a video on your tablet and continue on your Mac (thank Apple for smooth synchronization!).

iMovie is a great gameplay video editor for macOS

Kdenlive – free gaming video editing software for Linux

Kdenlive is an open-source, cross-platform program that works on any OS, but it has gained its fame by being the most popular video editor for Linux. Kdenlive is a user-friendly program with a minimalistic interface, fast project rendering, and a set of convenient keyboard shortcuts. Like any open-source project, Kdenlive has a lot of community support, so if you get stuck, there are dedicated forums and YouTube tutorials created by more experienced users.

Kdenlive is a gameplay video editor for users on Linux

 

 

How to use VSDC, free game video editing software

Once you download VSDC Free Video Editor to your PC, launch it and use the Import content button to upload your gaming footage. When you use this option, the software automatically detects the settings of your video and adjusts the project settings accordingly.

1. Cut out the boring stuff

The first step is to get rid of all the unnecessary footage. If you’re aimed at creating a clip with the best (the funniest, the most epic) moments, make sure those are the only ones you leave. At times, you’ll be tempted to keep more footage than needed, but that’s exactly when your script comes in handy. Remember your initial idea and stick to the course.

To cut your gameplay video in VSDC, place the cursor where you want to make the cut and hit the razor icon at the top.

The footage will split into two parts. Repeat the action as many times as needed to cut out the unwanted pieces. Then click anywhere on the scene to unselect the entire file.

Finally, select the pieces you want to remove and hit “Delete”.

2. Merge what’s left and add transitions (or don’t)

In VSDC, you can merge videos just by dragging them and docking together. The program also offers a few transitions, but the truth is, gaming videos don’t need fancy effects between scenes. There is a lot happening on the screen already!

That’s why the best option will be either to use no transitions at all or to apply minimalistic transitions like FadeFX. To apply FadeFX, place the cursor at the end of a scene (make sure that the piece of the video you want to apply the transition to is selected on the timeline). Open the Video Effects menu, proceed to Transitions, and select FadeFX.

Use minimalistic FadeFX transitions when editing gameplay videos

3. Add audio to your gameplay footage

To add an audio file to the project, either hit the Shift+A combination or use the Add object button and choose Audio. Then select the desired file from your computer.

You’ll be able to edit your audio track to make sure it sounds the way you want. Cut out unwanted pieces, change the volume of the audio, or apply audio effects, such as Fade in or Fade out.

4. Add yourself to the video (picture-in-picture effect)

If you’re wondering how to make your gameplay video more engaging, consider bringing yourself to the picture (quite literally). With the picture-in-picture effect, you can place the footage of yourself playing or commenting over the gameplay video.

This is what it’s going to look like:

Picture-in-picture effect is the best way to add the player to the gameplay video

To recreate this, you can either record yourself while playing or capture yourself watching and commenting on the resulting gameplay video – similarly to how reaction videos are created.

Once you have the footage of yourself ready, import it to the project using the Shift + V hotkey combination or use the Add object menu and select Video. Make sure to place the footage of yourself above the gameplay video layer on the timeline, then resize it and drag it to the corner.

If you need more detailed guidance, check our picture-in-picture effect tutorial.

5. Add titles and captions

VSDC brings a full-featured text editor on board, so you can easily add a title, a tooltip, or captions. You can also make them appear at the right moment and stay in sight for as long as you need.

Add titles and captions to gameplay video using VSDC

To add text to a video, place the cursor at the moment on the timeline when you want the title to appear. Then open the Add object menu and select Text. An editing menu will open at the top – use it to adjust the style of the text to your liking. Next, stretch or cut the text layer on the timeline to change its duration in the scene.

To create a smooth appearance, make a right mouse click on the text layer, go to Video effects, select Transparency >> Fade In.

If you want the text to follow an object in a video, check out the motion tracking module available in VSDC Pro. Motion tracking is very helpful if you need to create captions for various objects in a video and make sure they stay attached even when the objects are moving.

6. Highlight the best moments

Earlier we said that video effects are redundant when it comes to editing gameplay videos. However, they might look appropriate if you want to emphasize particular moments in the game or drive viewers’ attention to an object in the scene. This is clearly optional, but if you’re planning to turn gameplay montage into a hobby, you might eventually want to add a few cinematic effects here and there.

Here is what you can try:

  1. Create suspense with a freeze - frame effect. The freeze-frame effect involves taking snapshots of the selected frames and using them to “freeze” the video for a second for creating suspense or adding written comments. The effect is unbelievably easy to apply. Check this tutorial if you’d like to master it.
  2. Change colors to set the mood. A drastic change of colors – when the video becomes black-and-white, for instance – will help create a dramatic effect and make a visual emphasis on the scene.
  3. Focus on an object. If you want to create precise focus on an object in a video, you can apply the crop zoom approach or the blurred background approach – depending on what type of a gameplay video you’re working on.

7. Create intro for your gameplay video

Before you upload your masterpiece to YouTube, we recommend going the extra mile and creating a short intro. Gaming intros don’t need to be fancy, but if you have one, it will help your video stand out. Plus, you can use it to add a call to action and encourage viewers to subscribe or follow you on social media.

You’ll only need to create an intro once. Then you’ll be able to save it as a template and use it whenever needed. There are many beginner-friendly intro tutorials available on the VSDC channel – make sure to check them out.

Wrapping up

By now, you should have an idea of how to edit gameplay videos.

Has at least one of these tips helped you with your goal of growing a gaming channel? If you’ve just answered yes – that’s epic.

Now, why stop there? Go ahead and spread the word about your launch, ask for feedback, and find fellow creative thinkers. If you aren’t a member of any community for gaming YouTubers yet, make sure to check out NewTubers, YouTube gaming, and Let’s Play subreddits. You’ll surely find a lot of support and inspiration there.

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Reviewed by


"VSDC Free Video Editor is a surprisingly powerful, if unconventional video editor"

- PC Advisor


"This video editor gives you tons of control and editing power"

- CNet


"The editor handles many common formats and boasts a good deal of capabilities when it comes time to alter lighting, splice video, and apply filters and transitions in post production"

- Digital Trends