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Editing Videos

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Editing Videos

Once you have recorded a new video, you'll likely want to edit it. Video editing software allows you to remove sections of a video, cut and arrange parts to give it a better flow, and add effects to enhance the content.

Recommended Editing Software

ReCap

Most people simply want to remove parts of a video to cut out unnecessary pauses, transitions and errors. We recommend you use ReCap to do this (although other software and approaches are available, ReCap makes such simple edits extremely easy).

Windows Video Editor

Windows has a free, basic video editor as part of its Photos app which can be used to create, combine and edit video and audio content.

Apple iMovie

Apple computers have the more powerful iMovie available for editing and mixing video content. You can download this to your Mac from the App Store if not already installed.

Alternative Editing Software

Looking for more advanced editing features? There are lots of tools available to choose from. However, many share the same features, and the question tends to come down the time you are willing to invest learning them - and your budget!

Software Ease of UseDescription Guidance
Camtasia Easy Screen recording and editing software. Features a range of video mixing, text overlay and transition effects. Costly, but useful for most editing requirements. Tutorials available
OBS Intermediate A free, open source tool that offers excellent video editing, mixing and compositing features. Tutorials available
DaVinci Resolve  Advanced Very powerful editing capabilities but with a steep learning curve. Free version available but will only work with systems with high processing power. Tutorials available
Final Cut Pro Advanced A high level editing software for apple users. Expensive and a steep learning curve, but excellent results. Tutorials available
Adobe Premier Pro  Advanced Often seen as Industry standard for professional editing. Requires systems with high processing power. Tutorials available 

In most instances, you will find ReCap is the best choice for simple editing tasks. If you need more features, Video Editor and iMovie are best. After that, you are free to use any video editing software you wish, but be aware that these often come with a steep learning curve.


Editing basics

Editing can be a time-consuming task, so it is always best to try and capture your video right first time. Plan what you want your video to look like before you start, consider writing a script or outline, have everything to hand before you press record, and practice practice practice your delivery.

The following list outlines some of the most popular types of video edit. However, remember that most videos do not have to be perfect! Small errors, pauses or stumbles are very rarely a problem. Rather than spend a long time editing a video or creating recording after recording looking for the perfect take, be happy with the odd error and move on - small hiccups are fine and even tend to add a sense of authenticity and realism to your content.

Exporting videos

If you use ReCap, your videos will automatically be available to share directly in Canvas. However, if you want to edit your videos in a more advanced editing tool, you will need to export or download first - and then reupload later.

The most common and recommended video formats, especially for online videos, are MP4 (H.264) and MOV. Exported files will have an .mp4 or .mov file extension respectively when saved. 

For advanced video editing software, when you export a video, you may need to set a number of export parameters; these are described below along with recommended settings.