Beginner Editing in Premiere Pro
Welcome to another in a series of BizVid Communications video tutorials. Today, I will be instructing you in the basic editing techniques on Premiere Pro. I’m using Premiere Pro CC but what you will learn is applicable to any version. I want to create a new project…so I position my mouse on the “New Project” icon and click. The next screen is where you will name your project and assign it to a folder. First, I’ll name the project, “Basic Editing.” Next, I’ll click “okay” and that will launch Premiere Pro.
First, I want to look for the section that will show what clips I have to work with. In editing terms, these are called assets. I can go to “File” and click then scroll down to “Import” and click. Or, I’ll position my mouse inside this blank area in the “Project” pane, right click and scroll down to “Import” and click. Here, it takes me to the desktop where I can search out my assets. I’ll open the “Video Clips” folder, select the clip “Walking” then click “Open.” As you can see, it brought the selected clip into the project. Next, I want to get the second clip called “Grape Vines” then click open. And there it is. Now to build the timeline. All you have to do is click and drag one of the clips into this little icon called “New Item.” When you do, your “Sequence” is automatically created and you are off and running.
Okay, I have my first clip in the timeline. Next, I’ll click and drag the second clip into the timeline. And now the third clip. Time for me to tighten up the timeline by editing these clips into a final product. I will do cuts only in broad strokes. To make edits, I have several tools from which to choose. Most of these tools have keystroke shortcuts which you will learn over time. The one I am going to use exclusively today is the “Razor Tool” found right here. The shortcut for this is the “C” key. Simply press “C” and you’ll have the cutting tool. To get back to the normal cursor, click the “Arrow Icon” or simply press the letter “V” on the keyboard.
Okay, now I’ll make some edits. I have chosen to start the video at the point where the talking begins. I’ll make my cut on the video track and on the audio track. I’ll select them both, right click and scroll to “Cut.” I want to fade up from black to begin. To find black video, I position my mouse on the “New Items” icon, scroll to “Black Video” and click. As you can see, it created a video clip which I’ll click and drag into the timeline. Next I’ll move the head of the edited clip up against it one of two ways. Click and drag it or, position my mouse in the blank area between the two and “Ripple Delete.” Now, I want to dissolve up from black into the clip. So I position my mouse between the two and click. That places a red line telling Premier where to place the dissolve. Next, I place my cursor at that spot and press “Control D.” You can see a dissolve has been placed.
Now, I’ll edit the other two clips. I’ll add the music track. (Demo) Next is to fade audio up at the beginning and out at the end. ( Watch Demo). Now we’ll export the finished video into a movie. (Watch Demo).
