How to: Use YouTube's video editor

Introduction

YouTube's video editor provides an accessible way to create videos from your uploaded clips without the need for advanced software or hardware. This browser-based tool performs editing on Google servers, ensuring you can work with HD video on virtually any computer with an internet connection.

Getting Started with YouTube's Video Editor

1. Access the Editor: Start by navigating to youtube.com/editor. This interface displays your uploaded videos on the left, a storyboard at the bottom, and a preview area on the right.

2. Upload Prerequisites: Your videos must already be uploaded to YouTube; they cannot be directly uploaded to the editor. If you're working with clips from a digital camera, consider uploading them as unlisted to keep them private from search engines and subscribers.

3. Preview Your Clips: If you're unsure about a video, hover over it and click the arrow icon to watch it in a pop-up window.

4. Create Your Storyboard: Drag and drop desired clips onto the storyboard or click the plus icon in the top right corner of each clip to add it to your project.

5. Editing Clips:

   • Move your clips around on the storyboard as needed.
   • To edit a specific clip, hover over it and click the scissors icon. This opens a new window allowing you to adjust the start and endpoints of the clip.
   • For precise adjustments, use the nudges (small arrows at the top and bottom of the timeline) to modify the clip length by 1/15th of a second.
   • Since YouTube does not allow splitting clips, multiple instances can be dragged into the timeline to repeat or utilize different sections.

6. Adding Audio: You can enhance your project by adding audio from YouTube’s audio library. Access the library from the audio tab, where you can preview tracks before adding them to your video. Note that introducing an audio track will remove all original sounds from the video.

7. Finalizing Your Project: Once satisfied with the arrangement of clips and audio, preview your video one last time. If everything looks great, give your video a name and click the publish button. YouTube will process your video, which will then be available in your 'My Videos' list.

Keyword

• YouTube video editor
• video clips
• storyboard
• audio library
• editing tools
• unlisted uploads
• video publishing

FAQ

1. Can I upload videos directly to YouTube's video editor?
No, you must have your videos uploaded to YouTube before you can use them in the editor.

2. What should I do if I want to keep my video uploads private?
If you want privacy for your uploads, consider uploading them as unlisted. This prevents them from being visible to the public.

3. Can I split a video clip in the YouTube video editor?
Currently, YouTube does not allow users to split clips. You will have to drag the same video into the timeline multiple times to achieve this effect.

4. What happens if I add audio to my video?
Adding audio from the audio library will remove all sound from your original video. Make sure you're ready to replace the original audio before adding music.

5. How do I access the YouTube video editor?
You can access the YouTube video editor by going to youtube.com/editor.