How To Edit Videos (COMPLETE Beginner’s Guide to Video Editing!)

Learn how to edit videos for YouTube & other projects in this complete guide to video editing for beginners. Plus we’ll share our top video editing tips to help you edit better & faster!

Important: When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission!

Below is an AI-assisted summary of the key points and ideas covered in the video. For more detail, make sure to check out the full time stamped video above!

How To Edit Videos For YouTube & Other Projects

Learn video editing with our step-by-step guide for beginners. This comprehensive tutorial focuses on editing videos for YouTube and other projects. We’ll be running through this tutorial using CapCut, a free video editing software available for both Mac and Windows, but you can follow along to this process using any video editing software. 

You can also download our free video editing guide, the Primal Video Method, that goes through these steps in more details.

Step 1: Set Up Project

  • Create a new project.
  • Configure project settings such as aspect ratio, resolution, and frame rate.

Step 2: Import Footage

  • Import primary camera footage and other media into the media library.
  • Drag and drop clips into the timeline.

Step 3: Remove Bad Takes & Mistakes

  • Trim and split clips to remove unnecessary sections.
  • Use the blade tool to cut and delete unwanted sections.
  • Edit backward to quickly identify and remove mistakes.

Step 4: Add B-Roll

  • Import and add overlay footage or B-roll.
  • Place B-roll clips above primary footage in the timeline.

Step 5: Add Text and Titles

  • Add text and titles using the text tool.
  • Customize font, size, and animation for a professional look.

Step 6: Add Transitions

  • Add transitions between clips for smoother flow.
  • Use zoom-in effects to simulate a multi-camera setup.

Step 7: Add Effects

  • Apply effects like stabilization and speed adjustments.
  • Explore CapCut’s effects library for additional enhancements.

Step 8: Add Music & Sound Effects

  • Import music tracks and sound effects.
  • Adjust volume levels to ensure the main audio is clear.

Step 9: Color Grading

  • Adjust brightness, contrast, white balance, and saturation.
  • Apply these settings to all clips for consistent visuals.

Step 10: Export the Video

  • Choose export location and file name.
  • Adjust quality settings if necessary.
  • Export the video for final use.

Conclusion

Master video editing with this detailed guide using CapCut or any other video editing software. By following these step-by-step instructions, you’ll learn to create professional-quality videos efficiently and effectively. It’s the ultimate process to help you streamline your video editing workflow and minimize wasted time!

Don’t forget that you can also follow along with our free PDF guide The Primal Video Method that covers the exact steps we shared here. 

Related Tools and Resources

Related Articles

Share this...

Save this post for later?

Hit the button below and we'll send you this post for later, plus subscribe you to our awesome (free!) Primal Video Insider updates!

Table of Contents
Save this post for later?

Hit the button and we'll send you this post for later, plus subscribe you to our awesome (free!) Primal Video Insider updates!

Hit the button below and we’ll send you this post for later, plus subscribe you to our awesome (free!) Primal Video Insider updates!


More from Primal Video...

2 Best Video Editing Apps For iPhone in 2025

The best video editing apps for iPhone in 2025! This is our review of the top iPhone video editors right ...
View →
Screenflow 6: What’s new? and should you upgrade from Screenflow 5? - Banner

Screenflow 6: What’s new? and should you upgrade from Screenflow 5?

If you’re using ScreenFlow (or looking to make the leap), version 6 recently came out. The question is, should you ...
View →
YT Thumbnail Best FREE Video Editing Software For PC & Mac (2024 Review!)

Best FREE Video Editing Software For PC & Mac (2024 Review!)

Best FREE Video Editing Software For PC & Mac in 2024! This is our shortlist of the top options with ...
View →
YouTube Channel Name Ideas - How To Choose Your YouTube Name!

YouTube Channel Name Ideas – How To Choose Your YouTube Channel Name, Quickly & Easily!

Choosing a YouTube channel name? Here are our top tips including an AI YouTube name generator to help you come ...
View →
Best Podcast Microphone For Beginners in 2024!

Best Podcast Microphone For Beginners in 2024!

The best podcast microphone for beginners in 2024! We’ll share the best microphone for podcasting to suit your podcasting setup ...
View →
Video Lighting: Softbox Light Tips and 2 Common Problems - T-shirt

Video Lighting: Softbox Light Tips and 2 Common Problems

Softbox lights are a great low-cost video lighting option for DIY studios, but there are a few things you need ...
View →
How to Make & Upload a YouTube Thumbnail on iPhone (UPDATED!)

How to Make & Upload a YouTube Thumbnail on iPhone (UPDATED!)

With the right apps, it’s easy to create custom thumbnails for YouTube on your iOS phone or tablet. There are ...
View →

OpenShot Video Editor – COMPLETE Tutorial for Beginners!

OpenShot Video Editor is a FREE video editing software that works on Mac, Windows and Linux. It has some awesome ...
View →
How To Remove Video Background - Top 3 AI Tools!

How To Remove Video Background – Top 3 AI Tools!

Removing video backgrounds used to be easy with free apps everywhere, but most now hide features behind steep paywalls. If ...
View →
Don't miss a thing!

Become a Primal Video Insider to stay in the loop.

If you get my best Blue Steel impression now, just imagine what's waiting for you on the inside...

Become a Primal Video Insider and unlock:
We hate spam and promise to keep your email address safe.
Check out our Privacy Policy for more info!

If you get my best Blue Steel impression now, just imagine what's waiting for you on the inside...

Become a Primal Video Insider and unlock:
We hate spam and promise to keep your email address safe. Check out our Privacy Policy for more info!