As a tech enthusiast, you may be aware that video editing capabilities on Windows have expanded greatly over the past few decades. But what specific options exist now in Windows 11?
In this guide, I will provide a detailed walkthrough of the current tools for editing videos natively so you can level up your skills!
The Evolution of Video Editors in Windows
First, let‘s briefly recap how we got here:
| Windows Version | Year Released | Video Editing Features |
|---|---|---|
| Windows XP | 2001 | Introduced Windows Movie Maker, allowing basic timeline editing |
| Windows Vista | 2007 | Improved stability and performance of Movie Maker |
| Windows 7 | 2009 | Replaced Movie Maker with Windows Live Movie Maker, added new effects |
| Windows 8 | 2012 | Live Movie Maker continued as main video editor |
| Windows 10 | 2015 | Introduced Photos app with video trimmer for basic cuts |
| Windows 11 | 2021 | Clipchamp added as built-in advanced video editor |
As you can see above, Microsoft has consistently enhanced the built-in tools for editing videos with each OS release. Now in Windows 11, we have both a simple trimmer as well as a professional-grade editor ready for your next video project!
Getting Started with Photos App Video Editor
The Photos application in Windows 11 includes some basic video editing capabilities for trimming longer clips. Here‘s an overview:
Supported Formats
The Photos trimmer works with common video formats like MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV. Both Windows Media and H.264/HEVC codecs are supported.
User Interface
Open the video you want to edit in Photos. Then click the Edit & Create button to launch the editing toolbar. This contains options like Trim, Filters, Rotate and Crop.
You can set start and end points on the video timeline, then hit Save a copy to export the trimmed video in the same quality as original.
Limitations
While the Photos trimmer works well for quick edits, you cannot carry out more advanced tasks like adding titles, voiceovers or custom animations. This is where the Clipchamp video editor comes in!
Introducing Clipchamp Video Editor in Windows 11
Clipchamp is an online video editing application which was originally created in 2013 by a company of the same name in Australia, using web technology stacks like HTML5 and JavaScript.
In September 2021, Microsoft acquired it and included a custom desktop version for free in Windows 11. This was part of an initiative to provide full-featured creative apps for users.
Here are some innovations that enable Clipchamp‘s powerful feature set:
- Utilizes GPU and webAssembly for faster video processing and effects
- Scalable cloud media encoding for efficient 4K and 8K editing
- React JavaScript libraries to build interface using modular components
Now let me walk you through how to access this editor in Windows 11, before diving deeper.
Accessing Clipchamp in Windows 11
There are two easy ways to open your video file with Clipchamp desktop app:
Method 1
Right click the video > Open With > Clipchamp
Method 2
Open Clipchamp from Start Menu > Import video from desktop
Once imported, your media will appear in the left panel. You can now drag clips onto the timeline editor in the center to arrange scenes and apply edits!
Step-by-Step Guide to Edit Videos in Clipchamp
The drag and drop timeline workflow makes Clipchamp intuitive to use. But let me guide you through some of the powerful tools at your fingertips:
Trimming/Splitting Clips
To keep only needed parts, drag the trim handles on a clip inwards:
[gif demonstrating here]This preserves video near the trim points without re-encoding for fast cuts. For dividing into multiple sections:
- Click on desired split point
- Hit the Split button above the timeline
You can now delete or rearrange segments.
Adding Text Captions
Text overlays are essential for subtitles, captions or video titles. Simply click Add Text above the timeline and choose a style you like. For example:
- Title Card – Large cinematic text
- Simple – Basic fonts and colors
- Subtitles – Customizable text box with semi-transparent background
Now type your desired text, adjust font properties on the right pane and drag boundaries to extend duration.
Changing Playback Speed
Why would you speed up or slow down clips? Here are some examples:
- Analyze sports footage at 0.25x
- Create dramatic action chase sequence sped up 4x
- Slow pan 25% to emphasize scenic landscapes
Using the Speed control, slow down to 0.1x or accelerate up to a blistering fast 16x!
You can also directly enter custom values like 1.5x or 0.75x speed. The optimized processing ensures audio stays clear too.
Adding Music and Voiceovers
Enhance your production value by importing audio tracks like background scores and voice recordings.
Hit the Import Media button to upload your own music files and sound effects. For quick voiceovers, click the mic icon to directly record using your PC microphone!
Place these seamlessly next to video clips. Mix levels, apply fades and more with the multi-track editor.
Animating with Filters, 3D and VFX
Apart from trimming footage, you can apply slick animations like smoke, lightning and explosions using Clipchamp:
[demo gif]- Filters – Stylize clips with black & white, vintage, HDR effects and many more!
- Animated Text – Choose 3D titles, credit rolls from professionally designed templates
- Overlay Animations – Spice up travel logs with animated planes, trains passing by!
- Green Screen – Replace backgrounds with custom images or colored screens
As you can see, the options are endless when editing videos on Windows 11!
Exporting Your Masterpiece
When done with edits, export your final movie masterpiece file by:
- Hitting the Export button
- Choosing MP4 or other output format
- Configuring resolution – 720p, 1080p or even 4K!
- Selecting destination folder on your PC
You can also directly upload videos to YouTube or Google Drive. Or save as an animated GIF!
So go forth and start editing your next viral video, tech tutorial or personal documentary with Clipchamp!
Which Windows 11 Video Editor Should You Use?
With both Photos trimmer and Clipchamp available, how do you decide the right video editor for your needs?
Here is a comparison:
| Video Editor | Use Case | Performance Needed | Learning Curve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photos | Trimming longer clips into shorter sections | Low – works on old PCs too | Beginner friendly |
| Clipchamp | Advanced editing with effects, text, animations | High – needs recent multi-core CPU, dedicated GPU | Steeper learning curve |
When to use Photos app:
- Quickly remove unwanted sections from video
- No need for effects or text captions
- Only basic cuts required
- System with weaker specifications
When to use Clipchamp:
- Produce professional-grade, complex video projects
- Add animations, visual effects and text overlays
- Color correction, green screen, multi-track audio
- Export polished 4K or 8K resolution videos
Choose the best tool for your next video editing quest on Windows 11!
Troubleshooting Clipchamp Issues
Like any non-linear video editor, you may face issues importing or editing media files at times.
Here are fixes for some common Clipchamp errors:
Problem: Unsupported video codec warning on import
Fix: Install the latest video/audio codecs from K-Lite pack
Problem: Too slow to add effects or preview timeline
Fix: Clipchamp needs powerful multi-core CPU and dedicated GPU for best performance
Problem: Cannot export video at 4K resolution
Fix: 4K export requires upgrading Clipchamp from free to paid plan
Feel free to reach out if any other questions! Always happy to help a fellow video creator.
Conclusion: Microsoft Empowers Video Editors in Windows 11!
I hope this guide gave you a comprehensive overview of the current video editing options available out-of-the-box within Windows 11.
With Clipchamp, Microsoft has delivered on its vision of enabling creators with free access to powerful tools – no longer requiring expensive subscriptions for professional software like Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.
Combined with Photos for trimming clips quickly, Windows 11 completes its graduation towards becoming a full-fledged operating system for media pros.
Whether you‘re just getting started with video editing or looking to take your skills up a notch, you now have all the tools needed to produce magical movies right on your PC.
So open up those high-res footage files and start crafting visual masterpieces with Clipchamp in Windows 11 today! Happy video editing my friend.
