YouTube Video Project(25 Points)
Objective: In this unit you will experiment with basic video manipulation. This will help you to develop a better understanding of the nature of digital video and how computers may be used to edit and enhance it.
Tools and Materials:
- A Web browser to access YouTube’s Video Editor (a free online video editor at
- You need a YouTube (or Gmail) account. You can create an account for free.
- You need video clips for this project. You can get video clips for free from YouTube and other Web sites. You are also welcome to upload your own video clips.
Scenario: Make a short video about a city/town you like. The video must last one to two minutes. You must use at least three different video clips. You can use more if you want. Include an opening title (including your first and last name). Include transitions between some of the clips. Include text on the screen during the video. For example, you could display “This is Central Park” when the video shows scenes from that location. You can use a soundtrack if you’d like. Please see the cautionary note below about soundtracks.
Tasks:
1) If you want to use your own videos (instead of videos available from YouTube’s Creative Commons), you have to upload them.
- Login to YouTube.
- Click on the Upload link.
- Follow the prompts to upload videos from your computer to YouTube’s server.
2) Create a Project to save your work
- Login to YouTube.
- Click on your picture icon in the upper right corner of the screen. A dialog box appears. Click on the “Creator Studio” button; doing so opens the Creator Studio dashboard.
- In the navigation bar in the upper-left corner of the window, click on the “Create” button. Doing so will open a drop-down menu. Select the “Video Editor” button. The resulting screen in the YouTube Video Editor.
- Type the name of your project into the Project box. Once you’ve done this, your work on the project will be saved until you publish the project. You can close your project and come back to it later from any computer that has Internet access. Please note that once you publish the project it will no longer be available because it will be converted into a new movie.
3) Put videos into the timeline
- Add videos to your project’s timeline. Click the Plus button in the upper right corner of each video you want to add.
- You can add your own videos (My Videos) and/or clips from the CC (Creative Commons) tab.
4) Edit videos as needed
- As needed, trim footage from the beginning and ends of clips.
- As needed, rotate the video.
- As needed, apply desired effects.
- As needed, overlay text on the screen.
5) Add titles
- Add an opening title by clicking on the “a”button of the Editor. Make sure your first and last names are in the opening title. You can add a closing title if you wish.
6) Apply transitions between clips
- As needed, apply transitions between video clips.
7) Apply a soundtrack (optional)
- If desired, you can apply an audio file. Use this feature cautiously! This audio file will play on top of audio in each video clip. Adjust the volume of the audio so it doesn’t overpower the audio of your video clips.
8) Publish the video
- When editing is complete, click the Publish button to start the rendering process. This process can take some time. Once done rendering, YouTube will list the finished video in your “My Videos”.
- If you don’t publish the edited project, the outside world will never be able to view it.
9) Emailme a link to your finished video
- Email methe Web address of your finished YouTube video no later than 11:59 PM onFriday, 11/14/2014. The subject line of your email should be formatted like the following example - “Your Name”-YouTube Video Project.