What is the black-and-white board in this picture, and why do film crews clap it shut at the start of every shot?
Image source: File:Clapperboard, O2 film, September 2008.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)
In this post:
- Trimming, cutting (splitting) and joining clips
- Adding music and your own voice
- Transitions between clips
- Titles and credits
- Exporting the finished video, plus activities, a project checklist and a quiz
Cutting and joining clips
In the last post, you imported your clips and placed them on the timeline. Now it is time to edit them. The tools below are from Clipchamp, but iMovie, Shotcut and other editors have the same ideas.
| Tool | What it does | How (Clipchamp) |
|---|---|---|
| Trim | Shortens the start or end of a clip, e.g. to remove the part where you pressed Record. | Click the clip, then drag its left or right edge inwards. |
| Split (cut) | Cuts one clip into two pieces at the playhead, so you can remove a part from the middle. | Move the playhead (the line) to the spot, then click the scissors (Split) button, or press S. |
| Delete | Removes a clip or piece from the timeline. | Click it and press Delete. |
| Join | Places clips one after another so they play as one video. | Drag clips next to each other on the timeline. Close any gaps. |
| Undo | Reverses your last change. | Ctrl + Z |
Adding sound and voice
- Music: drag a music file onto the audio track below your video. Use music you are allowed to use, such as the free stock music in Clipchamp’s content library or music with a Creative Commons licence. Using a popular song without permission breaks copyright.
- Voiceover (narration): record yourself explaining what is happening. In Clipchamp, the Record & create section lets you record with your computer’s microphone or webcam, or turn typed text into speech. You can also record on your phone and import the file.
- Volume: click the audio clip and lower the music’s volume, so voices can be heard clearly over it.
Transitions
A transition is the effect that moves the video from one clip to the next. A cut jumps straight to the next clip. A fade goes through black, a cross-fade (dissolve) blends one clip into the next, and a wipe slides one away. In Clipchamp, open Transitions on the left and drag one between two clips.
Titles and credits
- A title at the start tells viewers what the video is about. Use Text in Clipchamp and drag a title style onto the timeline.
- Credits at the end list who made the video and who did what (filming, editing, narration), and name the music you used and where it came from.
- Keep text on screen long enough to read: about 3–5 seconds for a short title.
Export and save
When you are happy, click Export and choose a quality such as 1080p. The editor builds one video file (usually an MP4) that you can share. Your project is not the same as the video file, so keep the project too in case you need to make changes.
Watch: editing in Clipchamp
This video gives a tour of Clipchamp, the video editor that comes with Windows 11. Watch it with the editor open and pause to try each step.
Video: How to Use Clipchamp Video Editor in 2026 – Microsoft ExpertZone UKI – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r0Wlh8uc3A
Activity: which editing tool?
Try it: fix the problem
Which tool fixes each problem?
| Your clip begins with five seconds of you walking back from the camera | |
| You want to remove a sneeze from the middle of a clip | |
| The video jumps suddenly from the classroom to the field | |
| Viewers do not know what the video is about | |
| You want to thank everyone who helped and name the music | |
| The music is so loud nobody can hear the narrator |
Activity: put the editing steps in order
Try it: editing order
Put these steps in a sensible order, then click Check.
▲ First
- Import the clips
- Arrange the clips in storyboard order
- Trim and split the clips
- Add transitions between clips
- Add music and voiceover
- Add a title and credits
- Export the video as an MP4
▼ Last
Project: your occasion video
Use the clips from your storyboard project, or film new ones, to make a 1–2 minute video about an occasion, such as Sports Day, Independence Day, Divali, Eid, Christmas or your school’s anniversary. Check your work with this list before you hand it in:
| Checklist | ✔ |
|---|---|
| At least four clips, in a sensible order | |
| Clips trimmed: no fumbling at the start or end | |
| At least two transitions | |
| Music or voiceover that can be heard clearly | |
| A title at the start | |
| Credits at the end, including where the music came from | |
| Exported as an MP4 and played all the way through |
Self-check quiz
Click the best answer. You get feedback straight away; only your first click counts towards your score.
1. What does trimming a clip do?
2. To remove a part from the middle of a clip, you should…
3. A cross-fade is a type of…
4. What usually goes in the credits?
5. Why lower the music volume under a voiceover?
6. Which button turns your project into one video file you can share?
Related posts on islandclass.org
- Video Creation using Source files – Tutorial
- Professional Video Editing – Class Instruction
- Project – Create a Video Using a Storyboard.
- Assignment – Creating a 4 Scene Scratch Animation Using A Storyboard
Next: Using Information Responsibly
Syllabus link: Forms 1–3 ICT curriculum, Module 3, Objective 3.15 – prepare a video production on a specified topic/ occasion.
Attributions to media used in this post:
- Clapperboard, O2 film, September 2008.jpg – Mattbr – CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Video: How to Use Clipchamp Video Editor in 2026 – Microsoft ExpertZone UKI (YouTube)
Updates
2026/10/21
– Fixed the activity code so its buttons keep working.
© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.