iMovie Basics: Video editing tutorial for beginners 

Don't mind this, it's just a way for me to find the key points again! 0:21 how to make a new project 0:46 how to insert files 1:18 how to zoom in on video for finer edits (increases duration for photos) 1:30 how start and stop videos (key binder/shortcut) 1:49 Short cut/key binder for trimming and how to use Trim 2:30 explaining built-in sounds and how to use them 2:47 How to adjust volumes on clips 2:15 how to get music from a different source 3:37 how to use and adjust texts and titles 4:26 how to change the font, colour, etc. for the texts 4:50 how to add in photos and how to use import button 5:44 how to stop or change the animation during photo scenes 6:10 how to use transitions 6:34 how to use faster trim method - adjusting duration of photos and videos 6:53 how to use voiceover and adjust it 7:44 how to save/finalise your work

THANK YOU! After literally over 25 "How to 'Edit' in iMovie" vids, this is the ONLY one that actually explained how to edit out parts from the middle of a video, and explained it simply. :) :)

watching this exactly 3 years from when it was released

This was not the only iMovie tutorial I watched, but it was the ONLY one that was clear, concise, and very helpful. Thank you!

this is perfect for someone who never use imovie before like me, thanks!

not all heroes wear capes

A life saver!!! RU-vid should put your video as the number 1 recommended for beginners. Concise and went right into the basics needed by every new user. Thank you a milli

I was able to start editing my videos myself after watching this last year. Here I am again from time to time coming to refresh. Thank you!

Just came across your video via search. This was unbelievably helpful. Straight and to the point. Truly appreciate it.

Omg! The part where you zoom in to make it easier to edit saved my life! Thank you so much ☺️

5 years later, Dec 2022, and this video rocks. You just earned a new subscriber!

Thank you Nate! This is excellent, I looked all over youtube for a "getting started" video about iMovie on a mac, and this is the best. You hit all the basics, love the sound adjustments for music AND voice, mid video editing and exporting. I would LOVE another short followup video, just explaining more nuances of editing, exporting, keeping organized files for for video. You are excellent at explaining and demonstrating how to do it. There are those of us who are not trained in video, but need short simple videos to complete and explain what we do or market what we do. Thank you again!

This. Video. Is. Awesome! I’ve looked at a ton of “Tutorials” on editing iMovie and they all either bounce around the screen too fast and/or talk to you like you’ve done it 100 times and skipping over major sections without explaining how they got there. Well done sir! You’ve earned a subscriber!

Thanks so much for this! Really clear and concise explanation. I’ve always wondered how youtubers pull off certain things with their editing and it seemed scarily complex when I didn’t know how the process works (the picture in picture thing, for example!), but this is a knowledge AND confidence boost.

I went through 4 videos where people were doing soooooo much talking and not enough information…. And then i found yours! thank you for the concise video. It literally covered everything i wanted to know how to do!

The best iMovie tutorial I found, the only one that SHOWED how to save to files and check the little clock in upper right corner to see how the file saving speed.

You have the best video for beginners! I only use yours for guidance. THANK YOU

This was incredibly helpful! I've watched multiple tutorials that left me a little frustrated. This one covered everything in a very clear and simple way; I now know what I need to get started editing in iMovie. I was able to follow along and create a practice video, watching this tutorial, then pausing and executing the steps as they were instructed. Thank You!!

This is absolutely brilliant. No messing about, just the basics to get you started without all the waffle of other tutorials. Thank you. It is in my bookmarks and used regularly.

Bless you I had a stroke and my mind has not been right with getting things like it was. I want to start a RU-vid to show how I deal with Lupus and tips. I became frustrated because no one would teach me and all the other videos I couldn’t understand. I had to pause and write notes but I sure I got it. Thank you very much Sir.

Excellent! I studied this over and over again and then viewed it while I edited my first video for RU-vid! Of course I haven’t uploaded it yet LOL but I found this unbelievably helpful. Thank you!

I am finding your videos most helpful. I'm wanting to make craft videos but I can see that I could make my Sunday School classes more interesting using videos. The kids love any type of video. It really gets their attention. The possibilities.....

The absolute best Imovie tutorial I've seen.

Best tutorial video I've seen! THANK YOU! I love that you get right to it and don't "over-talk" just to hear yourself talk, like so many other videos out there. Really well done!

This is by FAR the most helpful video!!!

This is an excellent tutorial. You explain the skills simply and clearly. No techno-jargon. Great demonstrations. This was very helpful. You are an outstanding teacher. Thank you so much.

SO happy this was the first video I came across to find out how to edit on iMovie. It had EVERYTHING I needed in less than 10 minutes and explained simply. Soooo helpful thank you

Thank you. Thank you for making it seem easy and removing the fear that something is sooo impossible to user/create. Thank you again.

This is excellent, it covers everything a beginner needs to know. Unlike other videos that leave out key parts and leave you frustrated. On top of that it's shorter than the rest I watched. Better & quicker - that'll work.

this was so helpful, i didn't know anything in iMovie before i watched you. Thank you :)

THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU!!! I watched multiple tutorials but didnt get what i was looking for, you explained everything so clearly, concisely, simply and perfectly! thank you so much!

I learned a lot in a few minutes, more than I have with other videos. Thank you for getting right to the task at hand with no fluff or promos!

I want to start a youtube channel and I need an editing platform. I want to use iMovie and I didn't know how until this! Thank you! This tutorial was very easy to follow and useful, just what I was looking for :)

This is such a good tutorial! I learned so much in such a short period of time!

Wow, I have been putting off creating videos on my MacBook(s) for at least 12 years now. I feel like you’ve given me such a wonderful head start on this. Very intuitive and covered just the right amount and I loved it.

Oh! My! Gosh! Thank you, so, so much! For getting straight to the point! Showing AND telling simultaneously in such a succinct & concise manner. You are AWESOME!

Omg thank you! I’ve been trying to figure imovie out for hours to upload my first video to RU-vid! Thanks!!!!!

Just like to add my vote of thanks as well. Great teaching!

Super helpful for a beginner! It seems fully relevant in 2023.

This 8 min video encapsulated all the basics that a newbie needs to get started in simple media production of home movies. Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

this was soo useful! I literally saw this over an hour ,taking notes !

The BEST imovie overview I have ever seen :)

Appreciate this! 2 years later and your video is still helpful!

📹 📽 🏆 Being new to iMovie, I've now watched more than a dozen "how-to" videos about iMovie and this one is the best. Nate knows everything about iMovie and in this beginner video he clearly and slowly explains how to get started with it for neophytes like me. Well done!

Thank you!! more details than the others 2019 iMovie tutorials

this is BESTTTT tutorial i have seen so far!

Excellent tutorial! Thank you. This is the first one I’ve found for iMovie that actually helped me.

One of the clearest tutorials on youtube. Thank you!

thanks, edited a whole makeup tutorial from this :)

Thank you. I'm just starting my youtube channel and this was VERY helpful!!!

Thank you! This was so so helpful - but most importantly - succinct! You told me just what I needed to know (and a couple of things I didn't think I needed to know but it turns out I did) without all the blah blah blah of other tutorials. So grateful to you for doing this!

Since I continue to come back to this video maybe it would be a good idea to leave a comment. What I like best about this video is that you are quick enough with info and provide the much needed short cuts. Thanks so very much!!!

Thanks, I've been looking for a video that starts with the basics of iMovie, all the other vids I looked at skipped over all of the info that you covered.

This was very helpful, I learned a lot in a short 8:39. TWO THUMBS UP!

I don't know how many times I yelled at my computer thank you. This was wonderful! I could literally not for the life of me figure out how to use iMovie and you really helped me out immensely. I will now continue to scream at the top of my lungs. Thank you again!!!!!

What can I say, you absolute legend. So simple enough tutorial, that even I can now make my own iMovie!! Been wanting to do this for ages, thanks a million. Thanks.

Bless you for making this

Thank you! This was very helpful!

Wow!!! This is literally the first video I've watched to learn how to edit as a beginner and you're the BEST. Everything was well explained, anyone who happens to stumble upon my comment while watching the video, PLEASE WATCH THE WHOLE VIDEO his explanations were on point and everything's so easy and straight forward. I HIGHLY recommend everyone who's now learning to edit to watch this video.

This was extremely helpful. I was very overwhelmed with breaking into videos but this made it so much easier to understand.

Thank you finally some and somethings that help me

This is incredibly helpful. THANK YOU!

Thank you Nate, this is just the simple and clear instruction I needed to link two different videos for my on-line music lesson submission with an added bonus of the title pages. You are a great instructor!

EMERGENCY!!! Had not used iMovie for many years (versions). TeacherNate was perfect! Thank you.

Wow, its tough for me to learn and I totally understood this video!

very good and love your tutorial . learn a lot

Thank you for this tutorial , it is 2022 and this video has helped me a lot , thank you

AAH THANKS NOW I CAN ACTUALLY EDIT MY VIDEOS IM SO HAPPY THANKS SO MUCH

I had to write about an iMovie tutorial for a school project in an evaluation form, and I thought you might appreciate seeing it as it is somewhat in-depth feedback. Great video, btw! iMovie Basics (2017) is extremely helpful and well made. It covers everything that a beginner would need to know to create their own video in iMovie. TechTeacherNate is very helpful and includes all the basics from trimming video, to adding audio, to exporting and publishing the video after it has been edited. This video starts off by covering the very basics of adding video and audio to your video. TechTeacherNate does not do what many people do and skip the most basic parts such as which button to press, as most people who know how to do these things view them as common knowledge and self explanatory. TechTeacherNate goes over all these little things, which makes his video extremely easy to follow even for the newest user. During this, he also shows the viewer where they can get some of the clips he gets for his video so that they may use it too. He does this by first pointing the viewer to the iMovie audio library and then to the RU-vid free audio library. This is very good because people are able to then go out and get these free resources to use in their own videos as well as helping people to follow the video more easily. The video then shows the viewer how to do various different edits within iMovie such as transitions and adding text, images and voiceover. He shows every single step along the way, which makes the video very easy to follow. He also describes the shortcuts which can be used in iMovie, which can make life easier for new users, because they then don’t have to remember where all the buttons and menus are, and they can then make the video quicker and easier than without the aforementioned shortcuts. Finally, the video shows how to export and publish the video, which is, of course, helpful because it shows new users how to export and publish their new videos. Overall, the narrator was clear and concise, covering all the detail that was needed for a new user of iMovie, without making anything too complicated or adding more detail than was needed while also managing to show viewers where they too can access some useful resources such as free audio from iMovie and RU-vid. Rating: 9.5/10

I haven't done an iMovie in a while and need a quick tutorial, this video was perfect!

I played with iMovie years ago, like 90s, and recently wanted to get back into it. The new version -- I launched it and was immediately lost. The Apple User Guide is, well, let's just say I'm more of a kinesthetic learner then a book learner. This video helped remind me how to use it (even though it's now 2022). Thanks.

Thanks! Well done.

Very good and helpful you explain ed everything so well :)

Brilliant-covered loads of features in a short video. THANK YOU!

You are a wonderful teacher! I got all I needed in just a couple of minutes for my simple video to send to clients.

Very helpful......thanks

Thank you so much! Super simple explanation in language that isn't from planet I.T :-))

Thank you so much I started getting interested on making videos on a MacBook Pro but I didn’t really know what app I needed to edit my videos, I thought all of them were so complicated but when you explained it I figured out a lot of things I didn’t know!

How can I not click subscribe when this video was so excellent?? 10/10 very helpful.

teaching remotely so THANK YOU

very good sir

Thank you so much! I was pulling my hair out (not literally,!) just trying to trim. You were the only one I could find to help me learn how to trim out sections using command b. I appreciate you! so much!!!

thank you so much! i've had 2 important videos to share and didn't know how to edit out sections, your tutorial helped immensely !

Great tutorial! If I create a photo slide show and want every photo to last 7 seconds between transitions, is there a way to change the slide duration for all slides at once or do you have to drag each one individually? Thanks!

Fun fact : everyone searched this up ;)

This was super useful. Direct and to the point. Told me exactly what I was looking for.

Best tutorial I have watched, clear simple and to the point. I find other videos go into too much detail and end up confusing me! Thank you

how can you only have 50 subs??

I feel like I should pay you for this...

The best imovie tutorial I've seen yet. Thanks!

Great quick overview. Pace not too fast or slow. Covers all the essentials to get going . Thank you!

Simple. Clear. Excellent! Thanks so much for the quick and easy tutorial!

Had to leave a comment to thank you for this simplistic yet informative video! I learned a lot in a small frame of time. Much appreciated.

Teacher here trying to figure out how to make videos for Distance Learning, you made my life just a little easier!

Simple, professional and to the-point-video. Worthy of a "Ted Talk" presentation. Very lucky to have found it.

This is the simplest and most effective imovie tutorial I have seen.

Thank you! This is so easy to understand for someone who is going to just open iMovie for the first time.

This was the PERFECT explanation. Exactly what I was looking for as a little refresh!

Thank you so so much!!! I've been on IMovie all day getting mad at myself until I found this! It has helped me a lot

Excellent video. I’m about to start editing soon and watching this video has just boosted my confidence. Your instructions are very thorough and to the point. Thank you for this. 🙏