WeVideo: Video-editing basics

This is a basic overview of WeVideo’s video-editing interface, which has been updated starting August 2022. For more detailed video walkthroughs of the interface, software features, and different editing techniques, see WeVideo's Introducing: Our new video editor article.

WeVideo project interface

Find your project in the WeVideo Projects tab, and double-click on it to begin editing.

Like most video-editing software, WeVideo has a media library, where components like audio clips, video clips, and effects are stored; timeline tracks, where you will place this media components in order to build your video, and a preview window, where you can play through your video to see how it looks.

  • To add media to your project, drag clips from the library on to the video and audio tracks in your timeline. This creates a thumbnail of the media file in your timeline.
    • The size of the thumbnail indicates the time point within your video when that video clip, audio clip, or effect starts and ends.
    • Click and drag a thumbnail along the timeline to change when the media appears or is heard in your video.
    • Select and drag the edges of a thumbnail to increase or decrease the duration of a media clip. Note: you can shorten audio or video clips by trimming the beginning or end, but you cannot lengthen them beyond the length of their content.
    • To edit a video clip or image, click on its thumbnail (an orange outline will appear around it) and choose the appropriate icon:
      • Clip Editor (pencil): Trim the clip, balance color, or animate
      • Fade (timeline): Dissolve or fade your visual
      • FX : Add visual effects (e.g., filters, etc.)
      • Trash Can: Delete the clip from the timeline.
  • All projects will have at least one audio and one video track in the timeline. You can add additional tracks to superimpose sounds and images or to create effects such as dissolves or fades.
    • Click the “+” at the far left of the timeline to add tracks.
    • Click on the name of a track (e.g. Video1) to rename it.
  • To view your work in progress, hit the Play button in the preview window.

Media libraries

Bryn Mawr’s license includes access to the WeVideo Essentials Library, with 650,000+ royalty-free videos, images, and audio assets you can use in your projects and finished videos.

  • Click the Essentials library tab (with a star icon) in the media library area of the video editing screen to access it.

You can also add your own media files into WeVideo to use in different projects:

  • Click on the Media tab (a folder with a star icon) to access media you’ve added to WeVideo.
  • Click the green Import media button (a cloud with an up arrow icon) on this tab to add files from your computer or online file storage system like OneDrive.
  • Click the red Record button (a red circle) to open video or screen recorder:
    • Choose the Record screen option to record a screencast
    • Choose the Webcam option to record video using your device’s camera.
    • Click Continue.
  • Click the Microphone button to open a voice recorder.

Note: You may need to install a browser extension in order to record audio and video in WeVideo, and we have had mixed success with these features in testing. If you have problems, we recommend using specialized recording apps, software, or devices (e.g., a video camera) to record your audio files and video files, and then importing those files into WeVideo to edit them instead.     

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don't hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440 | Library and Help Desk hours
Email: help@brynmawr.eduService catalog
Location: Canaday Library 1st floor