Windows Live Movie Maker 16.4.3528.0331 is Microsoft’s recommendation for creating videos and presentations. Try Windows Live Movie Maker and discover it.
Windows Essentials is an application package released by Microsoft to group various email, instant messaging, and photo-sharing programs that became a comprehensive part of the operating system with the release of Windows 8, and thus, has stopped receiving updates.
Among those applications we must mention Windows Live Movie Maker for PC Windows, a video editing software that you can still use on Windows 10, despite the fact that the staff at Redmond have stopped providing support for the program in January 2017.
Simple video editor for users
As usual in all Microsoft programs designed for the general user profile, this is a piece of software with simplified functions and can be handled by almost any type of user.
Anyone can start creating and editing videos that can later be easily shared on channels like Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube or Flickr, among others.
Since the first version, compatible with Windows Vista, was released, we have been provided with a very simple program for editing and creating movies, with all the functions perfectly distributed around tab-based interface, like Microsoft Office programs, and in which you won’t need to access confusing menus.
Edit videos based on your own recordings and photos.
- Tool to add your own music to the animation.
- Supports video creation with web camera.
- Save a screenshot of the video.
- Ability to apply different effects.
- Tools to introduce narration into videos.
- The audio mixer with presets allows us to emphasize the narration, music or video.
- Edit for standard or panoramic display.
- How to edit video with Movie Maker?
We must note that we are talking about a very simple linear editing program, so you will only have to insert o delete frames and video clips from the timeline, also insert transitions, text or fade in and fade out effect.
Among the formats accepted by this tool we must indicate AVI, MPG, MPEG, MP2, MP4, WMV or ASF, as well as the ability to convert all our videos to high definition (HD) ), which allows us to save movies in 480p, 720p and 1080p Resolutions.
Results can be uploaded directly to our YouTube account or saved on an optical disc such as a CD or DVD.
Screenshots
Lights, Camera, Movie Maker! A Guide to Editing Videos with Windows Live Movie Maker
While Windows Live Movie Maker is no longer actively supported by Microsoft, it remains a great option for basic video editing on older Windows PCs. Its user-friendly interface makes it a perfect tool for beginners to create slideshows, home movies, and shareable videos. Here’s a breakdown on how to leverage functionalities to transform your clips into polished productions:
Getting Started:
- System Requirements: Ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements to run. These can typically be found on Microsoft’s archived support pages.
- Launching the Program: Locate Windows Live Movie Maker in your Start menu or applications list and launch the program.
Windows Live Movie Maker Importing Your Media:
- Adding Videos and Photos: Click the “Home” tab and then the “Add videos and photos” button. Browse your computer’s files and select the video clips and images you want to include in your project. Hold “Ctrl” to choose multiple files at once.
- Arranging Your Clips: Drag and drop the imported video clips and photos onto the storyboard at the bottom of the window. You can rearrange them by dragging and dropping to create your desired sequence.
Editing Your Footage (Basic Options):
- Trimming Clips: Click on a clip in the storyboard. Yellow bars will appear at the beginning and end. Drag these bars inwards to shorten the clip or outwards to extend it.
- Splitting Clips: Position the cursor over a point within the clip in the storyboard. Right-click and select “Split.” This allows you to edit or delete specific sections within a longer clip.
- Adding Transitions: Click the “Transitions” tab. Browse the available transition effects (like fades or wipes) and drag your chosen transition between two clips on the storyboard to apply it.
Enhancing Your Video (Simple Techniques):
- Adding Titles and Captions: Click the “Titles & Credits” tab. Choose a pre-made style or create your own text overlay. Drag the title or caption onto the storyboard to position it within your video.
- Background Music: Click the “Music” tab. Browse or import your own music files. Drag the music file onto the soundtrack area below the storyboard to add background music to your video.
- Narrating Your Video: Click the “Record” tab. Speak into your microphone to record a voice narration over your video. The recording will appear as a separate audio track in the storyboard.
Windows Live Movie Maker Finalizing Your Project:
- Previewing Your Work: Click the play button in the preview window to see how your edited video looks. Make adjustments as needed.
- Saving Your Project: Click the “File” menu and choose “Save movie.” Select the desired output format (e.g., WMV) and choose a filename and location to save your edited video project.
Exploring Further (Optional):
- More Advanced Editing: While basic, offers some additional features like adding visual effects or adjusting video properties. Explore the program’s menus and options to discover these functionalities.
- Sharing Your Video: Once saved, you can upload your video project to online platforms like YouTube or share it with friends and family.
Alternatives to Windows Live Movie Maker:
- Since Windows Live Movie Maker is no longer actively supported, consider these alternatives for video editing on Windows PCs:
- Microsoft Photos App (Built-in): The Photos app on newer Windows 10/11 versions offers basic video editing features like trimming and adding music.
Open-Source Editors: Free and open-source video editors like OpenShot or HitFilm Express offer more advanced editing capabilities compared to Windows Movie Maker.
