VSDC Free Video Editor - COMPLETE Tutorial for Beginners!

VSDC Free Video Editor Tutorial

This beginner-focused tutorial covers a complete video-editing workflow in VSDC Free Video Editor for Windows. The presenter uses the free version, but the workflow also applies to the paid version, which adds features such as more editing options, improved hardware acceleration, and audio waveforms.

Project Setup and Interface

• Start a new blank project and set the resolution, frame rate, width, and height manually or by choosing a preset.
• Match the project’s frame rate to the main footage where possible.
• The interface includes a preview window, timeline, Properties and Basic Effects panels, and a Resources window for imported media. Hide or rearrange panels to make more workspace.

Importing and Editing Footage

Import video, audio, and other assets through the timeline controls or Resources window, or drag files and folders into VSDC.

To trim footage and remove unwanted sections:

• Split clips at the playhead and delete unwanted portions.
• Drag a clip’s edge to shorten its start or end.
• Select a range and choose Cut out fragment to remove it and close the gap.

Add B-roll or overlay footage on additional video layers. Clips can be moved, trimmed, and arranged independently. Use the text tool to add titles and lower-thirds, then customize their font, color, size, placement, and duration.

Effects, Transitions, and Speed

Apply transitions, such as wipes, through the Video Effects menu. Position effects at the playhead or at the end of a scene, and adjust their duration. Other available effects include filters, blur, resizing, mirroring, glitch, and 3D effects.

To change a clip’s playback speed, use the Properties panel: values below 100% slow the footage down, while values above 100% speed it up.

For similar talking-head shots, the presenter recommends slightly zooming in on one shot instead of adding a transition. Keep the subject’s eyes aligned between shots, and avoid excessive scaling that could reduce image quality.

Music, Audio, and Color

Add music from the Resources window, then adjust its position and length like other timeline clips. Review the edit with music in place and, if appropriate, adjust cuts to match the beat.

Set spoken audio levels first, then add background music. VSDC’s Normalize Audio tool can normalize selected clips. The presenter uses a 90% setting to leave headroom and reduce the risk of distortion. Background music in the presenter’s YouTube videos is typically set around −30 to −20, depending on the track. Listen back and adjust the level so it does not overpower speech.

For color correction, VSDC offers quick-style presets and automatic adjustments, though the presenter prefers manual control. The Basic Effects panel includes brightness, contrast, gamma, color temperature, and saturation. Select multiple clips to apply adjustments to them together. More advanced options include RGB, hue/saturation, and YUV curves.

Exporting

Choose Export Project, then select a platform preset such as YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook. Set the output quality, save location, and file name before exporting.

The demonstrated workflow is available in the free version. The presenter notes that the Pro version offers faster exports and better timeline performance.

Shortcuts and Additional Resources

• Ctrl+K: Split a clip.
• Ctrl+Delete: Cut out a selected fragment.

The tutorial also points viewers to a free PDF guide on an efficient, step-by-step video-editing process. For title templates and assets, the presenter mentions Placeit and VideoHive; for music, Artlist and Epidemic Sound are recommended.

Main speaker/source: Justin Brown of Primal Video, identified by the video title and channel context.