Intro & Agenda
00:00:00Navigate CapCut’s Workspace and Import Media Start a new project, then import footage in the Media tab (plus button or Cmd/Ctrl+I) and preview it. Drag clips onto the timeline to build the story left‑to‑right. Use the player panel to monitor playback, switching preview to Performance Priority if it lags. Change aspect ratios via Ratio and fill the frame by scaling and positioning. Explore tabs for audio, text, stickers, effects, and transitions.
Timeline Basics and Power Shortcuts Zoom the timeline with the slider, Cmd+/–, or Cmd + scroll. Trim clip ends by dragging, and split with the blade or Cmd+B; undo with Cmd+Z. Selecting a clip reveals right‑panel controls for video, audio, speed, and animation. Deselect to access project settings and rename the project.
Frame, Fix Audio, and Tweak Color Reframe by scaling and dragging the image to place the subject. Normalize loudness for stable levels and apply noise reduction only if needed. Adjust temperature, saturation, brightness, and shadows in Adjustment. Aim to capture a clean look in‑camera to minimize correction.
Cut Silence Fast With Split and Delete Read the waveforms, split at the end of each spoken line with Cmd+B, and jump to the next start. Use Delete Left (Q) to remove dead space to the previous cut, and Delete Right (W) to clear endings. Trim the tail to the last word for a tight close. Keyboard‑driven passes remove pauses in minutes.
Create Energy With Subtle Punch‑Ins Scale every other clip slightly to simulate a camera punch. Align eye level between adjacent cuts for continuity. The alternating in–out rhythm sharpens pacing and keeps attention.
Add Context With Precise B‑Roll Import a b‑roll folder and place chosen shots on a higher track so they override a‑roll while they play. Set in/out points before dragging to bring only the usable moments. Align b‑roll to the exact phrase it illustrates. Reframe and brighten or lift shadows for a cleaner composition. Use stock only when personal footage isn’t available.
Make Mixed Aspect Clips Fit When a widescreen clip sits in a vertical sequence, scale and reposition to fill the frame without losing key details. End b‑roll exactly where the underlying a‑roll section changes. Trim off pre‑roll handles so only action remains.
Transition With Intent, Not Habit Place transitions between contiguous clips—Glare for a flash handoff, Pull In/Out for smooth zooms. Disable Main Track Magnet before lifting segments so timing doesn’t shift. Match zoom direction to clip motion for natural flow. Add transitions only where they enhance clarity or motion.
Auto‑Caption, Style Once, and Animate Smartly Generate captions, then in Text > Basic enable Apply to All to change font, size, width, background, corner radius, and shadow universally. Split dense lines, move text between layers by cutting and pasting, and keep lines readable. Animate selectively with Zoom In, Glitch, or Bounce Left, shortening duration for snappier movement. The result is large, clear, on‑brand captions.
Music That Supports, Not Smothers Import a track (or use built‑in), start at the visible beat drop in the waveform, and place it under a‑roll. Lower its level around −16 dB or drag the volume line down so dialogue leads. Trim music to the exact video end to avoid dead audio over black.
Export Cleanly at High Quality Click Export, name the file, choose a destination, and keep the high‑quality defaults. Confirm the aspect ratio suits the platform. Render and you’re ready to publish.
Build a Hook With Keyframes and Bold Text Create stacked words like “what’s,” “the,” “best,” style them, and animate in with Bounce Left. Keyframe a gentle zoom and y‑position to keep the face framed while drawing viewers in. Group those words into a compound clip to fade them out cleanly. Duplicate the a‑roll, Auto Cutout the top copy, and slip a motion background beneath, then keyframe its opacity to reveal on cue.
Slide the Subject Away and Swap the Message Keyframe the cutout layer’s position to swipe the subject off‑screen. Replace the on‑screen words with “free editing software,” styled and animated with Glitch. Trim background and text to hand off into the next b‑roll beat. Compound the layered intro so a single Glare transition can bridge into the main sequence.
Stack Effects, Templates, and On‑Brand Graphics Add subtle punch‑in keyframes to heighten emphasis on key lines. Use a craft‑paper fold effect to introduce “Premiere Pro,” then slide the icon up as a clean entrance. Drop in dotted motion backgrounds and animate dollar icons upward to reinforce “hundreds of dollars.” Layer platform‑style templates, and tuck graphics behind the subject by placing them between the cutout and base layers. Conclude with the streamlined auto captions.
Seal It With Sound Design Import whooshes, pops, and cash‑register hits, then line them up with transitions, on‑screen pops, and money mentions. Copy‑paste recurring whooshes across similar movements and retime them for precision. Balance SFX under dialogue and music so they enhance without distracting. Export the final cut with picture, captions, and sound hitting in sync.