Video editing with Kdenlive

Video editing with Kdenlive has been a real find. While I think the software is still too complicated for an average user it goes far beyond anything I encountered thus far. It is reasonably stable and has countless of features.

Check out the website:

• http://kdenlive.org/

Installation

• http://kdenlive.org/downloading-and-installing-kdenlive

1. Start Software center.
2. Go to Edit > Software Sources.
3. Click 'Add' and type this:
   • ppa:sunab/kdenlive-release
4. Close software source and click reload.
5. In Software center search for kdenlive and install.

Tips

• I use this tool in combination with Avidemux, see "Video encoding with avidemux". With Avidemux I resize, remove interlacing and compress the video file. It will be smaller and easier to edit at the right quality.
• Many effects interpolate over so called 'keyframes'. Examples are "Crop and Transform/Pan and Zoom" or "Alpha manipulation/Rotoscoping".
• Don't forget to play with "Alpha manipulation/Blue Screen".
• You can find instructions and examples on Youtube:
  • http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kdenlive
• If you want a combination of effects that is not allowed you could render a video and reintroduce that in a follow-up project.
• If you want multiple consecutive effects in one video you can use the 'Razor tool' (menu > Tools > Razor tool) to make cuts.
• Any edge in the timeline, including the cursor, can be used for snapping. For example to remove frames from the beginning of your video:
  1. Zoom in with CTRL + mousewheel.
  2. Place the cursor at the exact frame.
  3. Zoom out again.
  4. Mouse-grab the green triangle at the start of the video and snap it to the cursor.