Windows Live Movie Maker

Import photos and videos

To make a movie with Windows Live Movie Maker, you'll need some photos and videos on your computer. You can import photos and videos from your digital camera, a flash memory card, DVDs, or your mobile phone.

To import your photos and videos into Movie Maker, connect the camera to your computer by using a USB cable, and then turn on the camera. Click the Movie Maker button, and then click Import from device. If the Photos and videos will be imported into Windows Live Photo Gallery message appears, click OK.

Click the device you want to import photos and videos from, and then click Import. On the New photos and videos were found page, click Import all new items now, type a name for all the photos and videos, and then click Import.

In Windows Live Photo Gallery, select the check box in the upper-left corner for each photo or video you want to use in your movie. On the Create tab, in the Share group, click Movie. When the photos and videos appear in Movie Maker, you’re ready to start making your movie.

Add a video

Get started with making a movie and editing it by first adding any videos that you want to use into Movie Maker.

On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add videos and photos. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the videos you want to use, and then click Open.

Trim video

To trim the beginning or end of a video clip so only the part of the video you want appears in your final movie, click the video you want to trim, and then drag the playback indicator on the storyboard to the point where you want the video to start or stop playing in your movie. Do one of the following:

• To set a new start point, under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Editing group, click Set start point.

• To set a new end point, under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Editing group, click Set end point.

Split a video

You can split a video into two smaller items and then continue editing. For example, after splitting a video, you can move one video in front of the other to change the order in which the videos play in your movie.

To split a video into two items, click the video, and then drag the playback indicator to the point where you want to split the video. Under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Editing group, click Split.

Speed up or slow down a video

You can change the speed of your video in Movie Maker to make the video play faster or slower in your movie.

To change the speed of a video, click the video. Next, under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Adjust group, click the Speed list, and then click a speed (depending on how much you want to speed the video up or slow it down).

Add music

You can add music that plays during your movie. After you add music, you can edit it so it plays how you want in your movie.

On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add music. Click the music file you want to use, and then click Open.

Fade music in or out

Make the audio fade in nicely at the beginning and fade out smoothly at the end to make a movie that looks and sounds professional.

To make the music fade in or out, click the music. Then, under Music Tools, on the Options tab, in the Audio group, do one or both of the following:

• To make the music fade in, click the Fade in list, and then click the speed for the music to fade in.

• To make the music fade out, click the Fade out list, and then click the speed for the music to fade out.

Change the start or end point of the music

Trim the beginning or end of the music, so only the part of the song that you want plays in your final movie.

To trim the beginning or end of the music, click the music, and then drag the playback indicator on the storyboard to the point in the music where you want it to start or stop playing in your movie. Do one of the following:

• To set a new start point for the music to start playing at the current point, under Music Tools, on the Options tab, in the Editing group, click Set start point.

• To set a new end point so the music stops playing at the current point, under Music Tools, on the Options tab, in the Editing group, click Set end point.

Change the audio volume

You can change the volume of a music item or the audio in a video. This way, regardless of the audio or music that's playing, it sounds just right in your movie.

To change the volume of a music item, click the music. Under Music Tools, on the Options tab, in the Audio group, click Music volume, and then move the slider left to lower the volume or right to increase it.

To change the volume of the audio in a video, click the video. Under Video Tools, on the Edit tab, in the Audio group, click Video volume, and then move the slider left to lower the volume or right to increase it.

Add photos and videos

On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add videos and photos. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the photos and videos you want to use, and then click Open.

Add music

On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add music. Click the music file you want to use, and then click Open.

Choose an AutoMovie theme

On the Home tab, in the AutoMovie themes group, click the theme you want to use. Movie Maker automatically adds titles, credits, transitions, effects, and more for you.

You can continue editing as you normally would, or just save your movie.