Why did the video editor break up with his girlfriend? He thought they needed a cut, but what he really needed was to merge. Speaking of merging, those best moments or recap videos you see on YouTube or social media are often the result of a simple process: video merging. Like our video editor friend with relationship issues, a cut here, a transition there, and a merge at the end is sometimes all we need. But how do you actually join these videos together? Here’s everything you need to know to combine video files with ease.
Why did the video editor break up with his girlfriend? He thought they needed a cut, but what he really needed was to merge. Speaking of merging, those best moments or recap videos you see on YouTube or social media are often the result of a simple process: video merging.
Like our video editor friend with relationship issues, a cut here, a transition there, and a merge at the end is sometimes all we need. But how do you actually join these videos together? Here’s everything you need to know to combine video files with ease.
Why Join Videos?
Do you really need a reason to use a video joiner? No, you don’t. But if you’re looking for one, here are a few:
Creating a highlight reel: Got a ton of short clips from an event? Combine them into one awesome video that captures all the best moments.
Fix filming mishaps: Did your recording get cut off mid-speech because of, say, a battery drain or a dad mistakenly hitting the stop button? Don’t worry. You can merge videos together so your audience never knows there is an issue.
Making tutorials: How-to guides often involve multiple steps, which you may want to film separately for clarity and convenience. Use a video joiner to join these videos into one simple tutorial that goes through the process from start to finish.
Showing before-and-after transformations: People love seeing these. Especially if they involve organizing chaos or home renovations. Take before and after video clips, then merge them into a satisfying one showing the total transformation.
Creating presentation videos: PowerPoint is out; engaging multimedia presentations are in. Combine various segments of your speech or project report into one easy-to-understand video.
Collating family memories: Vacation snippets? Children’s growing-up moments? Merge all those cherished clips into an evergreen keepsake that tells your family story.
Creating fun effects: Have you attempted doing stop motions? They’re super cool and engaging. They work by merging together photos or very short video clips.
Step-by-step Guide to Joining Videos With Flixier
Flixier is a great tool to use if you’re looking for a free way to join video online. The process is really simple and quick. Here’s how to do it:
- Head over to the Flixier website: Once you’re there, click on Get Started to use Flixier’s video joiner feature.
- Import your videos: Click on the Import button to upload your video files from the local storage or directly from cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
- Add videos to the timeline: Once imported, your video clips will appear in the My Library section. Drag and drop each one onto Flixier’s timeline in the right order as you want them to play.
- Trim your videos (optional): If there are parts you’re not too pleased with or would like to cut off, no problem. Select the clip in the timeline, move the cursor to where you want to trim, and click on Split.
- Add transitions (optional): Between videos, you can add a transition to make them blend smoothly into one another. Simply click on Transitions on the right-side menu and select from an array of options. Place them wherever there is a joint between two videos.
- 6. Add text or captions (optional): Click the Text tab on the left side, choose a text style you like, and drag it onto your timeline where you want it to appear. Double-click the text box to edit the words.
- Adjust audio levels (optional): Click on a clip in the timeline to see the audio waveform below. You can adjust the volume by dragging the line up or down
- Preview your video: Make sure you hit that preview button to see how everything came together before saving it. Make adjustments if needed.
- Export and share: When you’re happy with your merged video, it’s time to save using the big Export button on the upper-right side of the screen. Flixier gives you direct export options to social media websites. You can also download the file straight to your computer.
Tips for Maintaining Video Quality
Here are a few tips to make sure your new merged video looks just as good as the originals:
Maintain aspect ratio: Be aware of your videos’ aspect ratios. Standard horizontal mode is often done in 16:9, while vertical (portrait) modes usually have a 9:16 ratio. Mismatching these can result in black bars appearing on your video. That’s something we’d usually want to avoid.
Check your audio: Make sure the sound levels are consistent across all your clips. Loud audio in one clip and whisper in the other? That’s destined to deter viewers. Adjust volume levels so they align seamlessly from one clip to another.
Choose high resolution: Always opt for the highest resolution available when exporting your merged video. Of course, you have to consider file size and upload speed/resources. But if all else is in check, go as high as you can.
Avoid too many effects: While it might be tempting to go overboard and add every transition, animation, or effect you have, moderation is important. Too much of this can make your video look unprofessional and complicated. Go with subtle effects that enhance, rather than detract from, the viewing experience.
Some Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Joining Videos
Be aware of a few pitfalls when you merge video clips. Here’s what to keep an eye out for:
Forgetting to check the final product: Always, always, and we mean always, preview your final cut. Is it a no-brainer? Perhaps. But more often than not, people either forgo this step completely or skim through it. Ensure the transitions are smooth, all materials are placed correctly, and there are no missing portions.
No optimization for viewing platform: Depending on where the video is going to be posted (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook), optimize it. Each platform has different specifications for video sizes and formats that work best. Keep your intended platform in mind when shooting, editing, and exporting your video.
Ignoring the “story”: Think of the order you’re placing your clips in while using a video joiner online. Does it tell a cohesive story? Is there continuity? A confused audience is generally an unengaged one.
Overdoing the edits: As we touched on earlier, too much of a good thing can quickly turn sour. One neat transition here or an impressive effect there – awesome. An entire array of every trick and feature that a video joiner offers? Overkill.
Ready, Set, Merge!
An awesome video collage or that family vacation video that you always keep promising yourself you’ll make is simpler than it seems. With a free video joiner like Flixier, you’re just a few clicks away from creating that awesome video that’s been sitting idle in your imagination for ages.