Video Editing in Blender - Beginner to Pro

Name: Video Editing in Blender - Beginner to Pro
Rating: 4.2 (167 reviews)

Edit video in Blender’s VSE: cuts, text, audio, transitions, motion graphics, and export. No paid editor.

Created byThomas McDonald

Last updated 8/2026

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Create stunning motion graphics to bring your videos to life.
Gain confidence with tools to edit footage like a pro.
Export videos in multiple formats for flawless playback.
Add effects and transitions to make your projects pop.
Extract single images from videos for versatile use.
Blend motion graphics with video content for professional-grade results.

Course content

8 sections • 37 lectures • 2h 48m total length

Introduction4:15
In this course we take a look at Blender’s video sequence editor. The course covers some of the important tools within the VSE so you can get creating quickly. The Video sequence Editor in Blender is a joy to use and once you have gotten to grips with it something you will use time and time again. The course has a practical aspect where I would ask you to follow along and complete the lectures before moving on. Stick with it and maybe you will discover other areas of Blender you find interesting.v
Where to Get Your Copy of Blender & the Installation Process4:51
Visit Blender.org for the latest version of Blender, the free and open source software suite. Go to the download page; download a copy of Blender suitable to your operating system.

Visit videolan.org for the free and open source media player VLC
What is the VLC Media Player2:35
Please follow this lecture carefully and enable all the add-ons and keyboard arrangements so you can enjoy the course without confusion.
What is the Video Editing Workspace and How to Customize It4:54
Blender has different screen arrangements and we will begin by choosing one of these. We will however add a couple more editors and make the screen arrangement more functional for our needs.
Mastering File Saving and Crash Recovery in Blender3:37
The video sequencer is all about adding media so we begin by adding a short video strip for some simple demonstration. This is an mp4 container, meaning it holds both a video and audio file. The audio and video will come into the sequencer on different channels so you can edit them individually or as one.
Customizing Blender's Interface5:11
When we import the video clip we find it extends beyond the default 250 frames limit on the sequencer. This limit is easily controlled and extended using the controls on the timeline editor.
Mastering Blender’s Shortcut Keys And Accessing The Guide2:57
Hiding or muting a clip on the sequencer simply means it does not interfere on playback or be rendered out in the final video. With the clip selected the shortcut key H mutes the clip. Alt + H un-mutes the clip.

Adding Media to the Sequencer6:08
We cover the difference between hard and soft cuts. To make a soft cut use the short cut key K. To make a hard cut use the short cut key Shift + K.
Manipulating Strips in the Video Sequencer5:21
We begin a new project and import new video clips to the sequencer. Please find the clips in the resource folder.
Common Effects for Video Strips2:55
We cut away unwanted sections of the clips using the knife tool. We also look at snapping to the end of clips.

To return the scrubber to the beginning of the sequence press; Shift + Left Arrow.

With a clip selected snap it to the scrubber with the keys Shift + S.

Use page up and page down to snap the scrubber to the beginning of each clip on the sequencer.
Output Properties in Blender4:46
If you want to add your own narration to your video edits the free and open source audio software Audacity is available @ Audacity.org.

Video Strip Manipulation in Blender4:47
I demonstrate how to add text to the sequencer, animate its size, change its color and position.
Video Strip Properties in Blender5:31
Explore Blender video strip properties, including muting, locking, renaming, blend mode, opacity with keyframing, transform, crop, strobe, reverse, color adjustments, timing, and metadata for precise sequencing.
Cutting and Trimming Clips in Blender3:13
Adding Transitions and Effects in Blender7:31
I demonstrate how to export a single image from the video clip.
Enhancing Video with Audio4:55
Record narration with Audacity, export as MP3, and import into Blender's Video Sequencer; enhance with royalty-free music from YouTube's Audio Library using keyframes and volume adjustments.

Sourcing Content for Video Editing3:22
Discover royalty-free content sources for video editing, including music, sound effects, stock video and images, and Blender Market add-ons; learn licensing, attribution, and organizing assets for a ready-to-edit project.
Setting Up a Video Editing Project in Blender2:17
Set up a Blender video editing project by sourcing assets from pixels, preparing narration in Audacity, and organizing files for four stages, including 1080p assets, dynamic effects, and smooth transitions.
Adding and Editing Audio in Blender7:44
Using Markers in Video Sequencing3:09
Use markers in the video sequencer to label and navigate sections, aligning sound and video across the timeline's frames for four project stages.
Adding Captions in Video Editing3:40
Adding and Arranging Video Clips in the Sequencer7:09
Colour Adjustments in Blender3:58
Explore Blender's editing workflow using adjustment layers and modifiers for non-destructive edits—brightness/contrast, color balance, and curves—while using luma waveform, rgb parade, chroma vectorscope, and histogram for color and luminance analysis.
Adding Transitions and Text Animation in Video Editing8:00
Exporting Video for YouTube and Other Platforms4:40
Export blender videos for YouTube and other platforms by setting the frame range, choosing 1080p or 4k, and encoding as mp4 with h.264 and aac.

Setting Up a Blender Project for 2D Animation3:44
Set up a blender project for 2d animation by saving, creating a blend, enabling millimeter units, 1920x1080 at 24 fps, deleting default cube, and placing an orthographic camera above grid.
Creating Text and Curves in Blender3:36
Dynamic Curves in Blender2:09
Learn how to add a Nurbs-based path curve in Blender, set thickness via extrusion, rotate for a top-down view, and align it under text for animation-ready motion.
Animating with Keyframes6:43
Animating Curves and Text in Blender3:20
Animate a curve and text in Blender by keyframing factor start and end, expanding and retracting the curve, and sliding and fading the text to sync timing.
Optimizing Scene Rendering in Blender4:16
Combining Animations in Blender5:34
Combine image sequences, video clips, and text animations in Blender's sequence editor to create a cohesive animation. Learn to align clips, add transitions, and render end animations for polished results.

Requirements

A computer capable of running Blender, the free and open-source software (available for Windows, Mac, or Linux).
A three-button mouse is recommended for smoother navigation in Blender.
No prior Blender knowledge required—beginners are welcome!

Description

You want to cut a video, add titles and sound, and export something you can post, without a paid editor. This course is Blender’s Video Sequence Editor.

Set up the VSE layout, drop in movie clips, image sequences, and audio, cut and slip strips, add text and colour, transitions, adjustment layers, and simple motion graphics (including 3D text on a curve). Record narration, sync sound, export with a sensible codec and resolution. Proxies keep playback usable on a normal machine.

What you work through

VSE layout, shortcuts, autosave
Strips, snap, speed, alpha
Hard and soft cuts
Text, captions, and subtitles
Audio, waveforms, and narration
Colour correction and transitions
Motion graphics with text and curves
Export settings

Who this is for Complete beginners and anyone who wants a free editor. You do not need to know Blender’s 3D side first.

Who this is not for DaVinci / Premiere power-user colour pipelines. This is Blender VSE, on purpose.

What you’ll learn

Set up Blender’s Video Sequence Editor
Cut, trim, and arrange clips
Add text, captions, and transitions
Edit audio and record narration
Mix simple motion graphics with footage
Grab a still from a video
Export in formats that play back cleanly

Requirements

A computer that can run Blender (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
Three-button mouse recommended
No prior Blender required

Who it’s for

Beginners who want to edit video in free software
People who already use Blender for 3D and want the VSE
Editors looking for a no-cost alternative

Who this course is for:

Beginners eager to learn editing with free, open-source software.
Total novices who’ve never explored Blender’s video editor before.
Video editors seeking a cost-free alternative to pricey software.

Video Editing in Blender - Beginner to Pro

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction7 lectures • 28min

Introduction to Sequencer4 lectures • 19min

Working with Media Files3 lectures • 17min

Basic Editing Techniques5 lectures • 26min

AI Content Generation1 lecture • 3min

Project 1 – Video Creation and Editing9 lectures • 44min

Project 2 – Generating Blender Content7 lectures • 29min

Bonus Section1 lecture • 1min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: