E. WORKING WITH
CLIPS
1. Understanding
clips
The source media is your original
file. It remains independent of what you do to it in Movie
Maker, i.e., it will not be changed. A Collection Clip is
merely a reference to the source clip, as is a clip in the
Storyboard or Timeline (two separate references).
You can delete a clip from your Collections,
but if it was used in Storyboard or Timeline, it remains
there. And, again, nothing has happened to the original source
media file.
You can rename a Collections clip and the same
clip used in Storyboard or Timeline remains unchanged. (You
cannot change the name of a clip in Timeline.)
You can drag a renamed Collections clip into
Timeline, thereby having the same clip with two different names.
*Sooo, clips in Collections can be discarded
after they've been added to a project, if desired.
Nothing you do in Movie Maker will change the
original source file.
2. Splitting
clips automatically
If you have one lonnnnnng video clip, you can
create shorter clips at any point. Right-click the file and
select Create Clips. If there are scene changes, Movie Maker
will automatically divide the original clip at the scene
changes. The newly created clips will appear in the
Collections Contents pane.
You won't be able to create additional clips
from these clips using Create Clips because there are no longer
scene changes within each clip. But there are other ways
.... ;-)
3. Splitting
clips manually
You can do a manual split in
either the Collections Contents pane or in Timeline View. *A
change made in one does not affect the other.
In either location, click the
clip once to highlight it. Then, in the Preview Monitor
pane, drag the play head to the point where you want to make the
split. *You can fine tune it with the next-frame and
previous-frame buttons. 
When you find the exact point
where you want to create a split, click the split button. 
If you are in Timeline view, now another clip will appear in the
track. If you made the split in the Collections Contents
pane, a new clip will appear. The new clip can be dragged to
a new location or deleted. Again, what you do in the
Timeline does not affect what you do in Collections, and vice
versa.
4. Combining
clips
You can combine clips, or recombine previously
split clips, by shift-clicking each one. Then, go to the Clip
menu and select Combine. The keyboard shortcut is Control+M.
5. Trimming
clips in the preview monitor
Trimming clips in the Preview Monitor is the
most precise method. For example, click on a clip in Timeline
and it will be displayed in the Preview Monitor. Drag the play
head to the location where you want to trim. Again, use the
next-frame and previous-frame buttons to fine tune.
Note that the blue I-beam moves accordingly in the Timeline.
When you are at the desired trim point, go to
Clip and select Set Start Trim Point. Next, find the end trim point
in the same manner. When you are ready, go to Clip and select
Set End Trim Point. You will have deleted unwanted content
from the beginning and ending of your clip.
Grayed areas in the Timeline are an indication
of how much of the clip is still there but not visible. To
undo, go to Clip and select Clear Trim Points. Or use the Undo
button.
6. Nudging
clips
You
can nudge a clip forward or backward one frame at a time.
This could come in handy if cross-fading.
Have
two clips in the Timeline. Drag the right one over the left
one to create a fade. Select the last clip--click on it to
highlight it. Go to Clip. Select Nudge Left (or
Right). The keyboard shortcuts for nudging involve three
keys. Argh.
- Nudge
left = Control+Shift+B
- Nudge
right = Control+Shift+N
You
can nudge multiple times to fine tune fades, if necessary.
