For this project, I chose to edit my video in Camtasia since it is the primary video editor I use in my current role. I began the project by writing a script to guide the pacing and visuals. To record my narration, I used the Voice Notes app on my phone, as I found it gave me the clearest sound with minimal background noise. Once I had the audio recorded, I sourced images of muscovy ducks from Adobe Stock and selected lighthearted background music on Incompetech to match the playful tone I was going for.
After importing everything into Camtasia, I trimmed my narration to remove breaths and long pauses. I arranged the clips on the timeline to ensure they flowed smoothly. Next, I added my images, title, credits, and on-screen captions. I added in the music track and used Camtasia's "Emphasis" effect to make sure my narration stood out. I also adjusted the music volume and added a fade-in at the beginning and a fade-out at the end.
For transitions, I mainly stuck with simple fades as I find these to be easiest on the eyes. I added subtle movement to the images using Camtasia's Custom Animation effect. I used a range of pans, zooms, and the Ken Burns effect. This was the trickiest part because Camtasia automatically adds easing to animations. I learned to switch the easing effect to "linear" for a smoother look. I also added behaviors to my on-screen captions for additional motion. Finally, I reviewed the full video several times and made minor adjustments to timing and flow.
Video editing has been a passion of mine since high school, so this was a fun assignment. I always think of video editing as putting together a puzzle – you keep adjusting the pieces until everything fits just right.