Where I started with Final Cut Pro
Since taking TV Production class in high school, I have dabbled in non-linear video editing using various editing software, starting with Final Cut Pro and Windows Movie Maker.
More recently, as a Sr. Business Analyst at Warner Bros. Discovery Consumer Products, I used software including Camtasia, PowerPoint, and Powtoons to create videos for internal and external audiences.
Depending on the output needed for the project, the format that the assets are in, plus what specific software are available to the organization, all informs what editing software I use.
Powtoons
I used Powtoons to create short videos explaining our department’s technology upgrade program and its goals. I created a storyboard that we taped to a whiteboard and worked through changes in the order of parts of the timeline. I first built out a rough timeline of visuals in Powtoons. We also recorded an audio track that I edited in alongside a background audio track. We loaded this introduction video to Microsoft Stream for distribution.
PowerPoint
I used PowerPoint to create a slideshow that gave users a heads up about upcoming features of the technology upgrade program. I used the animation timeline feature, along with slide transitions. Our goal was to display it on our floor’s centrally located town square TV display. PowerPoint offers the capability to export to animated GIF (1080p) and also to video (all the way up to 4K quality). I exported the completed project out to video and streamed it from an iPad to the town square video screen.
Camtasia
I used Camtasia to create various training and introductory videos. I created a video showing our licensee users how to register for MFA and get it set up on their phones. Later, I created a walkthrough video introducing upcoming features in detail. We went through the extensive process of writing a script, recording audio with various colleagues speaking to the benefits of the features. I captured existing screens or created new visuals, created screen captures using Camtasia’s screen recording feature, and edited the audio and video tracks into an hour-long walkthrough that we published to our colleagues around the world.
Learnings
As with most of my creative pursuits, I find that it’s not always necessary to use the fanciest software and it’s really about what is right for the particular project. PowerPoint can accomplish simple to complex animations and transitions, so it’s a valid choice to use in creating a short explanation video. Similarly, Camtasia is typically used for video tutorials and presentations, and I used it to create an hour-long walkthrough complete with extensively edited audio, on-screen annotations, and strong pacing throughout.