Mobile Editing 101: A Step‑by‑Step Video Tutorial Script (Phone Only)
Goal: Teach beginners to edit a clean, short video on a phone using any mainstream app (CapCut, VN, iMovie, KineMaster, InShot, LumaFusion). Steps are app-agnostic; feature names may vary slightly.
Structure: Voiceover (VO), On‑screen (OS), and Actions you record (Screen Capture / B‑roll).
- Opener (00:00–00:10)
- VO: “In the next few minutes, you’ll learn to edit a polished video on your phone—from import to export—no experience needed.”
- OS: Before/after clip. Quick montage: timeline, trims, titles, export.
- Action: Show a 3–5 second preview of the final edit.
- Prepare Your Project (00:10–00:40)
- VO: “Pick your editing app, set up your project, and choose the right format for where you’ll post.”
- OS: App home screen. New Project button.
- Action:
- Install one app (CapCut or VN are free and cross‑platform; iMovie is great on iOS).
- Create a New Project.
- Choose aspect ratio:
- 16:9 for YouTube
- 9:16 for TikTok/Reels/Shorts
- 1:1 for square feeds
- Choose frame rate to match your footage: 24, 25, or 30 fps. Stick with one.
- Set resolution goal:
- 1080p for most posts
- 4K if your phone + app can handle it (more detail, bigger files)
- Tip: If your iPhone footage is HDR, disable HDR on shoot or convert to SDR in-app for consistent colors.
- Collect and Organize Media (00:40–01:20)
- VO: “Keep it tidy so you edit faster.”
- OS: Import panel, folders/tags.
- Action:
- Import A‑roll (talking clips), B‑roll (cutaways), music, and sound effects.
- Create simple folders or labels: A‑roll, B‑roll, Music, SFX.
- Skim clips; mark favorites or selects.
- Rename the project clearly, e.g., “Mobile Edit Tutorial_v01.”
- Tip: Use royalty‑free music you have rights to. Safe sources: YouTube Audio Library or the app’s licensed library (check usage terms for commercial posts).
- Build the Rough Cut (01:20–02:30)
- VO: “Start with story. Place the best takes in order, then trim.”
- OS: Timeline with A‑roll only.
- Action:
- Drop A‑roll onto timeline in the order of the script or story.
- Trim heads/tails to remove dead space and mistakes.
- Use Split to remove flubs; enable ripple delete so gaps close automatically.
- Tighten pacing. Aim to cut breaths/pauses that don’t add meaning.
- Use J/L cuts when the audio from the next/previous clip overlaps to smooth jump cuts (if the app supports detached audio).
- Tip: Keep each shot purposeful. If a sentence is long, consider two angles or cover it with B‑roll.
- Cover With B‑roll (02:30–03:00)
- VO: “B‑roll hides cuts and keeps viewers engaged.”
- OS: B‑roll over A‑roll audio.
- Action:
- Place relevant B‑roll over jump cuts or long talking segments.
- Keep B‑roll clips 2–5 seconds each; vary angles: wide, medium, close.
- Add simple motion (pan or push‑in) using keyframes if needed.
- Tip: Match visuals to words. If you mention a tool, show it right then.
- Clean Up Audio (03:00–03:40)
- VO: “Clear audio matters more than fancy effects.”
- OS: Audio meters and controls.
- Action:
- Detach or open audio controls for A‑roll.
- Set dialogue peaks around −6 dB; avoid red/clipping.
- Place music under voice; lower it so voice is always clear. Typical: music 12–18 dB below voice.
- Add light noise reduction if available; avoid aggressive settings that cause artifacts.
- Duck music under voice using keyframes or auto‑duck.
- Tip: Monitor with headphones. Record room tone (10–20 sec) to help noise reduction if needed.
- Add Titles and Graphics (03:40–04:10)
- VO: “Use clean, readable text.”
- OS: Lower third appearing, title card.
- Action:
- Add a simple opening title and a lower third for names.
- Use high contrast and safe margins; avoid placing text at edges.
- Keep font styles consistent; 1–2 fonts max.
- Animate titles in/out quickly (6–12 frames).
- Tip: For subtitles, use burned‑in captions or export an SRT if your platform supports it.
- Basic Color Correction (04:10–04:50)
- VO: “Balance first, then style.”
- OS: Before/after split screen; basic color controls.
- Action (in this order):
- White balance: use a neutral point or adjust temperature/tint until whites look neutral.
- Exposure: set overall brightness; keep detail in highlights (avoid clipping).
- Contrast: add modest contrast to restore depth.
- Saturation: bump slightly; avoid oversaturation of skin.
- Optional: apply a gentle LUT/look after correction; adjust intensity.
- Tip: If the app has scopes (waveform/vector), use them: keep skin tones near the skin‑tone line; avoid crushed blacks/blown highlights.
- Transitions and Effects (04:50–05:05)
- VO: “Let the cut do the work.”
- OS: Straight cut vs cross‑dissolve comparison.
- Action:
- Prefer straight cuts. Use short cross‑dissolves for scene changes only.
- Avoid excessive zooms, spins, or long wipes—they distract.
- Speed, Reframing, and Stabilization (05:05–05:30)
- VO: “Use motion purposefully.”
- OS: Speed ramp overlay; crop tool.
- Action:
- Slow motion for B‑roll shot at high fps; choose optical/smart frame blending if offered.
- Use crop/position to reframe; keep subject centered, avoid upscaling too much.
- Apply mild stabilization if a shot is shaky; watch for warping.
- Tip: If delivering 1080p from 4K footage, you can safely punch in up to ~150% without noticeable quality loss.
- Final Checks and Export (05:30–06:10)
- VO: “Export the right file for your platform.”
- OS: Export settings screen.
- Action:
- Watch your edit once end‑to‑end with sound on headphones.
- Check: spelling, audio jumps, black frames, mismatched aspect ratios, clipping.
- Export settings (typical, adjust as your app allows):
- Codec: H.264 (MP4), Color: SDR/Rec.709
- Resolution: 1920×1080 (or 3840×2160 if 4K)
- Frame rate: match project (24/25/30)
- Bitrate (VBR or CBR):
- 1080p: ~8–12 Mbps
- 4K: ~35–45 Mbps
- Audio: AAC, 48 kHz, 192–320 kbps
- Platform notes:
- YouTube: 16:9, 1080p or 4K; thumbnails 1280×720; captions improve retention.
- TikTok/Reels/Shorts: 9:16, 1080×1920; keep under 60–90 seconds for best completion; avoid HDR exports.
- Tip: If the app offers “HDR,” disable for most platforms unless you specifically want HDR and know the workflow.
- Deliver and Back Up (06:10–06:30)
- VO: “Protect your work and help viewers find it.”
- OS: Files app with organized folders.
- Action:
- Name files clearly: ProjectName_Platform_Date_v01.mp4.
- Back up: export the project file and media to cloud or external storage.
- Create a simple thumbnail and add captions/subtitles when uploading.
Common Beginner Pitfalls (Quick Fixes)
- Jump cuts that feel harsh: cover with B‑roll or use a subtle J/L cut.
- Music too loud: lower until voice is intelligible at low phone volume.
- Overusing effects: remove flashy transitions; stick to clean cuts.
- Inconsistent aspect ratios/black bars: ensure all clips match the project ratio; crop or scale consistently.
- Crushed blacks/overexposed whites: reduce contrast or highlights; check visibility on both bright and dim screens.
- Mixed frame rates causing stutter: set project to match most footage; avoid mixing 24 and 30 fps unless necessary.
Shot List You Can Use For Practice
- A‑roll: 60–90 seconds of you explaining a topic, recorded in quiet space.
- B‑roll: 8–12 clips (5–10 seconds each) showing what you’re talking about.
- Close‑ups of hands/phone; over‑the‑shoulder shots; a wide establishing shot.
- Room tone: 10–20 seconds of silence in your recording environment.
On‑Screen Checklist Cards (use as chapter bumpers)
- Rough Cut: Order, Trim, Ripple, Pace.
- Audio: Dialogue −6 dB peak, Music low, Ducking, No clipping.
- Visuals: WB, Exposure, Contrast, Saturation, Minimal LUT.
- Export: Aspect ratio, Resolution, Bitrate, Frame rate match, AAC 48 kHz.
Presenter Delivery Tips
- Keep sentences short; end cleanly to make trimming easy.
- Clap once before each take for a visible/audio sync point.
- Record voiceover in a closet or with blankets to reduce echo.
End CTA (last 5–10 seconds)
- VO: “If this helped, save it and try editing your next 30‑second video with these steps. Comment what you want to learn next—color, captions, or speed ramps?”
- OS: Simple end card with social handle and next video suggestion.
That’s the complete, beginner‑friendly script blueprint. Record the screen as you perform each action, and layer your VO using the same app to keep the workflow entirely on mobile.