Premiere Pro - the basics

Step one: Opening Premiere Pro/ New Project

- Open Premiere Pro 

- Select 'New project'

- Change the name of your project (Jack's music video e.g.)

 Importing your files

- After you have opened a new project, you can import the files which should already be saved in a file on your computer. Make sure your footage is not saved to an SD card or an external HDD. Put it ALL in a folder on your area, and call it [Jack's] music video.

- Select file - import

- Drag your video files into the bottom left hand corner where it says 'Import Media to start'

Now you have imported your files, you need to drag them into your timeline -

Now your desktop you look something like this;

You have a two main windows;

- The window to the left is where you can view your original footage and video files.

- The window on the right is your edited footage from the timeline.

Step two: Editing Tools

Now you have your footage imported on your timeline you can start to edit and formulate your sequence. 

To the left of the timeline you have a variety of tools which you can use to edit your sequence;

This includes the razor tool which allows you to cut and edit your video and audio files. Using this tool you can change shot duration etc.


There are also a variety of effects and transitions you can use to edit your sequence.

Below is a description of each tool you can you use to and a list of shortcuts you can use;

Exporting your completed project

Remember; the Premiere Pro project file is not a video file. In order to turn it in to a workable 

video, you must export it.

For smaller projects that only require a low quality file, you should use these export settings.