How to Edit Videos: Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve & CapCut for Beginners
Key Takeaways
- Master the three core cuts: trim, split, and ripple edit—they’re the same in every app.
- Start with free tools: CapCut (mobile/desktop) or DaVinci Resolve (pro color tools).
- Export settings matter: use H.264 for web, 1080p at 24 or 30 fps.
- Audio is half the video: normalize levels to -12 dB to -6 dB for clean sound.
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# How to Edit Videos: A Beginner’s Walkthrough for Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and CapCut
I’ve been editing videos for over a decade, and I still remember the frustration of opening Premiere Pro for the first time. The interface looked like a spaceship cockpit. But here’s the truth: every video editor—whether it’s Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or CapCut—does the same five things. You just need to know where they hide them.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps to edit your first video in all three apps. No fluff, no jargon. Just the buttons you need to press.
1. Setting Up Your Project
Before you touch a clip, set your timeline correctly. Otherwise, you’ll fight with black bars and wrong frame rates.
In all three apps:
- Create a new project. Name it something you’ll remember (not “Untitled 47”).
- Set the timeline resolution to 1920x1080 (1080p). If your footage is 4K, you can still edit in 1080p for better performance.
- Frame rate: 24 fps for a cinematic look, 30 fps for standard YouTube or social media. Match your source footage.
Premiere Pro: File > New > Sequence. Choose “HD 1080p” preset.
DaVinci Resolve: Click “New Project” > go to “Master Settings” > set timeline resolution and frame rate.
CapCut (desktop): Click “New Project” > choose aspect ratio (16:9) > frame rate (30 fps default is fine).
My advice: Stick with 1080p at 24 fps for your first few edits. It’s forgiving and looks good on most screens.
2. Importing and Organizing Footage
Don’t dump everything into your timeline. Organize first—it saves hours later.
Steps:
- Create folders: “B-Roll,” “Interviews,” “Music,” “Graphics.”
- Import clips by dragging them into the media bin (or media pool in Resolve).
- Rename clips. A file named “DJI_0123.MP4” tells you nothing. Call it “Sunset_BRoll_1.”
Pro tip: Use the “in” and “out” points to mark your best takes before dragging clips to the timeline. In Premiere and Resolve, press I and O on your keyboard. In CapCut, use the trim handles on the preview window.
3. The Three Cuts You Need
Forget fancy effects. These three cuts will handle 90% of your editing:
- Trim: Shorten or lengthen a clip by dragging its edge. Works the same in all apps.
- Split (aka Razor): Cut a clip into two parts. Premiere: Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac). Resolve: Ctrl+B. CapCut: S key.
- Ripple Edit: Remove a section without leaving a gap. In Premiere, it’s the “Ripple Delete” (Shift+Delete). In Resolve, it’s “Delete with Ripple” (Shift+Backspace). CapCut automatically ripples when you delete.
Example: You have a 10-second clip but only need the first 3 seconds. Split at the 3-second mark, then ripple delete the rest. Done.
4. Adding Transitions (Less is More)
Beginners love adding wipes and spins. Please don’t. Use a simple cross dissolve for 90% of your transitions.
How to add a cross dissolve:
- Premiere: Select the cut point > press Ctrl+D (Cmd+D).
- Resolve: Select the cut > right-click > “Add Cross Dissolve.”
- CapCut: Tap the transition icon between clips > choose “Dissolve.”
Duration: Keep it between 0.3 and 0.5 seconds. Anything longer feels slow.
5. Audio: The Overlooked Hero
Bad audio ruins a good video. Here’s how to fix it in all three editors:
- Normalize volume: Select all audio clips > right-click > “Audio Gain” (Premiere) or “Normalize Audio” (CapCut). In Resolve, go to Fairlight page > select clips > Normalize to -12 dB.
- Remove background noise: CapCut has a built-in “Noise Reduction” toggle. In Premiere, use Effects > DeNoise. Resolve has “Noise Reduction” in the Fairlight tab.
- Add music: Lower music volume to around -25 dB to -30 dB so dialogue stays clear.
Real numbers: YouTube recommends dialogue at -12 dB to -6 dB. Music at -25 dB. Check with the audio meter in your editor.
6. Exporting Your Video
This is where beginners get stuck. Use these settings for web:
| Setting | Premiere Pro | DaVinci Resolve | CapCut |
| --------- | -------------- | ----------------- | -------- |
| Format | H.264 | H.264 | H.264 |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1080p |
| Frame Rate | 24 or 30 fps | 24 or 30 fps | Match source |
| Bitrate | 15-20 Mbps | 15-20 Mbps | High (default) |
| Audio | AAC, 320 kbps | AAC, 320 kbps | AAC, 320 kbps |
Where to click:
- Premiere: File > Export > Media > choose the preset “YouTube 1080p” or custom.
- Resolve: Deliver page > choose “H.264 Master” > set quality to “Best.”
- CapCut: Export > Resolution 1080p > Frame rate 30 > Export.
One tip: Always watch your export before sharing. I’ve exported silent videos more times than I’ll admit.
FAQ
Q: Which video editor is best for a complete beginner?
A: CapCut. It’s free, has drag-and-drop simplicity, and runs on mobile and desktop. But if you want to grow into professional work, start with DaVinci Resolve—it’s free and has no watermarks. Premiere Pro is industry-standard but costs $20/month.
Q: My exported video looks blurry. What went wrong?
A: Likely a bitrate issue. For 1080p, set the bitrate to at least 15 Mbps. If you used a low bitrate (like 5 Mbps), the compression destroys detail. Also, check that your timeline resolution matches your export resolution.
Q: Do I need a powerful computer to edit video?
A: For 1080p, no. A laptop with 8GB RAM and a decent processor (Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5) will work. 4K editing requires 16GB+ RAM and a dedicated GPU. CapCut runs on phones with 4GB RAM.
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Editing video is like learning to cook: start with simple recipes, then experiment. Trim your clips, add a cross dissolve, normalize audio, and export. That’s your first video. Now go make it.