Set up the project
File → New → Project. Pick a fast drive for scratch disks — SSD ideally. Inside the project, File → New → Sequence and pick a preset that matches your footage (e.g. AVCHD 1080p25, or Digital SLR 1080p30).
Import and organize
Drag a folder of clips into the Project panel. Create bins (folders) for A-roll, B-roll, audio, graphics. Good organisation now saves hours when projects grow past 50 clips.
Source vs Program monitor
Double-click a clip — it loads in the Source monitor. Set In (I) and Out (O) points to choose the part you want. Drag from Source into the timeline; the result plays in the Program monitor.
The three-point edit
Set In and Out in the Source, set In in the Timeline, press , (insert) or . (overwrite). This is the fastest edit technique in any NLE — drag-and-drop is slower once you learn it.
Trimming tools
B for Ripple Edit (closes gaps automatically), N for Rolling Edit (changes the cut without changing duration), Y for Slip (changes content of a clip without moving it). These three handle 90% of fine trimming.
Audio basics
Right-click a clip → Audio Gain to normalise levels to -12 dBFS for dialogue. Add Essential Sound from Window menu — tag the clip as Dialogue and dial in Loudness, Reduce Noise and EQ in one panel.
Titles and graphics
Window → Essential Graphics → New Layer → Text. Animate position and opacity directly in the Effect Controls panel — no After Effects needed for clean lower thirds.
Export for YouTube
File → Export → Media. Format H.264, preset YouTube 1080p Full HD. Tick Use Maximum Render Quality, tick Audio AAC 320 kbps. Send to Media Encoder for background export while you keep editing.