Simplest video editor....

[Arcadiune]

Looking for the most basic and simplest video editor for an elderly male relative who's now confined to bed for a few weeks. Any suggestions gratefully received....

Thanks

[usually_quiet]

Anyone trying to help will need more information. What OS does his computer use (Windows, OS X, Chrome OS, etc.)? What kind of files will he edit (avi, mkv, mpg, mp4, mov, m2ts, wmv, etc.) containing what video formats and audio formats (MPEG-2, DivX, H.264, Dolby Digital/AC3, LPCM/WAV, AAC, etc.).

[redwudz]

You could try AVIDemux as it handles most common video and audio formats and has versions for Windows, Linux and Mac PCs.

[Arcadiune]

Thanks.

He's in his eighties and now suddenly faced with a life of dull monotony for a few weeks and luckily having transferred a couple of years ago all of his old JVC video cassette tapes he took in the 80's onto MP4 etc, he's got the time to edit them all. However he's never done editing before and even when I showed him the easiest one I could find, link below, he couldn't understand the symbols and what they meant. To be honest I couldn't either without spending some time on it, so wondered if there's anything else similar somewhere.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/vsdc-free-video-editor

[raffriff42]

Premiere Elements has an "easy mode" (I forget what it's called) with just a few large toolbar buttons.

Another probably-useful feature is called "guided edits"
https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-elements/using/guided-mode.html

They also have a variety of video "templates" with credit rolls, a music track etc. Just add your own footage. (they're pretty lame TBH)

I don't know much about these features because I turned them off right away.

[redwudz]

With most video editors, check YouTube for tutorials. Most times they are easier to follow than the software's printed instructions for new users.
And since I'm guessing this editing may be done on a laptop, a USB external HDD may help a lot. Editing can often need a lot of storage space.

[Aliennn]

What symbols do you mean saying 'he couldn't understand the symbols'? Here's a link to VSDC's YouTube channel, these tutorials are really helpful - https://www.youtube.com/user/FlashIntegro/videos

[Arcadiune]

Thanks for all the suggestions and help, after a lot of searching finally found their site last night. After scrolling down I don't think they come much easier....

http://www.thundershare.net/free-video-editor/

[Seeker47]

Thanks for all the suggestions and help, after a lot of searching finally found their site last night. After scrolling down I don't think they come much easier....

http://www.thundershare.net/free-video-editor/

Despite the same or very similar name, this is / was a different program & developer than

https://www.dvdvideosoft.com/free-video-editor.htm

https://www.videohelp.com/software/Free-Video-Dub

or

http://www.videosoftdev.com/free-video-editor

?

I'm going to continue recommending Machete, which will remain my 'Go To' solution until such time as I manage to climb the learning curve of considerably more powerful or elaborate editors. It happens to have a "Lite" version that is free -- and quite possibly also portable. The operation of this program is arguably (by far) the simplest among all the editors I have tried. Like many others, it is keyframe only for your cut points, but I doubt you would find anything easier. I had minimal background for this, but found it pretty intuitive, was able to just start using it right away.