You have a video with light saber action that needs those recognizable searing light saber sounds. Here’s how to accomplish this task.

1. In this example, Windows Movie Maker or WMM will be used to add in the lightsaber sound effects to video. You can use practically any video editing software to do the same thing. Ulead, Pinnacle Studio, and Adobe After Affects are just a few examples but you have to purchase them. WMM is free.
2. Step 2

   If you don’t have light saber sound effects, find them on the internet. On the google search engine for example, just type in “light saber sound effects download” and you will find plenty of choices. Find a download that has a package of different light saber sound effects. A good link (still available in 2009) to several sound effects can be found in the resources below. All downloads assume that the files did not come from a questionable site and are scanned to be virus free.

3. Step 3

   To guide you on what sounds you are looking for, you must identify the files that must match the basic light saber actions:

   1. Light saber turning on and off (you can use the same sound).
   2. Light saber swinging
   3. Light saber clash or hit
   4. Light saber not swinging. (Just steady and humming).

   The filename should help identify the sound effects. If it doesn’t have a good filename, click on the file to playback the sound and rename the file to something better.

4. Step 4

   Run Windows Movie Maker. From the Main Menu, create a New Project and click Import Into Collections to import the video. Import all the sound files into the project work space. It is best to have all the sounds you need in one folder so you can select what you need and import them.

5. Step 5

   Select the video file icon on the workspace and drag it into the timeline at the bottom of WMM. Make sure that the timeline mode is shown instead of the storyboard mode. Just click on the name “Timeline or Storyboard” to toggle between modes.

6. Step 6

   Select the video in the workspace area of WMM and with the mouse drag it to the timeline. Click on the zoom in button (+ magnifying glass) so you can see the timeline for each second.

7. Step 7

   In this example, the light sabers are already on and swinging. Drag one of the sound effects for the swinging blade to the audio music track in the timeline.

8. Step 8

   Advanced the frame by clicking on the next frame button on the right below the preview video. You can also click on play or drag the vertical line to any frame. Go to the frame where the swords meet.

9. Step 9

   If the sound clip is too long or too short on the timeline, drag the end of the clip with the mouse and make the size line up to where the swords meet.

10. Step 10

    Drag the clash or hit effects sound clip to the WMM audio/music track. Again, if it is too long or too short, resize (but don’t move) the clip with the mouse. Don’t make the clash clip too short. It should be at least half a second, even if the blades touch for only one frame.

11. Step 11

    
    

    Drag another light saber swing sound effects and repeat the process until the end of the video clip. Playback the work once in a while to make sure the sounds line up correctly with the video.

12. Step 12

    Before you create a finished video with sound effects, play back the entire movie in Windows Movie Maker to check your work. Resize any sounds that don’t synchronize with the video. If you need to shift the entire sound track, use the CTRL or SHIFT button with the mouse to select the tracks that you want to move to make room for other video clips in the same project.

13. Step 13

    When you are satisfied with the playback, go to File, Save Movie File, and create a file for the finished film.