Unleash Your Inner Director: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Share Factory on PlayStation

Share Factory on PlayStation is a free, powerful, and surprisingly user-friendly video editing suite that allows you to transform your raw gameplay footage into captivating videos. Whether you’re looking to create a highlight reel, a full playthrough with commentary, or just some funny clips to share with friends, Share Factory provides the tools you need. This in-depth guide will walk you through every step of using Share Factory, from importing clips to exporting your final masterpiece.

Getting Started: Importing Your Clips

Before you can start editing, you need to have some clips ready. Here’s how to import your videos into Share Factory:

1. Capture Your Gameplay: Start by playing your favorite games and capture the moments you want to edit. Use the PlayStation’s built-in recording feature by pressing the ‘Share’ button on your controller. A quick press will bring up the menu, while a long press will automatically start or stop recording. You can also customize the length of the recorded clip in the Share settings.
2. Accessing Share Factory: From the PlayStation’s main menu, navigate to the ‘Capture Gallery’ and select ‘Share Factory’. If you haven’t used it before, it may need to download and install.
3. Starting a New Project: Once Share Factory loads, you’ll be presented with options like ‘New Project’, ‘Tutorials’, and ‘Continue Project’. Select ‘New Project’.
4. Choose a Theme: You’ll be asked to choose a project theme. The theme doesn’t necessarily impact the content of your video, but it gives a specific intro/outro and visual style. You can pick one or select the ‘No Theme’ option for a clean slate.
5. Selecting Your Clips: After choosing your theme, you’ll be shown a list of your captured videos. Browse through your recordings and select the clips you want to import into your project. Use the ‘X’ button to select clips and ‘Square’ to toggle between clip previews. You can select multiple clips. Once you’re happy with your selection press ‘Square’ again to add them to the timeline.

Navigating the Share Factory Interface

Now that you have your clips imported, let’s explore the Share Factory interface:

• Timeline: The main area at the bottom of the screen is the timeline, where your clips are arranged. You can move clips around, trim them, and add effects to specific segments of your footage.
• Video Preview Window: The large window above the timeline shows a preview of your video as it plays. Use this to check your edits and ensure everything is looking the way you want.
• Tool Menu: The menu on the left side of the screen contains tools for adding music, transitions, stickers, voiceovers, text, and more. You can navigate through the tools using the directional pad on your controller and select options with the ‘X’ button.
• Clip Options: Select a clip on the timeline to view its individual editing options. You can access these options with the ‘Square’ button, including trimming, splitting, deleting, panning, and more.

Editing Your Video: Essential Techniques

Now it’s time to dive into the core editing features of Share Factory. Let’s break down the essential editing techniques:

Trimming and Splitting Clips

• Trimming: To remove unwanted footage from the start or end of a clip, select the clip on the timeline using the ‘X’ button. Then, press ‘Square’ to access clip options and select the ‘Trim’ tool. Use the left and right directional buttons to set the new start and end points for the selected clip. You can preview the change with the ‘Triangle’ button. Once satisfied, press ‘X’ to confirm the new clip length.
• Splitting: If you need to divide a clip into smaller segments, select the clip and press ‘Square’ to open clip options. Select the ‘Split’ tool. Use the directional buttons to position the red line at the desired cut point and press ‘X’ to split the clip. This can be helpful if you want to add different transitions, effects, or adjust individual parts of the clip.

Adding Music

• Importing Music: Select ‘Add Music’ from the tool menu on the left side. You have access to a library of music available directly in Share Factory, as well as the option to import your own music from a USB drive.
• Selecting Music: Browse the available tracks in the Share Factory Library or navigate to your USB drive. Select the song you want to use and press ‘X’ to add it to the timeline.
• Adjusting Music Volume: Once added, you can adjust the music volume relative to your gameplay audio. Click the ‘Square’ button on the music clip on the timeline and select ‘Adjust Volume’. Use the directional buttons to set the audio to your desired levels, ensuring the music doesn’t overpower the gameplay.
• Trimming Music: You may need to trim the music clip to sync with the video. Select the music track on the timeline, press ‘Square’ and use the trim feature to the start and end of the clip to coincide with the video.
• Multiple Music Tracks: Share Factory lets you add multiple music clips to the same timeline and overlap them if desired, allowing for more advanced sound mixing.

Adding Transitions

• Accessing Transitions: Transitions are used to smoothly shift between two video clips. Select ‘Add Transition’ from the Tool menu.
• Choosing a Transition: A library of different transition types like Crossfade, Wipe, and Zoom will appear. Select the transition style you desire.
• Positioning Transitions: The selected transition is placed between two video clips. Position the transition by selecting where the two clips join on the timeline.
• Previewing Transitions: You can preview transitions by pressing ‘Triangle’. Select the transitions and press ‘X’ to apply to the timeline. Experiment with different transitions to find what works best for your video.

Adding Voiceovers

• Initiating Voiceover Recording: Navigate to ‘Add Voiceover’ in the Tool menu.
• Recording: Connect a microphone to your PlayStation or use your headset, and click ‘X’ to initiate recording. You can speak into the microphone while the timeline plays back. Click ‘X’ again when you want to stop recording.
• Adjusting the Voiceover Track: After recording, the voiceover will be inserted as a separate clip on the timeline. You can trim it, adjust the volume, or move its placement to align with specific parts of the video.
• Editing Voiceovers: Use the ‘Square’ options to edit the start and end times of the audio track, adjusting the volume, and split the voiceover into sections as needed.

Adding Text Overlays

• Adding Text: To add text overlays, go to ‘Add Text’ in the Tool menu. A text box will appear over the video preview.
• Customizing Text: You can customize the text itself, as well as its size, color, font, alignment, and background. Use the right analog stick to move the text box. You can also add text effects to make it more engaging.
• Text Animation: Some text options allow you to choose how text appears and disappears.
• Duration: Adjust the length of time the text is displayed by selecting the text layer on the timeline and using the trim option.

Adding Stickers and Overlays

• Adding Stickers: Select ‘Add Sticker’ from the tool menu. You’ll find a wide selection of stickers, emoticons, and graphics that you can place over your video. Choose the sticker you want.
• Placing and Resizing: You can move, resize, and rotate the stickers. Use the right analog stick to reposition the sticker in the preview window, and use the L1/R1 buttons to rotate and use the L2/R2 buttons to scale.
• Animated Stickers: Share Factory includes some animated stickers for even more flair.
• Layering: You can add multiple stickers and place them above or below other text and overlays on the screen.
• Duration: Change the duration of the sticker by trimming its start and end points on the timeline.

Adding Filters

• Accessing Filters: Navigate to ‘Add Filter’ in the tool menu. A list of visual filters will appear.
• Applying Filters: Select a filter to instantly add it to your video. Filters can be used to change the look and feel of your footage.
• Adjusting Filter Strength: You can often adjust the strength of each filter to find the look that works best.
• Filter Effects: You can add a range of filters, such as color adjustments, pixelation, or blurring.
• Individual Clip Filters: Filters can be applied to each clip individually if desired, giving you more creative control.

Adding Clip Effects

• Adding Effects: Select ‘Add Effect’ from the Tool menu. Effects include slow motion, fast motion, rewind, and more.
• Applying Effects: A list of the clip effects are displayed. Select the effect you want to add.
• Adjusting Speed Effects: If you add a speed effect, you can adjust the magnitude to be either slower or faster than the original clip.
• Experimentation: Try out different clip effects to create more engaging and interesting videos.

Adding Commentary

• Adding Commentary Clips: If you have audio commentary that you want to overlay onto video clips, import your audio files using a USB device.
• Syncing Commentary to Video: Once imported, you can use the editing tools to trim the audio and move its placement on the timeline so it synchronizes perfectly with the corresponding video.
• Adjusting Audio Levels: The audio levels can be adjusted to be the perfect mix with the game sounds and/or music.

Advanced Editing Techniques

Once you’ve grasped the basics, here are a few more advanced techniques to try:

• Picture-in-Picture (PiP): Use PiP to add a small video overlay within your main video. This can be useful for adding reactions, gameplay footage from another screen, or any other clip you want to display alongside your primary footage.
• Ken Burns Effect: This effect, also known as panning or zooming, adds subtle movement to still images or video clips for a more dynamic look. Select the clip, click on the options button and choose panning options.
• Color Correction: Share Factory has basic color correction tools that allow you to adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation of your video. Select the clip, access options and choose colour correction to enhance and make the videos more dynamic.
• Sound Effects: You can add sound effects to add more impact to your video, such as explosions, laughs, or other audio accents.

Exporting and Sharing Your Video

Once your video is complete, it’s time to export and share it:

1. Preview Your Video: Before exporting, watch your video one last time to make sure everything is perfect. Use the ‘Triangle’ button to begin playing.
2. Exporting: Go to the main Share Factory menu (by pressing ‘Circle’) and select ‘Export’.
3. File Naming and Export Settings: Give your video a name, and adjust the export settings, such as the resolution and frame rate. In most cases, the default settings will provide a good balance between quality and file size.
4. Share Options: Share Factory will provide options of where you want to share the exported video. Options include Uploading to YouTube or Facebook or saving to a USB device.
5. Wait for the Export: The exporting process may take some time, depending on the length and complexity of your video. Be patient and allow it to finish.

Tips for Effective Editing

• Plan Your Video: Before you start editing, have a clear idea of what you want to create. This will make the editing process much smoother and more efficient.
• Don’t Overdo It: Too many transitions, effects, or overlays can be distracting. Use them sparingly and only when they enhance your video.
• Use Music Strategically: Choose music that fits the tone and mood of your video. Don’t just add random tracks.
• Pay Attention to Audio Levels: Make sure your voiceovers, music, and game audio are balanced. Nothing should be too loud or too quiet.
• Keep it Concise: Shorter videos are often more engaging than long ones. Trim out any unnecessary footage.
• Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try out new things. The more you experiment with Share Factory, the better you’ll get at using it.
• Tutorials: If you get stuck or want to explore specific features, the Share Factory offers built in tutorials that you can use to learn new editing techniques.

Conclusion

Share Factory is a fantastic tool for aspiring video editors and gamers looking to share their gameplay in a professional and engaging manner. By mastering the techniques covered in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating impressive videos that are sure to capture your audience’s attention. So, grab your controller, boot up Share Factory, and start creating! It is an excellent tool to turn your ordinary clips into a masterpiece.