If I\'m trying to edit relatively simple videos, what is a good editor that has

Question

If I'm trying to edit relatively simple videos, what is a good editor that has these features available on Windows?

trimming video clips, playing one video clip after another (basic functions, not required but would be nice)
ability to insert images or audio at arbitrary points on top of an already existing clip, like an overlay (required; this is the focus of the question)
ability to overlay video as well would also be nice
previewing the video before exporting it (ability to play/pause video to find places to insert things)
preferably free (this is somewhat important, low cost is ok too) and relatively straightforward to use (less important)
no specific codec required

Explanation / Answer

I have recommended Virtual Dub on another question asking for a tool for efficiently cutting movies. Virtual Dub meets each of the requirements specified but how it handles images is a little... different.

Virtual Dub effortlessly provides the following functionality:

trimming video clips
combining multiple clips
previewing the video before exporting it
and, it's free

It allows you to import images as well, however it is primarily a video editing tool, and it deals with frames (of which there are however many frames per second that you're rendering at, defaulting to 25). To import images for title screens or at arbitrary points during playback you would need to do the following;

insert the image
browse to the frame containing the image
copy the frame and paste it as many times as you need it (25 frames for one full second at 25 frames per second, for example)

For fading between whatever the image/title card is for and the video, you'd have to use plugins

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