Hello there
I've been using Ubuntu on and off for years, and have even successfully installed software before, but only the self-installing kind.
I don't know how to get into the more behind the scenes aspects or even how to find out exactly what system I am using (though I imagine that should be easy enough to find out)
So yes I am kind of a newbie, but not so new that I won't be able to understand lay-person help
Just not super technical help.
I have located several likely possible pieces of software but been unable to install them.
I would love to have a software package that is capable of cutting chunks out of mp4s or avis.
I would also ideally love to be able to record extra soundtracks and add them to my videos (all less than 15mins long). Though this is not as critical as the first option.
Am hoping this is all possible on the system and machine I have.
After spending quite a lot of time trying and failing myself am hoping the community can help.
Basically:
1) To find and install a video editor that can cut and splice
2) To find and install a video editor that can also record an extra soundtrack over a pre-existing video
Thanks so much in advance
Blessings to all in these tough times

I have heard really good things about Kdenlive. It's in in the Ubuntu repos.

Avidemux has been around along time and can edit both *.avi and *.mp4 files. It's not in the regular Ubuntu repos, but there are instructions as to how to get it on the Download page of their website.

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Check out kdenlive.
I have been using it for some time and the cutting and splicing works well and is easy. I have done nothing with soundtracks but I believe it will do what you want.

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Eyant555,

Welcome to LQ forums.

I can strongly recommend OpenShot Video Editor which is easy to use and has an excellent user guide:
https://www.openshot.org/

The latest version, 2.5.1, can be installed via Software Manager.

User Guide:
https://www.openshot.org/user-guide/

Trim, Slice, and Split tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQS2tmgD_Rk

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+1 for openshot.

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Fully agree with the advise for Openshot.
Fur Ubuntu you can choose to install from PPA, or take the AppImage (noinstall).
The version in the standard repositories might be older.
https://www.openshot.org/nl/download/

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Thanks very much everyone. Now have Openshot installed. Part of the problem was simply not knowing how to use the Terminal properly, and part of that problem was that I had tried before and it doesn't always work. (Some installs say 'file not found' etc and just fail, and that happened to me several times by coincidence when I first tried to learn how to use it so I thought I was doing it wrong.) Anyway, if no more posts appear here from me that means that either Openshot or Kdenlive (or both) are doing what I want. Much appreciated