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Why is video editing necessary?
A major question people tend to ask themselves is, “why do I need to edit my videos?” Video editing is vital for spotting errors within any video. Video editing is also important because it is key to blending images and sounds to help the audience feel emotionally connected to the storytelling portrayed by the video. Video editors can also significantly improve the quality of a video during post-production.
What to know before you start video editing
It is not just enough to get footage and start editing. Video producers need to know that video editing requires planning and learning all there is to know before the first cut. Below are some tips to follow:
- Have a plan in place
One of the major mistakes in video editing is not considering editing at the time of taking video footage. Video producers must have clear visions of:
- What result are they trying to get with the video?
- What should people see, feel, do, think or know?
- How will the result be achieved?
Making adequate preparation is vital to the creation process. Video editing is all about planning.
- Choose your most preferred software
Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Elements and DaVinci Resolve are a few of the best softwares available to producers (1). Video editors should be careful to choose a software based on their familiarity with each software interface and level of expertise to avoid complications during the post-production process.
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Video editing starts before the first cut. It starts with that very passion for producing images. It is all about planning and creativity. The video only reflects how creative the producer is with the footage irrespective of the chosen software.
- Learn the process
One of the mistakes beginners make is just rushing down to the meat of editing software, color grading, tweaking the audio, adding music, and cutting and transitioning footage without knowing the process. More are guilty of not learning some simple keyboard shortcuts that would make video editing more easier. Learning to play backward, forward, pause, and trim the clip while using keyboard shortcuts can seem inconsequential, it’s very handy to improve your video editing flow.
How to get into video editing: Step-by-step process
Alright, the shoot is complete. You have gone through the script; been to the field to get the best footage. What next? How will this nice footage be turned into a great video?
There are steps to note on how to get into video editing. These steps are more about the fingertips, creativity, and what you want to see. Remember, the more you practice, the better your videos will be.
Below is a process for learning how to get into video editing:
- Master footage compilation and selection
It is very important to have just the right amount of footage enough for the project at hand. You don’t want to have way less or too much. The more the footage, the more time spent on editing. Having less footage might also mean there are not enough shots to complete the work.
- Have a solid backup strategy
Most beginners are often guilty of not backing up footage on different storage. Especially for editors who immediately start trimming and cutting the recorded footage, they might delete parts that should be important to the project.
- Dedicated workspace
Where you edit is very important. One can never go wrong with getting a quiet editing room suitable for listening to the littlest sounds in your footage.
- Grouping footage
Having watched the recorded footage repeatedly to get familiar with the details in the footage, group them into folders to make them easily accessible. The more grouping the footage in the right folders, the better. Get a clue – sort and group footage in a similar way you organize computer files.
- Trim shots into sequence
Lay the best tapes into a sequence on your timeline. Use an assembly edit (2). Assembly edit has the full contents or footage on the timeline roughly following the storyline. Cut the sequences and move the end of one to the beginning of the other. Jump cutting allows producers to truncate time and effectively transition between footage. The goal is to ensure the video is quick and smooth in the most efficient way.
- Repetition is key
Watch the video sequence, pause, play, slow it down and repeat the process. After repeating this for a while, video producers may realize that certain footage doesn’t fit.
- Sound mastering
This talks about the importance of sound. Having recorded your sound well, be sure to use the right music to set the mood for your content. The audience can’t stand watching a video where they can’t hear what is said. For the best sound and audio feed, most video producers turn to stock music sites like Artlist or Epidemic Sound. If you would like to learn more about royalty-free music platforms, you can check our article on Artlist vs. Epidemic sound.
- Take a break
At some point, video producers need to take a break, go for a walk, grab a snack, and have a new perspective on the current project.
- Blending
Mix your sound with the footage. Make sure you can easily hear the voice, and the footage flows with the music. Make the footage look the way it should through color correction.
- Final cut
Follow through the sound, cuts, and images to ascertain the video looks exactly the way it should. You can decide to show the final cut to other professionals as well to get proper feedback of your work before completing your post-production.
Although challenging, it is not impossible to create the best video content even as beginners. Follow the process: learn, plan and create.
It’s hard to decide on the best software when many have similar functions. The best advice is to stick with the one you can find good tutorials on, and that you’re willing to devote the hours to learn how it works.
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The best video editing software is not the one that has all the tools and effects needed; it is the one that the video producer is most convenient with. Which software provides the best quality work in the shortest possible time?
Conclusion
To wrap this all up on how to get into video editing, video producers must be aware of the entire creative process: have the right amount of footage, a plan, and the best software at their disposal to create a quality video. The good news is, with the simple tips we’ve gone through, you have the basics to start editing your videos even as a beginner.
We trust this piece has made your transition into video editing easier. Which aspect of video editing is most daunting to you? You can let us know in the comment section and we’d offer helping tips to get you grounded.
References:
- Wells Tom (2022, February 10). 27 Best Free Video Editing Software Programs in 2022. Retrieved from https://ng.oberlo.com/blog/best-free-video-editing-software
- YouTube Creators (2018). Total Beginner’s Guide to Video Editing. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/oC3gXr1s_aU.