The last stage of any filmmaking process is the editing table. An editor shoulders the responsibility of giving life to video footage. In this age of digital content, where the demand for videos is at an all-time high, a video editing job is highly lucrative.
However, it could seem slightly overwhelming as a newcomer to the skill. Here are some tips and tricks to help you navigate these early editing stages. These things will enable you to make fewer errors and provide guidance to set up a reliable workflow.
Notice Content Around You
As a beginner to the art of video editing, it’s critical to try as many new video editing tricks as you can. The best way to learn is by doing it. And this means you should consume as much of the content in your domain as you can.
For example, if you plan to dabble in travel filmmaking, spend some time each day watching videos of other creators. Please note the edits, transitions, colors, music, effects that they use. It further helps to have a notepad in hand to ensure you make notes of aspects that fascinate you.
Start With The Right Tool
One of the biggest worries of those starting with video editing is the lack or surplus of tools to pick. You do not need sophisticated and expensive software on the first day of your editing journey.
Any free online or offline tool will help you learn the basics of editing. Once you’re sure that you will get enough utility out of this skill, invest in an online video editor like InVideo.
Another point to note is the computer you used to edit. Ensure your computers have a relatively high RAM and memory space. You might also require a comfortable mouse or keyboard to help you edit faster.
Note that you can also edit online. You do not need to invest in a tool right away if your outputs are minimal, like social media.
Find A Flow That Works
The best way to work faster is to create a seamless workflow. This organization system becomes the basis of your editing framework.
Ideally, start by arranging your files (discussed below. Then import your files onto the editing tool. Next, cut only the part you require for your video. To this, add elements like sound design, background music, etc. Lastly, ensure color correction and fine-tuning.
You can see some great examples of high-level video editing here.
For the third link, after the paragraph labeled “Speed Up Work With Practice”, add another paragraph with a header labeled:
The Right Format First
Many new editors make a common mistake is a mismatch in the final output format.
For example, if you create a video for an Instagram feed, your video would require specific sizes and technical qualities. The exact format does not work across platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
Input the settings of your video (like size, frame rate, export quality, etc.) right at the start of your editing process to avoid any reworking
File Management Is Key
As mentioned earlier, file management at the early editing stages will help you maintain a seamless workflow.
Start by arranging your files within your computer or storage devices. Organize these files by either location, chronology, or any other order you wish to use.
Most editors around the world use the 321 rule for file backups. This rule suggests that each project must contain three copies of everything. The versions remain stored in at least two different locations, with one of these spots other from the machine used for editing.
Obey Storytelling
Understanding the basics of storytelling makes you a better video editor. While the writer, director, or cameraperson provides the ingredients of a film, the editor must finally cook them together into a dish.
When unsure how to edit a video faster, think about the story you wish to narrate. The basic rules of storytelling, like the three-act structure, linear narrative, nonlinear story, etc., help the editor better organize clips on a timeline. A quality that eventually creates a unique product.
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Attention to Color And Sound
A quality that sets a great film apart from a good one is the colors and the sound design of the footage.
The color correction process synchronizes and matches each color between the many clips used on the videos. They are also used to showcase moods, build emotions, highlight or enhance the visual appeal or show the changing of time.
Sound design is the use of sound elements within the video to enhance the impact of the actions on screen. For example, adding the sound of falling raindrops, while showing rain on-screen, helps the viewer better engage with the video.
Use Text For Information
Text in a video is like seasoning– used in surplus, and all the user can taste is the salt.
Use text to either depict information, create impact, like subtitles, or show information unavailable in the visual or audio mediums. Picking the right font size, font type, and color is a skill one can master with time and experience.
Look out for the use of text when you watch films. Notice if they add value to the visual on-screen or merely distract the users.
Learn Skills Online
If you wish to remain a great editor for a long time, the only approach is constant learning.
The internet remains flooded with tutorials and classes that help any video editor upskill. Dedicate time each week to learn a new transition, a new effect, or a new feature of your editing software.
These skills will inevitably make your work stand out from the clutter and help you create distinct creations each time.
Speed Up Work With Practice
The more time you spend on a tool, the more familiar you become with it. This comfort enables you to edit faster and create more work.
Over time, train your mind to use keyboard shortcuts, find better file management methods, and create templates that you can reuse on similar projects. Each editor creates hacks over time, but it is essential to remain conscious of these right at the start of your career.
Dubbing other languages.
If your video is going to be seen by those who speak other languages, you’ll want to have it dubbed. This is the part of the editing process that allows you to reach international audiences. You’ll want to check out this company that offers professional dubbing services.
In Closing,
Lastly, remember that editing is one skill that takes many years to master: reworking and corrections and all parts of the learning curve. The earlier you make these mistakes, the faster you learn.
