Have you ever watched a video that has left you wondering how that happened? What made it so special? Why did I keep watching? If yes, then this article is for you.
Like most facets of life, there is more than one way to do something. While all creative endeavors have at least one common denominator – inspiration – different artists approach their craft in unique ways. Check out this list of the five things every video editor should know before they hit record and start crafting their pieces of brilliance.
The secret about video editing is that it is a lot of hard work.
To make a great video, you must put in the effort. It’s more than just taking your footage and slapping it together. To do it right, you must have a good story and shots. This is one of the reasons why you need a great video editing tool.
The best video editing software allows you to create great-looking videos with minimal effort. The problem is that it’s very easy to make mistakes when editing a video – especially if you’re new to the process. The good news is that a huge range of free video editing software is available, so you don’t need to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on software to get started.
However, if you want professional results, you’ll need to invest in some quality software that offers more powerful features and tools. In addition to choosing the right software, it’s also worth learning how to create a user-friendly studio that supports your workflow. A well-organized and comfortable editing space can make the entire process smoother and more enjoyable, especially during long editing sessions.
The secret about color temperature is that it requires constant attention.
Color temperature is a term used in photography and cinematography to describe the hue of a light source. We see the world through our eyes as a combination of colors, but cameras are much more sensitive to certain colors than others. This means that if you put a camera in front of something without adjusting its settings, you’ll get very different results depending on what color light it sees.
For example, if you take a picture of someone with an iPhone at noon on a sunny day, the result will be yellowish-orange because the camera is picking up the dominant colors in the scene (the sun). If you take pictures indoors under incandescent lights or at night under streetlights, they’ll look bluish-green because those lights have lower color temperatures (or higher Kelvin ratings).
As an editor, your job is to make sure your footage looks as good as possible. And one way to do that is by making sure all your clips match each other in terms of color temperature.
The secret about transitions is that dissolve and fade-to-black are the best ones to use.
Transitions can be tricky. Some people use them too much, others not enough. But when done well, they add a layer of polish to your videos, making them more engaging.
Transitions can make your video more dynamic when used sparingly and appropriately and help viewers follow your story from one scene to the next.
The most common transition is an instant cut from one scene to another – what we call “the cut” in editing terminology. Cutting between scenes is the most obvious way of moving between two ideas, and it’s what most beginning editors do first.
However, it can feel abrupt if you cut right into a new scene without any preparation, leaving your audience wondering where they are for a moment before they can figure out what’s happening on screen now.
The dissolve and fade-to-black don’t distract from the video itself. They’re subtle and smooth, keeping the viewer engaged in what’s happening on screen.
A lot of people will use wipes or other more elaborate transitions, but these tend to be distracting and make it harder for your audience to focus on what you’re showing them.
The secret about sound editing is that it makes or breaks videos, so get the best you can afford and make friends with a professional who can help you edit.
The secret about sound editing is that it makes or breaks videos, so get the best you can afford and make friends with a professional who can help you edit.
There are two basic types of sound editing: re-recording and post-production. Re-recording means recording your voice or other sounds while filming and mixing them with the video track. Post-production involves adding effects to existing audio tracks or creating new ones after filming is complete.
Re-recording is usually done on location, using a portable recorder such as a Zoom H4N USB Microphone Recorder or Tascam DR-100 Portable Digital Recorder. The advantage of this method is that you don’t need to bring an assistant along to hold an external microphone while filming; instead, he can record the audio directly onto his smartphone and sync it up later in the editing process (but don’t forget to tell him not to speak during takes).
Post-production sound editing can also be done on location if your camera has built-in mics that record stereo sound (the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II does). Still, most cameras don’t have this option, and even if they did, it wouldn’t be ideal for serious filmmaking because the quality would be lower.
The secret about pacing is that it takes time to shape and refine, but it’s important to keep working at it until you get it right.
The secret about pacing is that it takes time to shape and refine, but it’s important to keep working at it until you get it right. As an entrepreneur, you’ll learn how to pace yourself in multiple ways:
- How long do you spend on various tasks?
- How many tasks do you take on simultaneously?
- How much sleep do you need?
- When you should be working out.
You might learn these lessons the hard way — by failing many times. Getting your rhythms down pat may take years of trial and error. You can cut that short by learning from others and consistently mastering your craft.
Takeaway: Anyone can edit video, but you need to be willing to work hard on your project. Becoming a professional editor and producing Hollywood-level films don’t happen overnight. You need to be dedicated, you need to learn the craft, and most importantly, you need the right tools. A few software like Adobe Premiere Pro come with smart, flexible, and adaptable tools that will help you improve your editing skills as you work on your final edit so that your films are always polished and professional looking.
