In today’s digital age, video content has become an essential part of our daily lives, from social media videos to promotional content for businesses.
In all this maelstrom of information, novice video editors often can’t focus on the important nuances to start editing a video. Restudying later can be problematic and the quality of your work suffers from it. And this is very sad. Therefore, it is important to immediately get used to the necessary skills.
Video editing is not just a process of gluing frames together. This is also the correct preparation of materials for editing. If it is not performed correctly, many problems may arise during work. There are a few simple skills that will help prepare your content for editing.
Read previous: “A Beginner’s Video Editing Guide: Basic Things“
Organize your footage
After receiving the filmed materials, it is necessary to organize them for further comfortable work. Organized material will make the editing process much smoother and faster.
It will be enough to sort the sound and video into folders. If you are more pedantic, you can sort videos and audio by days, scenes and write the names clearly. This will help you find the footage you need quickly and easily.
Review and selection of materials
There are two most popular and fastest ways to view and select materials.
Method 1. Select the material and drag it to the timeline
How does it work?
In the project window, we open the file in the player and view it. We cut off all the excess. And then, we move the ready frame to the timeline.
Features of this method
This method allows you to keep only the selected frames on the timeline. And therefore all frames will be “suitable” for editing. The video editor will know that there is nothing superfluous on the timeline.
Disadvantages of this method
You can skip some frames because they are all clicked manually while selecting materials.
Method 2. We review the material on the timeline and remove everything unnecessary
How does it work?
We move all the filmed materials to the timeline. We review the footage, cut out all the excess, and delete it from the timeline. All that remains is what passed the selection of the video editor.
Features of this method
Not a single frame will be missed. The video editor will be sure to review every single frame and leave what will be needed during the video editing on the timeline.
Disadvantages of this method
After viewing, all frames will have to be piled up. When a frame is cut or deleted, it leaves behind an empty space (a black frame).
Start with a plan
After reviewing and selecting materials, you can start editing. This is exactly what most beginners in video editing do. But first, you should think about the structure of your video. Decide on the length, style, and overall message you want to convey. Create a storyboard or framework for your future video. You can write everything with subtitles, where the details will be painted. This will help guide your editing process and will ensure that you stay on track and adhere to the implementation of the thought-out idea.
Pay attention to pacing
Pacing is the rhythm and flow of your video. How long you can hold the audience’s attention depends on it. The better the work done, the more natural the pace will feel.
What are the signs of a correct video tempo?
The pace will depend on the idea and style of the video. If it’s an advertisement, the pace will be faster than when it’s a video interview. And frames with dynamic scenes will change more often than dialogue frames. Pay attention to the timing of your cuts, transitions, and effects to create a natural flow. Avoid having too many slow or boring moments, but also don’t rush through the content too quickly. A great way would be to watch the finished video without sound. This will allow you to focus on the frames and feel their duration. If you do not want to shorten or extend the frame, then the work is done well.
Don’t forget about audio
Instead, the focus is on the video. And this is a common mistake of most novice video editors. Therefore, it should be remembered that no matter how high-quality the picture is, it loses its effect with bad audio. The viewer will not be able to watch the video for a long time if the sound is bad.
What is needed for quality sound?
To begin with, the sound needs to be recorded in good quality. This will be most of the work. Then everything depends on the skills of the video editor. Make sure your audio is clear and consistent throughout your video. Remove any unwanted background noise, adjust the levels, and add music or sound effects as needed.
You can also add general noises to make the sound more pleasant and realistic. This will make your video look more professional.
Read next: “The Beginner’s Video Editing Guide: Features Which You Won’t be Told on Courses“
Conclusion
Whether you’re creating content for personal or professional use, video editing is a valuable tool. You can connect with your audience and powerfully tell your story.
And preparation for editing is no less valuable. Therefore, they should be given due attention.
Proper preparation will help not only to navigate the materials well during work but also to save a lot of time and devote it to the creative warehouse.
With mastered important skills, you can easily implement all your ideas. Also with persistence, you can become a really skilled video editor and create videos that capture your audience’s attention.
So, take the first step, and start exploring the exciting world of video editing today!