Are you making crazy content for YouTube, or have you shot a fantastic music video? Then, your next stop is video editing. Video editing is no less than magic, and video editors are no less than magicians. The first step towards creating a spectacular video is shooting the video. But the raw footage is not enough to stand out. So, an editor takes the raw footage, trims the unnecessary portions, combines clips, adds music, effects, and transitions, and breathes life into the footage. youtube algorithm
Video is an important part of your marketing strategy and hence video editing is a coveted skill acquired over time. There are several nuances to video editing which might seem intimidating at first. But if you keep at it, you will master this skill in no time. Video editors and editing software are available which assist you to produce professional videos from the get-go. This blog will share some video editing basics for business videos that will get you started on your journey as an editor.
Choose The Right Computer
Imagine you have purchased excellent editing software, shot a video, and are fully pumped to start editing! But when you begin, the footage takes too long to upload, the tools you use don’t work as expected, and the end product is lousy. And you think you aren’t cut out to be an editor and give up! But the real culprit is your computer which is not optimized enough to handle the heavy and intense software.
If you don’t want to be in a similar situation, your computer should be your first investment. A computer with a graphics card, a minimum of 8GB RAM, a multicore processor, and an SSD is essential for editing. In addition, video editing is a taxing process for your computer, and your device should be optimized to allow the smooth operation of editing software.
Use A Video Editor
A video editor or editing software is how you can add transitions to your videos, add titles, intros and compile them to make a powerful video. You can choose an editor based on your expertise and requirements. The video editing features like trim, crop, and transitions help make comprehensive videos. You can add texts, audio, voiceovers, and animation to make attractive videos that sell. Some top video editors are InVideo, Adobe Premiere, iMovie.
Organize and Manage Files
The post-production process begins with organizing and saving the raw footage. Clearly label and manage files and take plenty of backups! Next, review the raw footage and take notes on the shots. Finally, go through the footage, look for the best take of each scene, and assemble those on the editor.
Delete any unnecessary footage to reduce the clutter on the editor. The less clutter, the better. External hard disks are also an excellent tool for editing. If you save the files on the external hard disk instead of your computer, you will be saving up on memory. So, more RAM can be allocated to the editing software to ensure smooth operations and faster rendering.
Trim and Add Transitions
Once you have assembled the footage you want to incorporate in the video, it’s time to finetune those. Again, it would be best to trim the beginning and end of each clip so that the clips merge and the flow seems natural.
Trim all the clips and then splice them together to streamline the video’s narrative and make it appear like a conversation rather than a collection of montages. Transitions can take your video editing to the next level. Most editing software has built-in transitions like fades, dip to black, dissolve, and other animations.
Transitions add a fun element between shots and stitch up any non-coherent footage. But too many transitions can take away from the essence of the video. So, please stick to the basics and use them only when they add value to your edits.
Weave in Music
Background music adds a dimension to your videos and helps you connect better with the audience. Unfortunately, editors often ignore the power of music. Yes, powerful visuals make up the video, but the music adds life to those visuals. But will any music work for your video? If you have shot a video by a waterfall and added upbeat rock music to it, think about the disastrous combination! To avoid such rookie errors, play some audio while editing your video to see which one feels like a natural part of the video.
Music should be a harmonious addition to the video and not take away from the message it is trying to convey. So, adjust the volume of the background score accordingly, not to overpower the narrative of the video. If you do not have a budget for music, choose the music from royalty-free audio libraries. But if you can spend, you will find top-notch music options available.
Proof Your Videos
Fresh perspective always helps when it comes to editing. So, export proof of your edit, send it to trusted colleagues and ask for their feedback. You can even take a break and come back to review your work after some time. You might find things to finetune and modify after spending some time away.
To Sum Up
Video editing is equivalent to telling a story. The various components like footage, audio, and graphics are brought together, amalgamated to create a compelling narrative to evoke the audience’s emotions. Don’t be afraid to experiment and explore the various editing tools of the editing software. Add effects and transitions that match the flow of the video. Watch YouTube videos for inspiration.
Editing videos is complex but don’t let that deter you. Follow the editing basics discussed so far and roll. You will notice a remarkable difference in your video quality with time. An editor is an artist, and remember, artists, are not born overnight!
