Video editing is not an easy business, sometimes it s even chaotic, but in a good way. Luckily, this process can be done perfectly, but we need to follow a predetermined set of rules.
If you’ve managed to record video footage and now you’re ready to put your shots together to make your video. But, where do you start? Let’s explore the essential steps we need to cover to make an awesome video that matches the intended vision.
These steps are not always the same, as it can depend on a few different things, but in general, it is recommended to follow these general rules:
- Choosing your software – The most common question you’ll come across in video editing is, “What program did you use to make this?”. While there are dozens of recommended video editing software applications out there, they all essentially produce the same results. From iMovie or Windows Movie Maker to Davinci Resolve or Adobe programs, or Final Cut Pro X, the selection is quite good.
- Importing files and organizing project files and footage – firstly we need to move the media from the camera to our PC or Laptop, and sort it out afterward. It is very useful to create a folder with different sub-folders for every project. Decide on a name for the folder, sometimes that makes sense for you, and delete the files that you will not use.
- Trimming when needed – In a nutshell, you’ll want to trim the beginning and end of each of the clips you arranged in the timeline. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step! Fine-tuning your edit will help to create a video that feels more like a human conversation. We are looking for:
- Anything including preparation of the shot
- Extended unnatural pauses in dialogue
- An interviewer asking a question of camera
- Adding music and B-roll material – Background music plays a really important role in your video, it’s a great way to drive the video forward and create emotion around a certain message. B-roll is a film production term used to refer to supplemental or alternative footage intercut with the main shot.
- Exporting the first version – sometimes the editing process can take a really long time, so it is useful to export a draft version, and to send it to someone that you trust. This way you can gauge when the right time to export a final copy of your video.
- Final Cut – this is where you combine color grading, audio mixing, special effects, captioning, and everything else to create the final version. This process can be different for a solo editor compared to a team of people working together.
- Output your Project – when everything is done, output your project and save all your media in case you ever need to re-edit it. Trust us, this step is really important and it can save you a lot of time.
