Everything you need to know about video editing

From preserving family memories to launching entire businesses online, more individuals than ever are interested in learning how to make enticing videos. And it’s definitely a fantastic moment to do it.

Most individuals already have a competent camera in their pocket. Of course, video capture is just one aspect of the process. In addition, it is also necessary to learn how to edit videos. There is a broad variety of video editing software available to make it simple to edit your movies.

Whether you want a basic drag-and-drop editor or a full-fledged, professional-grade editing suite, you can choose your pick, and sometimes at a shockingly low cost.

Learning how to edit video may be a never-ending rabbit hole, with ever-increasing choices and methods to consider. So, for those who are just getting started, we’ve put up this tutorial on how to approach video editing and get you started down an interesting new road.

Things to Consider Before You Begin

Video editing may be as basic or as complex as you want it to be. However complicated you want the end result to be, you will find the process much more pleasant if you take a few minutes to prepare from the outset, ideally before you begin recording any video.

1. What Kind of Videos do you Edit?

The requirements for various kinds of videos vary. Perhaps you’re simply attempting to put together a highlight reel from your family trip and need to trim down lengthy recorded portions into your best moments and splice them together.

Alternatively, you might do a YouTube vlog that combines talking-head video with explanatory B-roll snippets. Or maybe you’re putting together a full-length documentary with hours of video to process, complete with special effects and transitions that catch the audience’s eye.

What you want your finished output to look like will influence what and how you film, the video editing software you use, and how you approach the whole process.

2. What Features Would you Want the Editing Software to Have?

Every piece of video editing software has a learning curve, and there is a direct connection between the number of features and the amount of work required to master the program.

Consider if you just want the essentials, such as a drag-and-drop editing platform with a relatively flat learning curve, or whether you want to spend time learning a more complex (but more feature-rich) program.

There are many video editing software choices available. Some will really be better than others (if you have certain objectives), but there are few, if any, incorrect choices as well, depending on your editing requirements.

The truth is that the greatest software is the one you are most at ease with. A few video editing solutions are simple to learn, yet they may have limited functionality. Other platforms will need more time to master but will provide you with limitless possibilities.

Determine where you fall on that spectrum and devote time to learning the ins and outs of whichever program you pick. When you’re comfortable with an editor, the time you put in will pay off.

3. Is Your Machine Capable of Video Editing?

Because you will be doing all of your video editing on a computer, you must evaluate whether your computer is capable of handling the editing you want to perform.

As you would imagine, the more sophisticated elements you wish to include in your movie (for example, computer-generated special effects), the more powerful computer gear you will need.

One thing to keep in mind: there has long been discussion over which operating system is better for video editing. But with a video maker online, you can easily jump over this hoop as they are platform-independent.

Tips for a More Pleasant Editing Experience

Making an appealing clip may be a difficult job with many stages, each with its own set of difficulties. The editing process may be difficult if you are not prepared, but there are a few things you can do to make it simpler and more fun.

1. Plan Ahead of Time and Shoot According to your Schedule

This may not be feasible depending on what you’re filming. For example, if you’re gathering home videos of events, you’ll be rather constrained. But, if you can, consider sketching down a rough idea of what you want to capture.

What kind of footage will you require? Try to prevent instances of having to go back and reshoot a portion of it because you neglected to do it the first time.

Also, you must try to maintain things as efficiently as possible so that they do not disrupt your workflow at later stages.

2. Choose a File Management Approach

You’ll most likely have a variety of assets to incorporate in your final creation, such as video clips, graphics and editing effects (such as title screens, overlays, and so on), audio files, and perhaps more.

Keep everything organized so that you can locate everything quickly and easily when the time comes to utilize it.

3. Take it Easy on the Effects

Adding effects is similar to seasoning food in that a little goes a long way and too much overpowers what you create. More effects require more computing power, which may slow things down.

4. Consider your Music Selection Carefully

Music may enhance your film, but it should not be distracting. And, if you’re going to share your videos publicly (say, on YouTube), consider the copyright ramifications of your music. Royalty-free is the most secure option.

Tools like InVideo come with an expansive collection of royalty-free music tracks which ensures you don’t run into copyright issues.

5. Take Frequent Pauses

Editing can be a long and tedious task, and therefore, take pauses for your mental health as well as your sight. After looking at a computer for an extended period of time, everything may begin to seem the same.

Therefore, you must ensure healthy breaks in between to ensure sanity and having a fresh approach towards your creation.

Conclusion

A video requires a significant amount of work. There are numerous parts to put together, from collecting excellent video footage and high-quality audio to putting everything together and finding the appropriate channels to publish it on.

Fortunately, for anybody interested in producing films, there are more tools available than ever before, making it simpler than ever to get started.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories.

We are continuously putting out relevant content. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us!

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Ready to dominate social media?

Get started now.

Image Description