Video editing can be simple or complicated, depending on the final product you are looking at. There will be different requirements depending on the type of video you are putting together.
However, in this guide, we will be talking about the most basics of video editing. To start off, you will need to install a video editing software. Here are some of the common and popular video editing software that you can consider trying out:
- Adobe Premiere Pro (Leading video editing software)
- Final Cut Pro X (Only for Mac OS)
- Filmora9
- Adobe Premiere Elements
- Lightworks
- VideoStudio
- Apple iMovie
Now, let’s jump right into the basic steps you’ll need to take when editing a video. Do note that this is just a brief general guide for beginners and will not cover all aspects and features of video editing. For instance, we will not touch on the more complicated aspects like sound editing which will require a post on its own.
- Create a New Project and Import all your Footage
The very first step of video editing is to launch your software and create a new project. Depending on the software you are using, you may be given the option to choose the aspect ratio you want. The aspect ratio essentially refers to the dimensions of your video. Some common aspect ratios are:
- 4:3 (Standard aspect videos)
- 16:9 (Widescreen videos)
- 9:16 (Vertically oriented videos)
- 1:1 (Square shaped videos)
It should be easy to find the import tool on your software and import all of the footages and other media that you wish to use in your video. Some video editing software will allow you to directly drag these files into the editor!
- Watch and Organise your Footages
In this step, you will have to take time to go through all of your imported footages and mark out the parts that you want to use in your final video. Depending on the software that you are using, you can either trim the footages on the spot or choose to mark out the parts using in and out points.
This step may be time-consuming but ensure that you go through all the clips carefully as you will not want to go through the trouble of looking through every clip again when you missed something out. For parts that you are still undecided on, it is better to include them first as it is a lot easier to remove them than to add them after this step.
- Cut and Arrange Footages into a Timeline
Here, you will begin to see your final product come together! To do this, cut the parts of the videos you have marked out in the previous step and arrange them into a timeline. If you have already trimmed the footages in the previous step, then simply drag and arrange them accordingly into a timeline.
- Refine your Timeline
After you have completed step 3, it is unlikely that your video will be good to go. Watch what you have put together and refine the flow of your footages. There are likely to be some timing problems or awkward transitions that you should be looking out for to fix in this step!
This is also the time where you narrow down your choices and remove the unnecessary footages so that your video will be kept short and sweet! Quantity does not equal quality when it comes to video editing. You will not want to bore your audiences with a draggy end product.
- Add Audio and Visual Effects
Now that you have the flow of the video with only clips that you want, it is time to add music, texts, visual and transition effects based on your preferences. The text function will allow you to add titles, credits or even subtitles to your video.
There are usually a wide variety of fonts and style that you can choose from; take your time to select one that suits the theme of your video. A good choice of music can help to elevate your video. But, don’t let the music overpower your video and take note of copyright issues when importing your music.
In most software, you will have the option to add visual effects like distorting and blurring that can add some flavour to your video. It can be easy to go overboard with all the cool transitions and effects available, especially when you are a beginner, but bear in mind that sometimes less is more. When you use the appropriate effects, it can make your video more engaging to watch. However, excessive use of effects can easily ruin your video as well.
- Export and Share
When you are satisfied with your final video, it is finally time to export and share. Most software will have the option for you to share your video directly onto online platforms such as YouTube or Facebook. If this is what you are looking to do, it should be convenient for you. However, for others who are looking to embed the video on other websites or share it as a file, you will have to consider the file format that best suit your piece. The resolution may vary for different file formats. A popular format would be to export as a mp4 file with H.264 compression. A H.264 compression supports resolutions up to 8K UHD.
In conclusion, there are a lot more to video editing that we have yet to cover. This article provides you with the general steps that you can follow to edit your first video. Feel free to browse the web for more elaborated video editing techniques. While editing can Capturing good footage is also a crucial part of creating a good video.
Here at VIA Media, we provide professional videography services for all your needs. We seek to capture authentic and intimate experiences for your audience imagery. Also, feel free to check out VIA’s other projects and other services here!
