Video editing is an essential element of video production because even the best perfect movie, vlog, or music video requires refinement. You need to cut and trim the content at the right places to optimize its length and engagement value.
You may expect video editing to be tricky and overwhelming as a beginner. It is easy to stress about trimming too much or leaving unnecessary things in the content. Achieving perfect balance is the key. Some research and practice can help you master the game and create high-quality final products from raw shoots. Let us share a few surefire ways to ace video editing as a beginner.
Pick the right software
Picking the right video editing software is perhaps the most crucial part of the journey. You may feel spoiled for choices, but you must choose an app that matches your editing style perfectly. You need not go too far with the features as a beginner, because they can only complicate things. Consider using free versions before taking up paid ones. The good thing is that you can find endless resources and tutorials online to understand tools and techniques.
Avoid bloating edits
Bloating edits is the worst mistake, no matter how much you want to retain the content in the clips. As a rule, the final draft should be shorter than the original footage because viewers are short of time. Aim to retain clips with the best lighting and the cleanest movements in the final piece. You may have to be brutal even with your own work, so do not hesitate to cut everything redundant.
Know the formats
Knowing the video formats is equally vital for beginners because you will need to convert them more frequently than you imagine. Converting MP4 to QuickTime MOV is a good option as MOV files are larger and have high quality compared to their MP4 counterparts. Additionally, MOV files work better for Mac users because they are compatible with QuickTime. Knowing formats and conversion techniques puts you in a good place as a newbie.
Learn to use color
Mastering color usage is another aspect of acing video editing. Essentially, it includes color correction and grading. Correction entails adjusting factors such as brightness, contrast, and white balance for basic consistency. Grading is a global process to create an overall look and feel for the clip. You can rely on your editing software features to help with these aspects, but learning the nuances with time helps you get better.
Balance your audio
Beginners may fail to understand the correlation of sound with video editing, but these are closely linked. Audio determines the viewing experience, so you cannot overlook it. You must invest in an external mic to capture high-quality audio in the first place. Also, invest time in sound design by balancing speech first. Once you balance it, adjust surrounding elements like mush and sound effects because they should not overpower your spoken audio.
Video editing is a skill you learn with practice and experience. But you can rely on these simple tips to get a good start and grow as you go.