When you first look at it, professional video editing is a tough job, but it is a skill you can learn. Since video content is now used for various purposes like YouTube videos and videos for email marketing, editing skills are an advantage. However, learning to edit like a pro isn’t easy.
To help you improve, we provided some helpful tips and hacks you should consider:
1. Select the Right Software
Before anything else, having and using the right software is a must. Your editing capabilities may be constricted if you choose some low-quality tools. The right software means it’s right for you, your editing style, and your project.
You can try some Windows alternatives for the one you’re currently using, but here are some of the best video editing software you should prioritize using:
- Movavi – It’s an intuitive video editor MAC and Windows support. It’s free to use and has countless free unique features offered, such as background adjustments, effects, transitions, and more.
- FXhome – It offers various editing tools that are useful for both video and photo editing. FXhome is a professional video editing software that lets you experience pro editing for free.
- Shotcut – It’s free and is open-source, cross-platform editing software. With a sleek interface, editing with Shortcut is convenient for various types of audio and video formats.
- Lightworks (LWKS) – offers a free trial period, but for more exclusive features, you’d have to pay for plans. Nevertheless, with Lightworks, you can still enjoy countless editing tools and features like working with a team and a wide range of offered effects and transitions.
2. Use the Right Computer
Having the right software means nothing if your computer is trash. The right PC doesn’t mean it has to be a costly one; it just has to be performant. For you to be able to edit flawlessly and without a hassle, you need a fast computer that can store enough weighty files and function seamlessly without affecting your editing performance, specifically rendering.
Here are more things or factors to consider for a fast computer:
- Storage Drive – Choose SSD as a form of editing investment. This is a fast storage drive that would let you access and use files and software faster and smoother. With an SSD, you can render and export more quickly. Although SSDs tend to cost more, it’s worth it.
- Processor – Select a faster processor. This would balance the SSD presence in your computer. With a fast processor, i7 recommended, your computer won’t run slow even with all the high-spec storage drive and multiple big files and software.
- RAM – Increase your RAM or have at least 8GB for fast and smooth video editing. The more memory, the better.
3. Tell a Great Story
Remember that when editing, you don’t simply cut and combine footage. You’re telling a story. Be creative and go beyond the basics to ensure that when the audience watches your finished content, it will take them on a journey. Cuts, transitions, effects, and graphics used should align to tell a great story. Make an aesthetically pleasing and dramatically compelling video to evoke emotions and express your message.
4. Cut Properly
Cuts can look inappropriate when not done correctly. For example, if you’re editing different takes on a single scene, cut through the action and not when there’s no movement. This will make the flow of the event smoother. One more thing you should cut properly is your soundtrack. Synchronize the music and the beats of the video to boost the energy you want your video to have.
5. Utilize Keyboard Shortcuts
Most video editing software allows the use of keyboard shortcuts to perform various in-app editing functions. It saves editing time. However, keyboard shortcuts may vary for every editing software, so you might want to look for cheat sheets of the software you’re using.
If you have the budget, you can also purchase an editing keyboard – a regular keyboard with editing functions printed on the keys. This allows more straightforward navigation.
6. Follow the 321 Rule
It should be an obvious fact and tradition to save or back up your files in multiple locations. The 321 rule states that you should keep three copies of the projects you finish in more than two different places. There’s no point in editing professionally when you lose your finished video. One good location to store your files is in external hard drives.
7. Learn Editing Terms
It would be best if you learned the vocabulary to communicate efficiently with other video editors in the industry or potential clients. Here are a few concepts you should learn:
- Montage – the sequence of clips that shows the passage of time.
- Jump Cuts – Boring and predictable portions are skipped by cutting out these portions in the clips.
- Match Cut – cutting together two visually similar clips or scenes.
- J Cut – audio comes before the video.
- L Cut – the video comes before the audio.
8. Correct the Color of Clips
Since color is one of the significant design elements of a video that you can manipulate and adjust, you should utilize this. Manipulate and color correctly to set a mood or atmosphere and evoke emotions in your scenes. Color correction ensures that the color is consistent in every scene. Additionally, you can perform color grading to give your video a distinct and different look.
9. Balance Your Audio
Selecting and adding the right music isn’t enough; you need to make sure that the music doesn’t make it hard to hear the speech in the actual clips. Balance the audio by adjusting the volume of the speech and adjusting the background track to match timeframes when someone is talking.
10. Watch Tutorials
Lastly, to help you become pro faster, you should watch video editing tutorials. There are many YouTube tutorials, blogs, and educational websites to learn how to edit video content professionally. To make everything easier for you, look for tutorials for the specific video software you’re using.
Conclusion
In the end, your pace in learning how to edit like a pro will depend on your perseverance. Keep practicing to be familiar with the tools and gather techniques along the way.