As the popularity of videos continues on an unprecedented rise, video editing has taken the center stage in the content creation process. The sheer availability of editing tools makes it a challenging task to identify the most suitable option. While the budget and editing expertise has a role to play, tools like InVideo are highly versatile and let you create HD videos in a few clicks. In this article, we will walk you through the basics of video editing.
Of course, you can always choose hire a respected company such as Ball Media Professional video editing services.
Familiarize Yourself with The Industry Jargon
As you prepare to embark on your video journey, you must familiarise yourself with the commonly used terms.
- The ratio of the height to the width of the video is called its aspect ratio.
- A-roll is the primary footage of the video.
- Filler content or the secondary content is known as the B-roll
- The change from one shot to another is the Cut.
There is much other such jargon associated with video editing. As you prepare more videos and spend time on the tool, you will learn about the terms.
Pick Your Hardware
Video editing can be a demanding process, and you need to ensure that your smartphone or computer has the necessary hardware. Ideally, the computer that you use for video editing must have a fast solid-state drive, at least 2GB RAM, and a multicore processor. While you can edit videos on both iOS and Android devices, we recommend that you choose a device that has a memory of at least 16GB.
Decide on the Editing Software
As a beginner to video editing, you will want to use the best video editing software and create studio-like results. Try to go for an intuitive tool so that you do not struggle with the features.
Several video editors allow you to choose a template and personalize it to your taste. In the initial days of video editing, try to stick to one tool for all your videos. That way, you will get more time on the tool and can explore its finer nuances.
Plan the Video Content
While every content creator must plan their video, this step is particularly important for newbies. Start by identifying your target audience and creating buyer personas to understand their expectations. Then decide on the purpose of your video and brainstorm ways to present the content.
While chalking out the video content, you must ensure that the video focuses on one idea. A video that sticks to a theme or aims to solve one problem, will resonate better with the audience. If you are unsure of which video idea to pick, try to create different videos on each idea.
It is a good practice for beginners to treat video as a conversation and plan a storyboard. You can then think of plausible questions, ideas and plan your script. While your subjects don’t need to work on scripted dialogues, having a basic outline will help them avoid drifting away from the topic.
Organize Your Files
As you get to video editing, you will be amazed at the number of files that you collect. To avoid mixing files and losing important clips, start your video editing journey by creating bins. Be systematic in your file nomenclature and sort them according to the order of filming or the shots you intend to use them in.
If possible, if you are using hard drives for the video footage, try to choose ones with USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt. That way, the file transfer will be significantly faster, and you will free up the computer memory. Further, you can consider using a gaming mouse for video editing and leverage the different buttons for editing functions.
Choose the Appropriate Clips
These days, social media is flooded with video content. The average internet user expects HD images and well-edited videos in everything that they watch. To cater to such an audience, try to use video footage in 1080p and higher resolutions.
Do away with shaky videos and use image stabilization tools wherever possible. While it is acceptable to use stock media, make sure that the quality of the clip matches that of your filmed footage. For images, go for HD pictures in .jpg or .png formats.
Pick the Sound
Audio helps to give context to the video and improve the overall appeal. In the initial days, picking the background score or sound effects may seem daunting. The key to picking the right music is trusting your gut. You can do a matchup of the music and the video. Then, watch the result to see if it fits in. Be impartial in your judgment and, if required, seek the opinion of your peers and partners.
While adding music to your video, be cautious about copyright issues. Unless you are composing your music, try to get it from a royalty-free music service. That way, you avoid the risk of running into copyright issues.
Add Transitions to The Video
Most first-time editors are excited about having transitions after every shot in the video. Avoid overdoing it and try to stick to a simple dissolve or dip back. Unwanted transitions take the focus off the video and can distract the viewer from the subject being discussed.
Use Appropriate Captions
While adding captions may not seem like the most glamorous part of video editing, it is one of the most important stages. If you intend to post your edited video on social media, you need to realize that most people have their phones on silent while browsing. Adding captions helps such viewers get a better context of the video and stay tuned to the content.
With captions, your video has an inclusive approach as hearing-impaired audiences can also enjoy the same. Further, the use of captions tells the search engine about the video content and aids in SEO.
These days, there are multiple video formats for you to store your edited video. MP4 is the preferred choice of beginner editors who want to showcase their creative efforts. As you master the basics of video editing, you can leverage your skills to market your business in the best possible way. Such efforts will put your brand on the map of success, and you can then steer its way forward.
