The abundance of free software and the availability of social sharing options has made video editing more accessible for everyone. In present times, almost everyone has a camera in their pocket. More and more people are getting into the field of video creation. Hence, it is an ideal time to get started with video editing.
It is obvious that capturing a video is only a part of the whole process of video creation. Video Editing is also an essential element for the purpose of creating amazing videos. However, learning video editing can feel like a never-ending process. This is because there are so many techniques and approaches involved in the video editing field.
For all the video editing beginners we have written this guide to help them get started on the exciting path of becoming a video editor. So, without any further ado let’s get down with the guide.
What is Video Editing?
In video editing, you take a raw video and polish it to create an amazing video. You can compare it to the work of stone sculptors who create beautiful sculptures out of boulders of stone. In both cases, the end product is more attractive and appealing to the viewers.
As an amateur, you may think video editing is just about cutting videos. In fact, it is much more than that. Adding visual effects, transitions, sound effects, captions, improving the colors and lighting and many more such things are part of the video editing process.
Video editing is the essential ingredient for creating any kind of video. Whether you are making a YouTube video, TV serial, movies, music videos, business presentations, or even a personal video, it is video editing that brings out the best in them.
What are the Hardware Requirements for Video Editing?
Your regular computer should be able to handle basic editing. However, if you need to edit long videos in high resolution, you will need a faster and more powerful computer.
For editing more complex videos, your computer will need to have the latest processor (Intel Core i5 or Core i7), RAM of 4GB, a high-end graphics card, and a minimum 256G SSD card.
In addition, your computer should have a USB 3.1, USB-C, or thunderbolt port for faster data transfer. You will also need a fast WiFi connection.
How to Choose Software for Editing Videos?
Which software you should use for editing depends on your editing needs. mediamedic.studio can be your go to software due to its vast range of option it gives to its users. There are a large number of software available for editing your videos. You will also find a number of free video editing software. Each one is better than the other in its own ways.
According to us the best software for you will be the one that you are most comfortable using. Some software has no very low learning curve. On the other hand, others may take some time getting used to. But once you do get used to them there will be no end to the number of opportunities available for you.
All you need to do is identify the software that best suits your level of knowledge and editing requirements. You also need to spend some time learning the software in and out. The more time you spend using any software the more you are going to get comfortable with the software. If you are a complete beginner, you can start with the free software.
How to Start Video Editing?
The steps involved in editing a video depend on various factors like the type of video, the editor, your level of expertise, and many other factors.
Here we will give you a general idea of the steps involved in editing a video. You can decide on other details on the basis of your needs.
Set up Project and Import Media Files:
You will start the editing process by opening your video editor. Then you will decide a few things, starting with the name of your project. A folder will be created by your editor with this name. In this folder, all files related to your project will be saved.
If you will be making one or more than one video then you can keep a more descriptive name. This will help you identify it more easily. You will also need to find a way to organize your projects if you are going to edit videos on a regular basis. As more and more projects are created you will want them to be saved in an organized manner.
Next, you will decide the settings for your projects. That is you set the resolution and frame rate of your final video. You can let your editor set it for you depending on the footage that you import. But if the source files don’t have the required settings then you can go ahead and set them yourself.
Once you have set up a project and open it you can start importing all your footage and other files into the editor. You will find the import option in the main menu for most of the editors. For some, you can just drag and drop the files into the editor.
Organizing all Media Files:
It is very important to keep all your files well organized for your complex editing projects. In the case of a few video clips or music files, you can simply drag and drop them in the video editor.
Most video editors let you create folders for storing your files. This system for folders is usually called bins. You can organize the bins according to your project.
If your project is simple in nature you can use separate bins for your video and audio files or your music and graphics. But for projects with many scenes, you can create additional bins so that you can store all the assets of each scene in one place.
Mark all Footages to be Used:
Another good practice while editing videos is to go through all your footage and identify the ones you are going to use. You can mark the footage by placing the in and out points. Most editors will have keyboard shortcuts for marking the footage. Usually, it is the ‘I’ and ‘O’ button on the keyboard.
You should try to mark all your footage. You can easily remove the ones you won’t be using later. This will save your time later as you won’t have to go through each footage again to find the ones you are not using.
Placing Marked Footage:
In this step, you will start assembling your video. Drag the footage that you had marked earlier on to the timeline. A timeline is a line of all your footage placed from start to finish.
The timeline allows you to rearrange your footage. If you want to change the position of any footage you can do it here. Further, if you have placed any footage too early or too late you can simply drag and drop it at the place you want.
Clear Your Timeline:
After placing all the footage in your timeline you will need to check the flow. The flow may not be up to the mark in the first mark. You need to keep looking at the timeline to make the flow of all the footage better.
You will need to look out for any awkward transitions between two scenes or any issue with the timing. You can take inspiration from other videos or listen to music to get better ideas for the placement of footage in your timeline.
Adding Effects:
After you have arranged your timeline properly, you can add effects to your video. This will make your video look more attractive and engaging. You can use effects like transitions, graphics, or overlays and filters. You can also use color grading and clean up your audio.
Judicious use of effects in videos is recommended. A few effects are sufficient to make your video visually appealing. But it is also very easy to overdo it. Resit the urge to use excessive effects. In the case of effects, you should have the mentality of less is more.
Exporting and Sharing:
Finally, you can export and share your final video. Many video editors have options to upload finished videos directly to social media like Facebook and also YouTube. Such editors are optimized for these platforms and can directly post the videos on your behalf
You can also post your finished video on your personal website or share it with a client or family and friends with the help of flash drives and discs. But make sure that while exporting you use the most suitable file formats or settings.
Conclusion
Overall, video creation is an inclusive process. You need to be able to capture great video footage and make use of good audio. Then in the editing phase, you will assemble all of the video and audio clips and share them through appropriate channels.
If you are a beginner in the field of video editing you can make use of the wide range of editing tools available. You can start with the free tools and gradually move on to the more advanced. However, if you don’t have time to learn the skill you can always take the help of professionals like Essence Studios. You will get full support right from the video capturing to video editing and sharing the final video.
We hope you will be able to start your video editing career with the help of our little guide for beginners.