To ace video making, you primarily need to have knowledge of two things – video recording and video editing. When it comes to recording, the job is pretty easy, and you are free to record anything you want. But for editing, you need to have a specific perspective in mind to add life to your recordings. Nevertheless, any kind of video you create – be it for your business, family vacation, Youtube channel, or for any other occasion, it needs to be attractive and engaging. Hence, to make your video stand out from the rest, you must be aware of the best editing practices.
Well, there is so much you can do with videos to catch your audience’s attention. There are several editing tools in place that can help you create impressive content every time. So, if you are someone new to the world of video editing but keen enough to try your hands at making something exceptional for the audience, we’ve got you covered. All you need to do is to follow this post and get to know some simple tips for beginners on how to edit video content every time.
- Choose the right editor
Choosing the right and suitable video editor is most important for this task. There are many options out there. So, you can select any video editing tool based on your requirements. Now a pro-tip: Before directly purchasing any editing tool, it’s better to give it a try or use its demo version to get a hang. Besides, it’s always good to go through the user reviews based on your requirements and the time needed to learn that particular editor. The more research you conduct on the subject, the better the outcome.
- Computer specifications
The computer specs and the video editor go hand-in-hand. If you are using any basic video editor, it will demand less powerful hardware. But, if your video editor is packed with advanced features, you will need to have a high-performing computer system. The basic computer requirement to perform decent-level editing is:
- RAM: Your system must be equipped with 8GB of RAM, and if you need to perform high-resolution editing of around 4K+, then 16GB of RAM is what you need.
- Processor: The Core i5 and Core i7 processors are decent enough. But if you need better performance, then processors like AMD Ryzen 5 will be handier.
- Storage: For 4K high-resolution video, you need massive storage. Therefore, SSDs are the recommended choice.
- Graphics card: The need to use a graphics card depends on what video editor you are using. For some editors, you will need a graphics card, while for others, you don’t. If you need to do rendering, you need a minimum of a GTX 1650 or RX 570 graphics card.
- Be organized
After deciding the computer specs and what editor to use, it’s time to organize things nicely! This tip might not seem alluring, but it’s important to keep things flowing smoothly. If you have a video that requires many scenes to be kept in sequence, it is suggested that you save all the files according to the themes in separate folders. Then, organize them in such a way that they can be found with ease at the time of need. Another thing that you can do is to arrange folders and files based on pictures, music, and sounds and then the main project files in the root folder, which encapsulates everything that you will need.
- Always use the 321 rule
It can be a nightmare for anyone to end up losing their content. Therefore, always ensure to save two to three copies of your project at different locations. Saving your projects can save you from certain events that can lead to data loss. Therefore, never forget to make a backup of your project to keep you covered. Google Drive is one of the best options for keeping an online backup of your project.
- Keep an outline ready
Having a plan never lets you fail! Based on the outcome you desire, make a general outline about what footage you need to record for your project. Reshooting a part of any project later, just because you skipped doing so at the onset, is both time-consuming and a sheer waste of effort. So, if you have a plan in hand already, such things will not hamper your dream project.
- Keep experimenting
No matter what kind of video you are making, you need to keep the viewers’ interest in mind. There is a good possibility that one of the themes or effects worked best for your previous content. But you can’t keep doing the same thing forever. So, go on and try to incorporate different visual effects, sounds, and transitions in your video content. Make it more appealing. People like to see new and unique things, so find a way to blend creativity.
- Create a storyline
While editing, you need to be creative, and when we say “be creative”, it means that you need to make a storyline out of your recording. So, arrange the clips in a sequence while eliminating extraneous footage to give an aesthetically appealing look to your content. When your video has a story, the audience can better connect to it. Plus, it also effectively delivers your message.
- Correct the colour
Colours add life to anything and everything! When it comes to colour correction in editing, it helps highlight important aspects that can evoke emotions and atmosphere. There are endless colour-correcting options available these days to transform dull photos into magic. When you use the colour correction feature in your editor, it offers consistency to every scene of your recording. Besides, the option of colour grading enhances the appeal. Both these options are vital in creating an impressive video and providing charm to it by making it look realistic and differentiating each scene from another.
- Textures and graphics
Depending on your video’s needs, you can add different kinds of text to it. However, the key is to keep things simple and sophisticated. If your video requires low-key text, use white sans-serif font so that it doesn’t grab much attention. But, if your need is to add fancy and striking graphics or text, you can use an editor that features such ready-made effects to make a good impact.
Visuals make one part of your video, and music justifies another. So whenever you are making any video, opt for suitable music to make it more effective. If you are working on a comic video, use upbeat songs and overdo it with music. But if it’s a drama movie in your hand, instrumental or theme-based music will blend perfectly. Also, it is suggested to use royalty-free music so that you can find some free beats. However, in the case of professional content, you can opt for paid music to add more edge to it.
In a nutshell
Making a video might be easy, but editing can be intimidating. However, if you keep things organized and a plan ready while following the above-mentioned editing tips, the video can become a piece to cherish for a long time. We hope that by following these simple editing tips for beginners, you will be able to excel in your editing skills and create outstanding video content every time! Good Luck!