Time for some basic editing technique and I’ll try to make as much of this as possible applicable to all editing software where possible so you can go away and practice. In order to produce a professional standard of video output there are certain guidelines you should adhere to. Programs like iMovie make editing easy but are confusing with offerings such as page peal transitions and sepia effects etc, which are often completely unnecessary. No matter how tempting it is you should keep your editing simple, so here’s a brief guide that can be applied to many editing platforms. I work using Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro so apologies in advance to other users.

Capture and Import

First thing you need to be confident about is getting your footage onto your computer. Often the assumption will be made by the client that the footage will be available for viewing minutes after the shoot when in reality this is possibly one of the timeliest processes. With changing formats this process differs but for those still using tape you will need to find your capture window. On Premiere Pro this is under File > Capture.

In final cut pro it is found under File > Log and Capture.

On consumer products such as iMovie choose File > Import from Camera. If you are plugged in using a FireWire cable you should now be able to operate your camera or deck from you desktop. If you have not logged your footage and have a handy list of time codes you will have to manually grab the footage. To do this que up the section of the video you desire, press play and then record. Your clip will appear in your projects library with the rest of your media. Be sure to name your clips well to locate them in the future and if you have a bunch of clips that belong together, create a New Bin by right clicking in the library and name accordingly. If you have HDD camera you should first have the drivers and codecs installed on your machine, in theory you should be able to plug in your hardware and then drag and drop the files across into you projects folder. Once or if your file are on your local machine you can click File > Import to import your files or in most programs drag and drop them to your library.

The Timeline and Tools

Understanding the timeline and a few tools is essential for editing. Obviously the timeline is the linear holder of your chosen clips but it is important to remember that you can stack up your video and audio to create a dynamic edit. This is used for things like titling the respondent in a clip or laying down a buzz track. You can add more tracks as and when you need them by right clicking one of the tracks to the left of the timeline. This can also be done for multiple audio tracks. Dragging and dropping your clips from the media library to the timeline is simple, you can then play through the clip by hitting the play button in the right hand viewer or by hitting the space bar, notice that as your clip plays the scrubber or play head moves along the timeline. You can also grab the play head with a hold click and scroll along the timeline. For frame by frame accuracy use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard. Whilst editing, for those who are used to the arduous wait for final cut to render your timeline it is not vital in Premiere Pro. Although playback will appear blurred, you can build an entire edit without rendering the timeline and export it without a problem.

Premiere Pro Timeline

Final Cut Pro Timeline

Premiere Pro Tools Palette

Final Cut Pro Tools Palette

Audio Transitions

Like video transitions keep your audio transitions simple and use them to mainly improve the continuity of what you hear. You should always lay down a buzz track anyway but transitions can help smooth the audio between clips. In order to ensure you leave yourself the option to use transitions, try to direct some dead sound before and after the clip when shooting by telling your actors or respondents to count to 5 and then begin or to pause for 5 seconds after each take. (where possible) Use fades at the end of clips to reduce the glitch sound and gains at the beginning of clips, use constant audio transitions to smoothly link clips, although be aware that audio from one clip might be heard in the next and not be appropriate.

Manipulating Sound

When transition fall short is when you need to affect the audio often along the timeline, this is often brought about when using a sound track. You may wish to bring up and reduce the track before and after some dialogue for example. In final cut pro this is very easy using pushpins in the audio timeline, you merely pop a pushpin where you want the change to begin and one where you want it to finish, followed by moving audio level up or down. In premiere pro however, it is a little more difficult. The best way I find is to select your clip in the timeline and then click the effects tab. Drop down the levels control and make sure your play head is at the point you want the effect to begin, add a key frame and then slide the play head to where you want the change to finish, in the same way as final cut you can now drag up or down the audio using the yellow line or the level slider. Do make sure your key frame indicator is black when you make the new change using the slider, otherwise you risk automatically adding a key frame in the wrong position.

Video Effects and Transitions

As aformentioned, using transitions should be a limited and controlled affair. As a rule if there is not a reason to do, or use something then don’t do it, you will just confuse the viewer. If it is appropriate and correctly timed a straight cut will do, if this is too hard soften it with a cross dissolve or a fade to or from black. Apply the same principle for video effects, don’t use one unless there is a specific reason for stylising your video, it will just look weird.

Effects Tab and Key frames

As aformentioned in the section on audio,  you can effect things over time using the effects tab, the most common example of this would be the need to scale some over time or move the position within the frame. For this we would use the motion and position drop downs. In the same way as we affected the audio track place the play head at the point you wish to begin your animation and add a key frame, then place the timeline at the end point and add another key frame. Whilst the play head is at the point of the key frame your will turn black. Change your values here or effect the video in a drag and drop manner in the viewer on the right hand side. This technique is especially good for window in window video. As soon as possible try to get into the habit of changing co ordinates or percentage in the effects tab rather than manually dragging and moving the video in the preview pane. Have a notepad in front of you and record notes as you may need to replicate the size and position of another clip later on in the edit.

Colour Correction

I shall first emphasize the important of getting colour right during the shoot, more on that in ‘Basic Filming Technique’. You can however, digitally fix your image and your controls can be found under your video effects. I won’t go into massive detail at this point but I recommend learning about brightness and contrast, saturation, curves and colour balance. Practice on images in Adobe Photoshop or Google some tutorials as you may waste hours trying to fix an image that could be corrected in seconds with a basic understanding of some image control options.

Cropping

Not a topic I originally intended to include here but as someone asked me today how to do it and with a growing trend for recording on screen tutorials, it will be handy to know to neaten up your work. Again the crop tool can be found in your video effects. Drag and drop it to your clip and manipulate the left, right up and down in the crop drop down in the effects.