Total Beginner’s Guide to Video Editing

Summary

In this video, Kia from TheNotoriousKIA shares essential editing tips for aspiring YouTubers. She emphasizes the importance of multiple takes, backing up footage, organizing files, and creating an ideal edit space. Kia outlines steps from initial assembly edits to fine cutting, using transitions for pace, and the critical role of sound and color correction. She advises反复 viewing the edit for improvements and suggests using YouTube's audio library for music. The video concludes with tips on exporting for YouTube and the value of editing in creating compelling content.

Takeaways

• 🎥 **Multiple Takes**: Capture multiple takes to have various performance options and ensure you have all necessary wide shots and close-ups.
• 💾 **Backup Footage**: Immediately back up and transfer footage to prevent loss due to accidents like leaving memory cards behind.
• 🏠 **Edit Space**: Find a quiet, focused space for editing, enhancing your workflow with music if it helps.
• 📁 **Organize Files**: Import and organize footage into folders to streamline the editing process and save time searching for specific shots.
• 👀 **Watch Footage**: Review all footage to familiarize yourself with the material and identify the best takes.
• ✂️ **Begin Editing**: Start with an assembly edit, laying out the best takes in sequence to form a rough storyline.
• 📉 **Fine Cutting**: Refine shots by cutting out unnecessary parts, such as 'um's and 'ah's, to maintain a brisk pace.
• 🔄 **Use Transitions**: Employ transitions like dissolves, fades, and wipes to add variety and maintain video pace.
• 🔁 **Review and Revise**: Watch your edits multiple times to identify slow spots or areas needing more detail, and take breaks for fresh perspectives.
• 🎬 **Add B-roll and Titles**: Enhance your story with B-roll and use title cards and text call-outs to highlight key information.
• 🎧 **Work with Sound**: Prioritize sound quality and use music to set the tone; the YouTube Audio Library is a free resource for tracks.
• 🎚️ **Mix Sound**: Balance voice and music levels to ensure clarity and adjust for a pleasing auditory experience.
• 🎨 **Color Correction**: Use color correction to adjust saturation and contrast, refining the visual appeal of your video.
• 📤 **Export and Upload**: Export your video with appropriate settings and upload to YouTube as 'Unlisted' first to add metadata before publishing.

Q & A

What is the first step Kia suggests for video editing?

The first step Kia suggests is to do multiple takes of shots to have plenty of performance options to choose from.

Why is it important to back up your footage immediately after shooting?

It's important to back up your footage immediately after shooting to prevent loss due to accidents like leaving memory cards in cabs or at airports.

What role does the editing environment play according to Kia?

The editing environment plays a crucial role as Kia suggests finding a quiet place where you can focus, possibly with music to set the vibe.

How does organizing files help in the video editing process?

Organizing files into folders helps save hours later by making it easier to find specific shots when needed during the editing process.

What is the purpose of watching every single shot of your footage?

Watching every shot helps familiarize yourself with all your footage, which is essential for making informed decisions during the editing process.

What is an assembly edit and why is it important?

An assembly edit is the process of laying the best takes into a sequence in order on your timeline, following the storyline. It's important because it allows you to have all your top content in one place.

How does fine cutting contribute to the pace of a video?

Fine cutting contributes to the pace of a video by cutting down shots further, removing unnecessary parts, and making the video move in a quick and efficient way.

What is the significance of transitions in video editing?

Transitions add variety and help maintain the pace of the video by giving the feeling of time passing or changing scenes.

Why should you watch your video sequence multiple times during the editing process?

Watching your video sequence multiple times helps you identify slow parts, areas that need editing, or moments that require more detail.

How does adding B-roll enhance a video?

Adding B-roll, which is supplemental footage or images, enhances a video by supporting the main story and providing additional visual context.

What is the importance of sound in video editing, as emphasized by Kia?

Sound is crucial in video editing because audiences can tolerate bad lighting but not poor sound quality. Good sound recording and appropriate music choice set the tone for the content.

How should music be mixed with voiceover in a video?

Music should be mixed in a way that it supports but doesn't overwhelm the voiceover, being turned down when dialogue is present and up during silent moments for drama.

What is color correction and why is it a crucial step before exporting?

Color correction is the process of adjusting the saturation, contrast, and overall look of the video to make it visually appealing. It's crucial before exporting to ensure the video looks exactly how the creator intends.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Video Editing Basics

Kia from TheNotoriousKIA introduces the fundamental steps of video editing after shooting. She emphasizes the importance of editing in creating a great video and shares twelve basic steps to help beginners. These steps include doing multiple takes, backing up footage, setting up an edit space, organizing files, watching all footage, assembling the best takes, fine cutting, using transitions, reviewing the edit multiple times, adding B-roll and titles, working with sound, and color correction. Kia advises watching the video several times for a fresh perspective and suggests using YouTube's resources for music and editing tips.

05:01

🎧 Sound and Color in Video Editing

The second paragraph focuses on the final stages of video editing, including sound mixing and color correction. Kia advises adjusting the soundtrack to ensure the voice is always audible and using music to enhance drama and excitement. She also explains the basics of color correction to improve video appearance, such as boosting saturation and contrast. The paragraph concludes with tips on exporting the video for YouTube, suggesting uploading as 'Unlisted' first to add title, description, and tags before making the video public. Kia encourages viewers to find their editing process and to explore further resources for learning.

Keywords

💡Editing

Editing is the process of selecting and arranging shots, sound, and other elements to create a coherent final version of a video. In the context of the video, editing is portrayed as the key to transforming raw footage into a compelling narrative. Kia emphasizes the importance of editing by stating that it's where 'a lot of the magic happens,' highlighting its role in shaping the viewer's experience.

💡Multiple Takes

Multiple takes refer to filming the same scene or shot more than once to have various options to choose from during the editing process. Kia suggests doing multiple takes to ensure having a range of performance options, which is crucial for selecting the best moments that convey the desired emotion or message in the final video.

💡Backup

To back up footage means to create a duplicate copy to prevent loss due to accidents or technical issues. Kia stresses the importance of backing up footage immediately after shooting to avoid scenarios like leaving memory cards in cabs or at airports, which could result in irreplaceable content loss.

💡Edit Space

An edit space is the physical location where video editing occurs. Kia mentions finding a quiet place to edit as being very important, suggesting that a comfortable and focused environment is conducive to effective editing, allowing the editor to concentrate on crafting the video's narrative.

💡Organising Files

Organising files in video editing involves sorting and categorizing footage into folders for easy access and management. Kia advises organizing footage into folders to save time and effort when searching for specific shots, which is essential for efficient editing workflows.

💡Assembly Edit

An assembly edit is a rough cut of a video where all the best takes are laid out in sequence, following the storyline. Kia describes this step as placing the top content in one place, which serves as a foundation for further refinement and fine-tuning of the video's narrative.

💡Fine Cutting

Fine cutting is the process of refining individual shots by trimming away unnecessary parts, such as beginnings and ends, to create a tighter and more engaging narrative. Kia advises cutting out 'um's and 'ah's and boring parts to make the video move quickly and efficiently.

💡Jump Cutting

Jump cutting is a technique used to truncate time within a video by abruptly changing the camera angle or scene. Kia uses jump cutting as an example to show how to move forward quickly and efficiently in a video, which helps maintain the pace and engagement of the content.

💡Transitions

Transitions are used in video editing to move between different shots or scenes. Kia mentions various types of transitions, like dissolves and wipes, which add variety and help maintain the pace of the video, contributing to a smooth and professional-looking final product.

💡B-roll

B-roll refers to supplemental footage or images that are intercut with the main shot to provide additional context or information. Kia explains that B-roll is used to show and tell what's going on in the video, enhancing the storytelling by providing visual support to the main narrative.

💡Sound Mixing

Sound mixing is the process of adjusting the balance and levels of different audio elements in a video. Kia emphasizes the importance of sound, suggesting that audiences can tolerate poor lighting but not bad sound, highlighting the need for clear audio and the strategic use of music to support the narrative.

💡Colour Correction

Colour correction is the process of adjusting the colours, saturation, and contrast of a video to achieve a desired look. Kia mentions colour correction as a way to make the video look exactly how the creator wants it, which is the final step in refining the visual appeal of the content.

Highlights

Editing is crucial for turning raw footage into a great video.

Editing begins on the shoot with multiple takes.

Backup and transfer footage immediately after shooting.

Choose a quiet space for editing to maintain focus.

Organize footage into folders for efficient editing.

Watch all footage to familiarize yourself with the content.

Create an assembly edit by laying out the best takes in sequence.

Fine cutting involves trimming shots to improve the story.

Jump cutting can truncate time and move the story forward.

Transitions add variety and maintain the pace of the video.

Watch your video multiple times to identify slow spots or areas needing detail.

Take breaks to gain a fresh perspective on your edit.

Add B-roll, title cards, and text call-outs to enhance storytelling.

Sound quality is critical; ensure clear audio and use music to set the tone.

Mix sound to balance voice and music effectively.

Color correction can significantly enhance the look of your video.

Export settings should be optimized for YouTube.

Upload as 'Unlisted' first to finalize title, description, and tags.

Editing is where much of the video's magic happens.

Transcripts

Okay, so your first shoot is complete.

You have your footage in hand

but what's next?

How do you turn what you shot into a great video?

It's all at your fingertips

with the power of editing.

So pull up a chair, fire up that computer

and let me show you some important steps

to turn your idea into reality.

Hi everyone, it's Kia, and my channel is TheNotoriousKIA.

I've been creating videos on YouTube for over six years

and I can't overstate the importance of editing.

Here are twelve steps that are the basics you need to know.

Remember, you'll develop your own editing style as you practice more

but these are simple tips

to help you get started.

What's interesting is that editing begins long before the first cut.

It starts on the shoot.

Step one: Multiple takes.

You may want to think about doing multiple takes of shots

so you have plenty of performance options to choose from.

Also, make sure you get all the wide shots you need

and any close-ups that you want your audience to focus on.

Step two: Back up your footage.

Once you've completed a successful shoot, backup and transfer your footage immediately.

I've heard so many stories of creators leaving memory cards in cabs

or at airports

and sometimes you won't be able to reshoot.

So get that footage copied and somewhere safe quickly.

Step three: Your edit space.

Where you edit is very important.

Make sure you find somewhere quiet where you can focus

you can even throw on a little music to set the vibe.

Step four: Organising your files.

Import your footage and organise it into folders

like you organise computer files in general.

The more preparation you do sorting footage into the right place

the better.

It will save you hours later

when you're looking for the one shot you can't find.

Trust me.

Step five: Watch your footage.

Spend time watching every single shot.

This helps you familiarise yourself with all your footage.

Step six: Beginning to edit.

Finally.

Mark the best takes

then lay them into a sequence in order on your timeline.

This is called an assembly edit.

It means you have all your top content in one place

roughly following the storyline.

Step seven: Fine cutting.

Next you start cutting the shots down further

removing the beginning and the end of them

and creating your story.

Consider removing any 'um's and 'ah's

and any long pauses or boring parts.

The goal is to really make your video move in a quick and efficient way.

Jump cutting is often used to allow you to truncate time

and move forward quickly and efficiently.

Here's an example.

The weather is really humid in New York.

So I put it in a pineapple, and I wash my hair weekly.

Those are two questions that I get a lot.

If you want to do something slightly more advanced

transitions are how you add variety

and are an effective way to maintain the pace of the video.

These are things like dissolves between shots or fades

which give the feeling of time passing.

Another fun transition is the wipe, which can come in a lot of different styles.

Some programs have automatic transitions

as well as many options to customise them exactly the way you want.

Step eight: Watch over and over, pause and do it again.

Watch your video sequence down over and over again.

The more times you watch it, the more you'll feel when it gets too slow

or where you need to edit something out

or if you need to explain moments in more detail.

At some point, I always get too close to my work

and I need to step away

so I take my dog for a walk

or I grab something to eat

and I come back later, even the next day, for a fresh perspective.

Believe me, this always helps.

Step nine: Building up your edit.

Consider adding B-roll and title cards or text call-outs.

B-roll is supplemental footage or images that support the story.

It usually is inter-cut with whatever your main shot is

and is used to show and tell what's going on.

And a title card goes at the beginning of your video, like this

which, like the title of a story, helps you set up what your audience is about to see.

Text call-outs are engaging ways to highlight important facts

you want to bring to everyone's attention.

They can be a lot of fun like this

and make sure you lay out all your titles

on a separate layer to the footage

so it's clear to see and easy to make changes.

As your video edit shapes up

remember to add time for you in-screen elements

like imagery for other related videos you want to promote

or to encourage people to subscribe.

Step ten: Working with sound.

This is all about the importance of sound.

Sound?

Sound?

Audiences usually don't mind bad lighting

but they can't stand watching a video where they can't hear what's going on.

So record your sound well.

And music is also very important, it sets the tone for your content.

One of the best places to find great music

is the YouTube Audio Library

where all the tracks are free to use without issues.

Step eleven: Mixing your sound.

You should always try to do some mixing of your sound.

This can be daunting

but the best rule of thumb is to make sure you can easily hear your voice at all times.

So turn the music down so that it supports but doesn't overwhelm the voice

and turn it up when nobody is talking

for more drama and excitement.

Close your eyes and listen to your entire soundtrack

and see if anything is too hard to hear or too loud

and make adjustments until it sounds good to you.

Step twelve: What is colour correction?

You can make your video look just the way you like it

with colour correction.

You can boost up the saturation

and make your colours pop

and add contrast so your blacks truly look black.

Then you're almost done.

Watch everything a few more times

to check that the cuts, sound and images look exactly how you want them

and then you're ready to export.

Set the export settings

and look to see if your editing software has a specific 'Export for YouTube' option.

Export your video onto your computer

and then upload it to YouTube.

I suggest you upload as 'Unlisted' first.

This gives you time to write your title, description and tags.

Then when you're ready

flip your video to public for the world to see.

I hope this video has helped you get started.

Remember, editing is where a lot of the magic happens.

So find a process that works for you.

Check out the Creator Academy course

for more information

and be sure to subscribe to the YouTube Creators channel

for a new video every week!

So till next time, peace!