How to Edit 101

When I first started YouTube, even in the first two years really, editing is where I focused all my attention. I learned how to do special effects, added in lots of graphics, and had heaps of sound design. I produced some solid videos, but my channel still did not grow as fast as I had hoped.

And then, of course, the dreaded medical emergency I keep referring to. My channel blew up! I had even less time for editing and yet my channel was growing so fast!

From this, two lessons I had heard “clicked”:

1. Story is King.
2. The IDEA is more important than everything else.

With that in mind, all of your editing skills should be learned and implemented only with the goal to support the story better. Below, I will show you some of the tips and tricks I’ve picked up to better edit, but by now, you should already have:

• ​Chosen your thumbnail, title, and intro​
• ​Thought through the elements of storytelling to support your story​
• ​Decided on the pace of your story and filmed each scene accordingly​
• ​Gained an understanding of how to portray emotion in your video​

All of this editing information I provide below is the icing on the cake, but it is nothing without the previous bits.

Time wasters:

In the beginning when you’re first getting the hang of things, here are some things you can ignore:

• Graphics
• Planning your transitions
• Using fancy transitions in your edit (they make your edit look “cheap” if you don’t know how they are impacting the emotion of your video)
• Intros that repeat on every episode (If you insist on these for branding purposes, check out how Sailing Zatara does it. They don’t use it every video, and when they do, they switch up the wording to only include enough of a recap to get new viewers up to speed).
• Color grading
• Audio editing (Spend time capturing good audio rather than editing it!)

Trim with Precision: Less is More

A lot of times, when channels just start out, they see other channels with 15 / 20-minute videos, so they think that’s the length their videos should be. Then, they go edit their first video, it’s only 10 minutes long, so they add in another 5 minutes. This is A HUGE MISTAKE!

As former BBC broadcaster Steve from Sailing Fair Isle says, you want to make your video as short as you can while telling your story. People don’t stay because your video is long; they stay because your story is good. And a story with a bunch of extra footage added in to “pad it out” is not interesting. You should always prioritise quality over quantity, and every second should add value.

Murder Your Darlings

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Murder Your Darlings”? This means to murder or cut out the clips that you are emotionally attached to, but they don’t add value to the audience or the storyline.

It’s a painful process, but my best advice is to be brutal and cutthroat. If you’re not sure whether or not to keep a clip, err on the side of “no”. That said, these are some good questions to ask yourself when you’re not sure:

1. Does this clip advance the story or showcase a key moment?
2. Has this been information been communicated already? (avoid redundancy)
3. Is this clip visually engaging or does it emotionally resonate?
4. Does this clip add to the flow of pacing?
5. Is this clip high quality both visually and the audio? (don’t use clips you can’t hear EVER)
6. Does this clip ADD VALUE to my audience?
7. Does this clip support my ego? (Remove it)

Master the Art of Transitions

Unless you understand what a transition implies / represents /incites, opt for straight cuts between clips within a scene and straight cuts or fades between scenes. Transitions can make a huge difference in your video quality, but they can have the opposite effect if you don’t know how to use them. They make your edit look cheap. That said, it’s worth practicing other transition types because that’s the only way you learn how to use them.

Here’s a brief overview of common transition types and when to use them:

1. Straight Cut:

• Type: Abrupt transition from one clip to another with no visual effect.
• Use When: Creating a clean and straightforward transition. Ideal for maintaining a quick pace and when the content between two clips naturally connects.

2. Fade In/Fade Out:

• Type: Gradual increase or decrease in the visibility of the clips.
• Use When: Introducing or concluding a video or scene. Fades can evoke a gentle, dreamy atmosphere and help avoid abrupt changes.

3. Dissolve/Crossfade:

• Type: Gradual transition where one clip fades in as the other fades out.
• Use When: Moving between two scenes or time periods. It adds a smooth and visually pleasing transition, reducing the jarring effect of a cut.

4. Slide/Wipe:

• Type: One clip slides in to replace the other, or a wiping motion reveals the next clip.
• Use When: Transitioning between two related scenes. It provides a sense of continuity while adding a bit more visual interest.

5. Zoom In/Out:

• Type: The camera appears to zoom in or out, transitioning between clips.
• Use When: Highlighting specific details or creating a sense of depth. It’s effective for emphasizing changes in scale or focus.

6. L-Cut/J-Cut:

• Type: The audio from the next clip begins before the video transition occurs (L-Cut) or vice versa (J-Cut).
• Use When: Smoothly integrating audio and video. It helps maintain a continuous flow between scenes and can enhance storytelling.

7. Match Cut:

• Type: Connecting two shots with similar visual elements, making the transition seamless.
• Use When: Emphasizing a thematic or visual connection between two scenes. It’s a powerful tool for conveying a smooth narrative flow.

8. Whip Pan:

• Type: A fast, horizontal or vertical pan that blurs the transition between two clips.
• Use When: Creating a sense of urgency or excitement. It adds energy to the transition and is effective for dynamic sequences.

9. Strobe/Flash:

• Type: A quick flash or strobe effect between clips.
• Use When: Adding a touch of drama or to signify a sudden change in tone. It’s best used sparingly for impact.

10. Luma Fade:

• Type: A transition that involves a gradual change in brightness.
• Use When: Shifting between clips with significant differences in lighting. It provides a stylish and subtle transition.

Time Savers:

• Keep your footage organised: I immediately export all my footage on my computer after filming and I organise as follows:
  • Main Folder: “YEAR-MONTH-DAY Identifying characteristic”
  • Folders: Canon, GoPro, Phone, Downloads, Sound Effects, Music
• Keep your timeline organised: The quickest way for the brain to sort through information is by color. Therefore, I label and color code my timeline so I can quickly figure out what track I need. I have video tracks for main footage, B-roll, text, and downloads. I have audio tracks for main footage, sound effects, music with audio, and music without audio.

• Learn Your Software: Become best friends with your editing software. The more you know, the more you can push the boundaries of your creativity. Invest time in tutorials, explore new features, and unlock the full potential of your tools.
• Learn Keyboard Shortcuts: Many actions you take in your edit will be done over and over again. Rather than using your mouse each time and causing yourself some long-term damage, set up and learn your keyboard shortcuts. Here are some of the ones I use:
  • Cut / Copy
  • Undo / Redo
  • Paste
  • Paste Attributes
  • Retime Controls (controls speed of clip)
  • Link / Delink Clips
  • Select All
  • Select All after playhead
  • Deselect All
  • Trim End
  • Trim Start
  • Trim End Ripple
  • Trim Start Ripple
  • Save
  • Delete Selected
  • Ripple Delete
  • Mark in / Mark out
  • Play / Pause
  • Play Fast Forward
• Set up presets: If you’re doing an action in every episode, such as color grading, set up presets. Presets are when you save your settings so that they can be applied later. I have presets for:
  • My color-coded and labeled timeline
  • My audio (separate presets for main tracks, voiceovers, music, music with audio)
  • Export settings
• You can also set up presets for:
  • Text
  • Motion graphics
  • Color grading / LUTS
  • Transitions

Summary

I understand that you are likely curious about the other parts of editing, such as music choice (important and coming soon!), color grading, sound design, and more, so I will go into these in more detail in future newsletters, but this newsletter is the only base you need to get started. The rest of it is fluff that you add once you have mastered the more important elements of good planning, pacing, and filming.

Action

Action 1: Set up your presets and keyboard shortcuts NOW!.

Action 2: Pick one new transition to start practicing with. Make sure it aligns with the tone and vibe of your videos (don’t choose something high-paced if you make ASMR videos).