A video conveys a considerable amount of information in a short time. You can say more in less time on video as compared to text. A video is more engaging to both audio and visual senses, so it can convey more information by showing and telling at the same time. According to TechSmith, research shows that when people seek answers to their questions or solutions to their problems, they prefer to consult a video. 83% of people watch videos to access instructional or informational content. More than half of online shoppers use video to help make purchase decisions. Employees absorb information 7% faster and complete tasks better when instructions are provided visually.
Capturing videos through your camera or phone is the trend of the day. People are cropping up everywhere with instructional or entertainment videos. Video content creation has become a legitimate form of earning money and fame nowadays. From capturing family memories to taking entire businesses online, videos seem to be the best way to do it. Recording something with a decent camera is supposed to be the easy part of the process. Learning how to edit the footage, and make a watchable and exciting video, is where the challenge begins. This beginner’s guide to editing videos should help get you on your way to creating the perfect content.
Choosing A Software
There is a wide range of video editing software available on the web today, at a surprisingly affordable price. Different types of videos have different requirements, so you will have to choose an editing software according to your needs. What you want your final product to be will inform what and how you shoot, the video editing software you choose, and how you approach the entire process.
The best software for you would be the most comfortable using. Some software is easy to handle but limited in options. Other software will be challenging to learn but will give you unlimited opportunities. Figure out where in that spectrum you fit and take the time to learn the ins and outs of whatever software you choose.
Some of the most popular video editing tools for beginners are After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve, which offers a free and comprehensive Lite version. You can also try Lightworks, Autodesk Smoke, and Sony Vegas.
There are also additional apps that are needed for a variety of videos. For example, if you need to cut down long recorded segments into your favorite moments and splice them together, or you want to create a YouTube vlog combining talking head footage with explanatory B-roll clips, you may need additional apps through which you can achieve that. Some apps can teach you how to make a video of your screen or put together a full-length documentary with hours of footage to sort through, along with computer-generated graphics and special effects.
Computer Necessities
The basic features your computer needs to run the video editing software you choose are:
- A relatively recent Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor.
- At least 8GB of RAM, though more is better. If you’re doing particularly complex or very high-resolution video editing (4K+), you will probably need 16GB or more.
- For some software, you don’t need a graphics card. But, if you are going to be doing more rendering, you will want at least an RX 570 or GTX 1650.
- HDDs may work, but SSDs will be faster. The more videos you edit, the more storage space you’ll need.
- USB 3.1, USB-C, and Thunderbolt will give you relatively fast ports for transferring to and from digital storage devices.
- A fast internet connection will help if you upload videos online.
Best Video Editing Tips For Beginners
- Set up a dual monitor, which will allow you to view, organize, and work with large amounts of footage more efficiently.
- Most video editing tutorials are free and accessible. Watch and learn. Once you have more experience with a technique, you can repeat the process with your video files. When following along, try to use the duplicate project files as the instructors in the tutorial and compare your work with the demo.
- Keep three copies of everything you create, in at least two different places, with one of those places physically separated from your other locations.
- Maintain an efficient workflow by organizing your projects and files in folders.
- Learn to talk in the video editing lingo like jump-cuts, montages, cutaways, etc., which will help impress clients.
- Color correct your clips to look as realistic as possible or differentiate certain scenes from others.
- Selecting good music will trigger a stronger emotion from your audience. You can also add text or graphics to your videos.
Above all else, you need to be creative because, at the end of it all, your goal is to tell a story through your capturing and editing skills.
