The Editing Process: What I’ve Learned
Starting a YouTube channel involved a lot of learning and adapting. Especially when it came to planning and video editing. Like I’ve said before, this isn’t the lifestyle style channel my middle school self obsessed over, this is a sleek research-based channel (something VERY different). Here’s a look into what I’ve learned about the editing process since day 1.
1. Planning Makes Everything So Much Easier
A good plan = a good foundation. I quickly realized that the more time I spent planning through scripting, storyboarding, and collecting media ahead of time, the easier the editing process became. Because I already had everything planned out the way I wanted, there was less stopping to search for a photo on Google or create a new graphic in After Effects. I could just chug along without disruption. This helped me stay focused and made everything much more streamlined.
2. It’s Okay to be a Little Basic
You don’t need to be a pro to start editing your videos. And while I do have experience in basic video editing, I find that there’s always something new to learn. Even if it’s basic, exploring transitions, audio effects, and text overlays, and background music all drastically improved my video and made them more engaging without being overwhelming.
3. The Right Tools Matter
Choosing the right editing software can make or break your editing vision. I started out iMovie but for a while found that it was very limited. I have since “upgraded” to Adobe Premiere Pro which gave me the freedom to do much more with each of my videos. Finding the tools that work just right for me has been a game changer in creating this project.
4. What You Hear is Just as Important as What You See
One of the biggest lessons I learned is the importance of good audio. Nothing was more disappointing than realizing I had to rerecord sections of my videos because I didn’t speak clearly or loudly enough and there’s only so much that I can do in post to fix that. After making that mistake the first time around, I made sure to keep that in mind as I moved forward. Aspects such as music can also make or break your video, I listened to SO many tracks before I one out for my video to make sure it was just right. If your audio choices are off, your audience will notice.
5. Editing Takes Time
This one seems like a no brainer, but at first it felt like editing one video was going to take the next 2-3 years. Especially because I was still figuring out Premier. But the more I learned, the faster I became (and thank God for that).
6. Stay Organized
A well-organized setup is essential for staying on track with editing. For starters, the planning I talked about in the first point is the first step. But past the planning, keeping your footage, graphics, audio, and other files organized is so important. I’ve started organizing all my files by putting them in labelled folders on my desktop. This made life 10x easier.
7. Look For the Little Things
Like I said last week, it’s all about the little things. Think your video is done? Not quite. Go back and watch it and look for the little things. Is there a weird cut? Dead space? Getting bored? It might feel like you’re being hypercritical, and maybe you are. But putting in that extra effort will help level up your final product. Don’t rush through it, give your video the attention and detail it deserves.
I’ve learned quite a few things throughout the entire process that not only have helped me become a more efficient creator, but a more successful one. While I haven’t learned just those 7 things, as I start to wrap up the final videos on my series, I have noticed the difference they have made in my work.