Useful Video Editing Techniques
Applying Transitions
A video transition defines how a movie moves from one clip to another therefore giving the viewer a sense of continuity. There are many types of transitions. For example: the cross fade moves smoothly between two video clips, without grating the viewer. Also creating title slides is beneficial for beginnings, endings and credits of videos, for a similar outcome.
Adding Effects
An effect produces results that cannot be achieved by normal techniques. For instance, one substantial effect is the brightness/contrast effect. This can be used to correct images that appear too bright, dark or dull.
Removing noise and adding music or narration
Optionally a narration can be added in using a voice. This can be a great insertion to types of films based on a home video genre, that usually tend to contain a lot of distracting audio, where you can delete the original audio completely, or replace some parts with narration or a music track.
Final Cut Pro Properties
Final Cut Pro provides non-linear, non-destructive editing of any QuickTime compatible video format including DV, HDV, P2 MXF (DVCProHD), XDCAM, and 2K film formats. It supports a number of simultaneously composited video tracks (limited mainly by video format and hardware capability); up to 99 audio tracks; multi-camera editing for combining video from multiple camera sources; as well as standard ripple, roll, slip, slide, scrub, razor blade and time remapping edit functions. It comes with a range of video transitions and a range of video and audio filters such as keying tools, mattes and vocal de-poppers and de-essers. It also has a manual 3-way colour correction filter, videoscopes and a selection of generators, such as slugs, test cards and noise.
To progress efficiently in post production, editors need accurate shot lists of all the recorded material (rushes). Therefore, each shot needs to be carefully logged during the shooting process, as valuable time will be wasted writing up everything from scratch in the edit suite. Each tape must be clearly labelled up during/immediately after recording, protecting form accidental erasure.
1) Logging the material
• Go through material carefully, making sure that an accurate description of each shot is given, adding the precise time codings.
• While progressing, marking the particular takes/shots that is desired to be used in the final edit is vital.
• Establish whether or not the timing of each scene is going to correspond to script timings to ensure the programme will not be too short/long for the brief. If there is not enough material, flagging this up with the director as soon as possible will be required, as it may be possible to shoot the necessary material (known as pick ups).
2) The paper edit
To complete this stage, all shots should be written down in the order which is going to be used. This is called the edit decision list (EDL). This list is extremely crucial and should be approved by a professional before allowing editing.
• Construct EDL, by listing all the shots/takes which is wished to use, in order, from the very beginning of the programme to the end. List each shot/take alongside the corresponding source tape number and the correct time counter numbers.
• During the creation of the EDL, it may be voluntary to insert notes on where you plan to have shot transitions, cuts, fades, music, sound effects, graphics, and voice over etc.
3) The actual edit
This step includes physically assembling the edit.
• Load up all the EDL material, using separate bins as required, ensuring a methodical structure is used, and a lot of time is pent on this part, which will save time trying to find shots later on.
• It may be wanted to do a simply assembly (all the shots, slightly over-length, bolted together in sequence), before moving into a full blown rough cut (the first attempt at making a final edit, including any special effects and transitions).
• Once the necessary approval for this rough cut is delivered, procession to the fine cut can be made (the final version of the programme for copying onto DVD).
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