Spice Up Your Edits with These Simple Yet Effective Video Editing Tips
No one wants their video edits to be dull. The objective is to capture your audience's attention from the very first second until the closing frame. Regardless of your video's subject, the goal is to engage your viewers throughout. Avoiding boredom is vital since it directly influences viewer retention, subscriptions, and content shares. This article offers five video editing tips that will make your content stand out, effectively conveying your message to your audience.
1. Embrace Animation
Animation can add exciting dimension into your videos. Incorporating animated shapes or text animations (which, by the way, you can find in my Toolkit) can effectively communicate your message. Nowadays, the potential for animation is virtually limitless—you don't need an animation studio for complex animations. Advanced video editing tools like Runway Gen-1 offer accessible solutions for intricate animations. To explore animation, check out my tutorial video for guidance.
A popular trend right now is world jumping at a snap of your fingers. If it is something that you want to try, Gen-1 can help you generate animations that align with your vision. With boundless creativity, the possibilities are endless.
2. Harness the Power of Speed
While not a new concept, altering video speed remains a timeless technique in video editing. When used creatively, it yields impressive results. Craving more dynamism in your edit? Or perhaps you want to enliven a dull shot? Speed adjustment can be your secret weapon. Select the segment, press ctrl + R (or cmd + R for Mac users), and experiment with different speeds until you find the perfect match. If speed changes appear abrupt, you can achieve smoother transitions using Time remapping. This ensures a more gradual shift in speed.
That’s where you will find the Time remapping icon.
Adjusting the speed of your clips requires considering frames per second (FPS). If you have a 25 FPS video on a 25 FPS timeline and you slow it down by 50% pecent you will have only 12,5 FPS video. It might look choppy. For optimal results, capture segments intended for slowing down at a higher FPS, such as 60 FPS or higher. Constrained to a 25 or 30 FPS video? Premiere Pro has got you covered. Head to your timeline, press ctrl + R (or cmd + R), and choose Speed / Duration. In the Clip Speed / Duration window, switch Time Interpolation to Optical Flow. This will predict and add new frames to your clip, resulting in a smoother effect.
3. Amplify with Audio and Sound Effects
The auditory aspect of your video carries significant weight. Selecting suitable music and audio effects can substantially enhance your content's impact. It's crucial to align your sound choices with the intended emotional narrative. To easily find the perfect musical accompaniment, I recommend Musicbed — an extensive repository featuring music from over 40,000 artists. Remember, the right sound can elevate storytelling.
Explore Musicbed's free plan and use code PREMIEREGAL for a complimentary month when subscribing annually.
If you'd like to see (and hear) how I applied Pitch Shifter, Parametric Equalizer, and Reverb audio effects to make my edits more engaging, watch my tutorial.
4. Zooming Techniques
Zooming in and out is a simple yet effective technique to infuse dynamism into your video. Its potential shines in interview-style content. Use zooms to create impactful shifts within dialogue segments. Swift zooms can emphasize specific objects or remarks, intensifying their significance. Just remember not to overdo it, so that your audience doesn’t feel dizzy from looking at your video.
Another way to use zooms is to gradually zoom in and out on a static shot to make it more interesting.
To experiment with zoom effects, try adjusting the Scale and Position parameters within the Effects tab.
5. Tailor to Your Audience and Theme
Before diving into video editing, identify your target audience and establish a cohesive theme. While a plethora of effects and transitions are available, their application should harmonize with your narrative. This strategic approach ensures that effects enhance, rather than detract from your storytelling.
“Edit by knowing your audience, or edit for the audience you want.”
Editing with your audience in mind, or the audience you aspire to garner, fosters a focused and effective content creation process. Understanding your audience and establishing a theme guides your choice of ingredients and spices — essential elements for delivering your message effectively.
The video editing tips mentioned above are meant as tools in your creative arsenal, to be used selectively in service of your unique story. As you embark on your next video editing journey, remember to stay true to your creativity. Happy editing!