Editing like a Linchpin
Artists Ship. That’s from Seth Godin’s new book, Linchpin. The chapter is called The Resistance. http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/
By ship, he means deliver, publish, upload, finish. He calls it a discipline and says its essential in the path to becoming indispensable, a Linchpin. He uses the example of how Saturday Night Live goes on each week, ready or not. He goes on to say “while the projects we do are never really finished, they must ship.”
Making videos and especially editing can be the same way. We can tinker and tweak forever, but at some point we just need to finish and deliver. We need to ship. This is fighting the resistance, not giving in to the fear that our thing isn’t perfect yet. By doing it, we get better at it.
Editing is also fun and really creative. In this post, I will cover the basics of the video editing process.
I truly hope this is helpful to you making your awesome videos!
1. Getting the footage into the computer:
If you’re using a Flip, iPhone 3G or other “tapeless” camcorder, you’ll plug a USB cable from the camcorder to the computer and copy over the digital video files to your desktop. From here you can import the clips into your desired editing program.
With the iPhone 3G the clip will be imported as a Quicktime file (into iPhoto) when you sync your iPhone. With the Flip it will be imported as an MPEG-4. Both are good quality file formats for editing and eventual uploading to the web.
For Mac users, you can copy the Quicktime file from iPhoto to your desktop and then import the Quicktime into your editing program and begin editing.
Note: For Mac users, importing certain video formats other than Quicktimes may require downloading MPEG Stream software. This software allows you to convert just about any digital file format to a compatible format for Mac-based editing.
If you are using a MiniDV camcorder, MiniDV tapes can be purchased for about $5. each. The process of importing footage from MiniDV tape is almost the same as the “tapeless” format. You will need to connect a firewire cable from your camcorder to the computer.
You’ll use your camcorder as a ‘deck’ to import the footage. First, you’ll cue the MiniDV tape to the beginning of the clip you want to import. Your camcorder should be set to PLAY/VCR mode, not camera mode. You’ll hit PLAY on the camcorder and then ‘import’ or ‘capture’, depending on which editing software you’re using. Once you’ve captured the desired clip you can hit stop on the camcorder and cue up to the next part on the tape you want to import. If you’re using iMovie or Final Cut, you’ll open the editing program first, then import your clips directly into these programs. Once the clips are captured, you’ll name the clips.
Tip: When importing footage, try sticking with shorter 5-10 minute clips. This makes it easier to scroll through when you’re screening and choosing your selects.
- Mac users: Macs are great for editing videos. They come with free, easy to learn editing software, iMovie. For more in-depth editing you can add Final Cut Express.
- PC users: Movie Maker is Window’s free video editing software, which comes installed on new PCs.
2. Logging and Editing the footage:
Once the footage is captured into your desired editing program and the clips are named you are ready to begin.
Most editing programs have a similar layout – there’s a timeline (usually at the bottom) that displays your edited sequence of clips. There is also a clip viewer or clip window where your captured clips are located. From here you choose a clip to edit, mark an ‘in’ and ‘out’ point for the clip and then drop onto the timeline.
The first editing pass is called a ‘stringout’. You are roughly putting clips in the timeline and seeing how it plays. During this stage, you rearrange the clips, experiment with music, extend or shorten clips. You are assembling the pieces until it feels right.
A few things to keep in mind: Is your story or message being communicated? What do you want people to do after watching your video? Is that crystal clear?
Once you have the clips in the order you like best, you ‘cleanup’ the piece, removing ums, adding any visual effects, dissolves, titles, music, VO.
- Adding voiceover: In iMovie, there is a built-in mic. Good idea to read your copy and time it out first.
- Adding music: Make sure to use music that is not-copyrighted, cleared cuts only. Some royalty free music houses with affordable songs are:
- www.audiojungle.net
- http://musicbakery.com/
- http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/
- garageband has a selection of free music themes in all types of genres, and also the ability to create your own music.
3. Uploading your Video
When you have finished editing your video, you’ll export the video file to a self-contained file compatible with the video hosting site of your choice. This is your movie. Quicktimes are widely used for Mac users. If you are editing and exporting from a PC, I recommend checking the specs from the video hosting site of your choice for the best file format to use.
Popular Video Hosting Sites:
Please do let me know of any questions you have on making videos. And anything more I can add on editing, definitely let me know.
I’d love to hear from you!
Coming soon, Christy from http://onlinesoundadvice.com/ answers audio questions for us. She is awesome!
3 Responses to “Editing like a Linchpin”
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Thanks a million. I am totally terrified of getting into video because it feels so daunting. You make it sounds relatively easy. Still terrified but hopefully will begin my rude attempts.
You are totally welcome! Just getting started is the hardest part. Try making something short, under a minute even. Checking out your site too! Let me know if I can help out in any way.
`’. I am really thankful to this topic because it really gives up to date information ~”‘