Video editing is a creative and technical process that requires careful planning and organization. A well-organized timeline can help you save time, avoid errors, and achieve your desired results. In this article, you will learn some tips and best practices on how to organize your timeline for video editing.
The first step to organize your timeline is to choose the right video editing software for your project. There are many options available, from free and simple tools like iMovie and Windows Movie Maker, to professional and complex ones like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro. Depending on your budget, skill level, and editing needs, you should pick the software that suits you best. Some factors to consider are the compatibility, features, interface, and performance of the software.
I was a big AVID user until we had a major, unfixable crash during one of our Super Bowl trips with network deadlines pressing on our team. One of my guys said he used Adobe Premiere and we were off and running. AVID is more file management specific (so you don't lose things) and, in my humble opinion, has much better user viable keystrokes. You'll see an AVID editor with both hands on the keyboard and the right hand jumping over to the mouse periodically. AVID is more expensive. Adobe Premiere Pro is more drag and drop user friendly (like Final Cut) and less expensive, collaborating with all the other adobe programs like After Effects and Photoshop. I am looking to try DaVinci.
The next step is to import and organize your media files into your video editing software. Media files include video clips, audio tracks, images, graphics, and any other elements you want to use in your project. You should create folders and bins to sort your media files by type, category, or scene. This will help you find and access them easily when you need them. You should also rename your media files with descriptive and consistent names, and delete any unwanted or duplicate files.
AVID - proprietary media import so all of your content stays organized. Premiere Pro - advantage and disadvantage - you can import media from anywhere. The key is keeping track of it all to make sure you can get back to the location of the media if needed. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO BE AWARE OF EDITING IN PREMIERE. I teach my university students how to organize files on a hard drive, and then pull them into Premiere so everything always matches up and you know where to find (or add) media files such as footage, music, graphics, etc. And we use a dating system that chronologically orders files, i.e., April 30, 2023 = 20230430. If you name your file April, the months will be mixed up. The other way everything lines up in order.
The third step is to create and arrange your sequences on your timeline. Sequences are the segments of your video project that you edit separately and then combine together. You can create multiple sequences for different parts of your video, such as the introduction, the main body, and the conclusion. You can also create nested sequences, which are sequences within sequences, for more complex editing tasks. You should arrange your sequences in a logical and coherent order, and label them clearly.
When editing long form docs I create a sequence for each contributor and add in the entire interview. I then make new sequences by duplication each time I go through and cut down the interview. This means I have 10 sequences which I can go back to at any point to find footage I have cut out of later sequences.
The fourth step is to trim and edit your clips on your timeline. Trimming is the process of cutting out the unwanted or unnecessary parts of your clips, such as the beginning or the end. Editing is the process of adjusting the properties and effects of your clips, such as the color, brightness, contrast, speed, and transitions. You should trim and edit your clips to match your vision and style, and to create a smooth and engaging flow of your video.
One thing I've found very helpful is the use of markers, which is very underrated, and we usually skip that when learning. Markers can be found in most editing software, such as Premiere Pro. We can also log a note inside the marker. Other than that, color coding is helpful. I usually colorcode with respect to the camera.
The fifth step is to add and sync your audio to your timeline. Audio is an essential component of your video project that can enhance the mood, tone, and message of your video. Audio can include voice-over, music, sound effects, and ambient noise. You should add and sync your audio to your timeline in a way that complements your video clips, and does not overpower or distract from them. You should also adjust the volume, balance, and quality of your audio to make it clear and consistent.
The final step is to review and export your project from your timeline. Reviewing is the process of checking your project for any errors, mistakes, or improvements that you can make. You should review your project from different perspectives, such as the technical, aesthetic, and narrative aspects. You should also get feedback from others, such as your clients, colleagues, or friends. Exporting is the process of saving your project as a video file that you can share or distribute. You should export your project in the appropriate format, resolution, and settings for your intended platform or audience.
If you have time, take 2-24 hours to remove yourself from the work before exporting. Your subconscious mind may surprise you with an additional idea or completely new approach to your edit. Even if this doesn’t happen, removing yourself from the editing chair will allow you to rewatch your video from a perspective that is closer to the one your audience will have. Before pressing play, put yourself in the perspective of your audience. What kind of environment would they be watching it in? What kind of headspace could they be in? What are the things distracting them while they’re watching? These questions will give you a more accurate understanding of the quality of your work and may reveal the final piece of the puzzle.
I feel like many editors hit the export button before doing that final run through to check for things like audio sweetening, spell check on graphics, color correction, and other things. While it's time consuming, you really need to do a final full pass on your master before exporting. And know what is the best codec or output quality needed for your client or network. We used to have bars and tone to help the engineers know what to expect, but today, with SVOD and online viewing, it's like the wild west. For video, white levels top at 100%, black levels at 7.4%. (Learn how to use a waveform monitor & vector scope.) Audio should be as close to 0dB as possible without going over into red. Otherwise you'll have unfixable distortion.
In our shop, we know there will be multiple editors working on the same sequences over a bunch of days. You need a good labeling system so everyone knows which is the last Sequence being worked on, when, and by whom. Our sequence labeling looks like this: Project/Sequence Edit Name SEQ_V1_JS_10AM20231223. When somebody shows up, they can see the name of the sequence, which version (V1), who edited (editor initials) and when (time and date code) so they make a copy of that sequence and label it with their own info and keep editing. That way you'd don't overwrite something by accident on another editor's timeline if you want to go back. You're not taking up any more drive space since the timeline just refers to the media in the project.