Video editing isn't just a technical process—it's where your story actually comes to life. This post-production phase might be the most time-consuming part of creating videos, but it's also where the magic happens. Even professional editors face tough creative decisions with countless options available, so if you're feeling overwhelmed as a beginner, you're in good company.

This guide breaks down the fundamentals of video editing without the unnecessary complexity. We'll cover what to consider before you hit that first cut, practical techniques that work across any editing software, and how to make decisions that transform raw footage into something worth watching.

Essential Preparation for Video Editing

The video editing process starts before you even open your editing software. Plan ahead by considering what your edit will require while filming—or better yet, before filming begins.

Creating a plan using a shot list or a general outline ensures you capture all necessary footage. Proper organization before shooting will save time during editing.

Capture Sufficient Footage for Quality Editing

Capturing extra footage, known as coverage, is crucial for a smooth video editing workflow. It helps prevent issues during editing and eliminates the need for reshoots.

Here's how you can cover your bases when shooting:

• It takes two (or more) takes. Gone are the days of running out of film; hard drives are cheap and abundant. Use the extra space to record multiple takes, or versions of a scene. That is, always shoot more takes than you think you need. This will give you more options to work with when in the editing suite. It's always better to have too much footage than not enough.

• Let the record show. For the same reason you want more than enough takes, you also want your take to run longer than you need. Start recording a few seconds before the action, and keep shooting for a few seconds afterward. Those extra seconds will give you room to cut in and cut out at the right moment.

• Don't stop 'til you get enough. Regardless of the shot, always shoot for at least 10 seconds. This general rule applies even if the action lasts only a couple of seconds, or if you're recording a static shot with no actions. Even pressing the record button or stepping back from the camera can cause vibrations or sounds. Recording for 10 seconds gives your equipment enough time to stabilize and guarantees a minimum amount of usable footage.

• Read the room. Every recording environment has a certain audio quality when no one or nothing is making a sound. Professionals call it room tone — background sound, the sound of the room, or the sound of silence. Collect a bit of room tone from every location. It could be useful for filling awkward audio gaps in your edit later on.

11 Fundamental Video Editing Techniques

There’s no single way to edit videos. Your approach will depend on your project and creative style, but following established techniques can streamline your video editing workflow and prevent common mistakes.

Here's a step by step beginners guide to editing video footage:

1. Organize Your Footage

“You have to be organized,” says Tiff Bauer, former video producer at Descript. “Starting by organizing your files immediately after filming makes editing much easier.”

Keeping your video clips and audio files well-organized ensures quick access during editing. Establish a file structure and stick to it for a more efficient workflow.

Create folders for your project on your device and make subfolders for your raw clips depending on their type, or where they belong in your edit.

2. Make a Plan

Having a clear vision for your project is essential. Create an outline or, even better, a shot list that details both the visual and audio elements of each scene.

If you want to include voiceover or narration, write a script by outlining the points you want to make, then writing them out to sound natural. Read it out, make adjustments, and repeat until it sounds right. Keep your writing concise, and make sure that whoever is reading the script practices in advance.

3. Select Clips With Important Action

Trim clips to keep only what’s necessary for your story. “You don’t have to keep everything,” says Tiffani. “If it’s not working in the edit, cut it.” A good editor makes tough choices to create a stronger final product.

4. Use Establishing Shots

Viewers need context. While close-up and medium shots highlight action, they often omit the environment. An establishing shot provides a broader view, immersing the audience in the setting.

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5. Use Match Cuts

A match cut helps create seamless edits by transitioning between similar visual elements. “A match cut is when you cut between clips using similar framing, shapes, or motions,” says Tiffani.

For example, a hand movement in one clip can match a similar movement in the next, or a subject centered in one frame can transition smoothly to another with similar framing. This technique keeps viewers focused on the action rather than the edit.

6. Apply Appropriate Transitions

If transitioning within the same scene, avoid unnecessary transitions—just place the clips together. For scene changes, simple transitions like crossfades help maintain flow.

Transitions set the pace of your video. Stick to subtle effects like crossfades or dissolves. “Many people overuse flashy transitions when they’re not needed,” says Tiff. Keep it simple to maintain focus on the story.

7. Control Your Video Pacing

Pacing controls a scene’s rhythm and is achieved by adjusting clip lengths. Fast pacing builds excitement, while slower pacing creates a more reflective tone.

Fast-paced scenes use quick cuts, while slower scenes rely on longer takes. Avoid abrupt pacing shifts to maintain a natural flow for your viewers.

8. Choose a Color Scheme

Use color correction tools to achieve a natural look. Many video editing software options also offer color grading, which allows you to adjust color and contrast for creative effects.

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Color grading isn’t required, but it can set the mood and enhance storytelling. A little adjustment goes a long way—avoid overdoing it.

9. Prioritize Sound Quality

High-quality audio is just as important as video. “People will tolerate poor visuals if the audio is good, but not the other way around,” says Tiff.

Balance your audio to ensure dialogue stands out. Split edits—like J-cuts, where audio changes before the image—smoothly transition between scenes.

Invest in a quality external audio recorder, like a ZOOM H1n, to improve sound quality and reduce background noise.

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10. Add Music

Your soundtrack enhances immersion. Keep music balanced, ensuring it complements rather than overpowers your video. Use royalty-free music or secure rights before publishing.

Silence can add suspense by drawing your viewers' attention to the screen, but it can also create noticeable (and sometimes awkward) gaps. Unless the silence is intentional, use room tone to fill in the silence.

11. Export to the Right Format

“Start with the right project format,” says Tiffani. Choose the correct aspect ratio, export settings, and video format based on your platform’s requirements.

The video format determines how your video file stores audio and video data as well as how that data is used for playback. Popular video formats include .webm, .mp4, .flv, .wmv, and .mov, most of which are supported by the main online platforms, like YouTube and Vimeo. Be sure the platform you're uploading to supports your export format.

AI in Video Editing

AI technology has become increasingly prevalent in video editing, offering tools that automate tasks and enhance creativity. Features like automatic object detection, motion tracking, and speech-to-text capabilities can significantly reduce editing time and improve efficiency. For instance, Descript's AI-powered transcription allows users to easily edit videos by treating audio as text, streamlining the editing process and allowing creators to focus more on storytelling.

The Benefits of Cloud-Based Video Editing

Cloud-based video editing offers unparalleled flexibility and convenience, allowing users to access projects from any device, anywhere. This is particularly advantageous for collaborative projects, where multiple editors can work on the same project simultaneously. Additionally, cloud-based solutions ensure that data is continuously backed up, minimizing the risk of losing work due to hardware failures.

How to Select the Best Video Editing Software

There are many video editing software options, from beginner-friendly to advanced tools. Choose software that balances ease of use with the features you need.

You can work through these questions to help determine which type of software is right for you.

Handling Large Video Projects

If you're putting together a feature-length documentary with hours of raw footage, you'll need a program that can handle it. The same goes for incorporating computer-generated special effects or motion graphics.

Professional-grade software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro X include these kinds of advanced features, like video proxies and filters. Many of these tools offer great video editing tutorials too, if you're up for learning something new.

At the most basic level, look for editing software that allows you to edit the length of clips, turn clips into multiple shorter clips, duplicate clips, slow down or speed up clips, increase or decrease the audio of clips, as well as add transitions and background music to clips. Most programs include at least these functions.

Software for Quick Video Edits

These heavyweights might not be necessary for your project. Consider the software you already have; most operating systems come with pre-installed video editing software.

Apple's Mac, for example, comes with a free video editor called iMovie, which is more than enough for most simple projects. You can edit YouTube videos, social media clips, and other types of video with iMovie.

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If you're making a vlog, or an instructional video with some explanatory b-roll, script-based platforms like Descript are great for narrative media. Descript helps simplify the editing process by turning your video into a transcript that you can edit just like you would text, and includes key features like multitrack, keyframe animation, and captions.

Computer Requirements for Video Editing

Consider the editing computer you're working on, which may not be able to support larger programs. The more complex the features, the more computing power you'll need. Some large editing programs don't work as well on smaller laptops, for example.

Make sure your device can handle the job, otherwise you risk losing your work to program crashes or other errors. Check the hardware specs required to run your program and make sure they align with what you have.

Advanced Video Editing Skills Development

The best way to learn video editing is by doing it. Try not to get lost in the weeds: Sometimes it helps to step back and watch your sequence in its entirety, or to take a break from your edit in order to come back fresh and make objective decisions.

Don't lose track of your vision — you're almost there.

Video Editing FAQ

What are the basics to video editing?

Video editing involves organizing and manipulating video clips to create a coherent final product. This includes understanding your editing software, cutting and arranging clips, adding transitions, sound editing, color grading, and exporting the final product in the desired format.

How do I teach myself video editing?

You can learn video editing through online tutorials, courses, and practicing with editing software. Start with basic editing techniques, then gradually explore more complex tasks as you become more comfortable.

What is the 3-2-1 rule in video editing?

The 3-2-1 rule is a best practice for backing up video files. It suggests that you should have 3 copies of your data, stored on 2 different types of media, and 1 copy should be stored off-site for safety.

How does AI improve video editing?

AI improves video editing by automating repetitive tasks, such as transcribing audio to text or detecting objects in footage, which streamlines the editing process. This allows editors to focus more on creativity and storytelling. AI tools can also enhance the quality of edits by offering features like motion tracking and automatic color correction.

What are the advantages of cloud-based video editing?

Cloud-based video editing offers the flexibility of accessing projects from any device and location, which is particularly beneficial for collaborative work. It also ensures that projects are continuously backed up, reducing the risk of data loss due to hardware failures. This convenience and security make it an attractive option for many editors.