How to Edit a Simple Project with Digital Video-Editing Software: Part 4

In this final segment on basic digital editing, we will finish our short video project. Whatever software you are using, you should now be a little more comfortable in performing the basic editing functions. The rest will be just a matter of practice and repetition. Even if you were already familiar with the software tools, hopefully you have learned to appreciate the preparation involved before an edit session even begins. It is also hoped that by the time you are finished with this example, you will have a general idea of how projects with a beginning, middle and ending are built.

So far we have an opening, and the on-camera introduction by our speaker, both sequences with titles. As we continue, remember that whether it is video or audio, most clip functions (insert, trim, etc.) are basically the same. We will not work with any audio clips until the end. Music and Foley work (snd efx) are normally done in the final stages of editing. This is because you want the timing of the video sequences decided upon first.

Obviously with music videos or montages, it is the complete opposite. The song determines the length in music videos, and occasionally it is the same for montages. The next sequence we are about to edit will be a short montage. Only the video clips will determine how long the sequence will be. This is how film and documentary-style montages are often edited.

There should be a black frame at the end of your project with a half-second available. Go to your bin and double-click another b-roll clip of your choice. In your source window make this first clip six and a half-seconds long, placing the 'marks' where you like. We want each clip to be seen for five-seconds, not including the dissolves. Insert the clip into the timeline, right after the black frame. Create a dissolve or slide the clip left a half-second. This will produce a dissolve immediately after the end of the last one. This is not a cross-fade, that you will do next.

Do the same thing with the next three b-roll clips, except make them seven-seconds long with one full second dissolve on each end. The procedure is the same, but instead of a black frame, you will be creating a dissolve between two video clips. This is known as a cross-fade. As you can see, it is technically the exact same technique you do with a dissolve. It only has a different name. Now create a two-second black frame. We want an extra half-second of black to visually signify that the montage is over. Create a dissolve or move the frame left one-second. Save your project.

Now go to your bin and double-click the second part of the dialogue video. The name title key is not necessary here. If this project were longer, the name would be used again later at some point(s). Also note that this time, part two should only require a half-second before they begin speaking again. This is not an introductory sequence, and the viewer is already familiar with the speaker. In your source window 'mark-in' the clip a half-second before they begin speaking, and 'mark-out' a one-second pad when they finish.

Insert the video clip with audio into the timeline right after the black frame. Adjust the volume so that the audio fades-up a half-second, and fades-out one-second. Create a dissolve, or slide the clip to the left a half-second. Create another black frame two-seconds long and place it at the end. Move the frame left one-second, or create a dissolve. Go to your bin. Drop the last title page into the timeline at the end of your project, and double-click it, or select your title tool and load the page there.

There is more text on this page, so let's make it twelve-seconds long, showing it for ten-seconds. If you created a title roll, the length is already determined. Either way it will not need any dissolves. When you are done, click okay or drop it into the timeline. Create a dissolve, or move the clip left one-second. Create the last black frame and make it one and a half-seconds long. Create a dissolve, or move the clip left one-second. Save your project.

Now go to you bin and find the audio tracks. If you want, double-click the music and open it up in the source window. Mark-in and mark-out when the music actually begins and ends. Then drop the audio clip into the timeline on the empty Audio 3 (or 4) audio track. Create a new track if you need to. We will use this music as a theme song, and keep the main copy temporarily in storage here on Audio 3 (or 4). This will make sense in a moment. Adjust the music track so that the beginning aligns with the very first dissolve of the project. Zoom in if you have to.

Lock the rest of your tracks before going any further. Use the timeline indicator and select the first section of your music up to the end of the second dissolve. Copy this section. Refer to you manual on how to do this. Paste the selection into the Audio 1 track so that the music begins exactly when the dissolve begins. You will have to unlock the tracks to do this. The audio clip should fit right next to the audio clip of the video. If not, click 'undo' and adjust the audio clip in the source screen, or trim it down at the end. Create or use another available audio track to make any adjustments to make the clip fit. You may even have room to slide it to the left of the video clip and work with it. Technically the music should last for eight-seconds from beginning to end.

Reinsert or move the audio clip back. Now you will have to use preview to make adjustments and be sure that the music begins with the dissolve. First mute the main (longest) audio track before previewing. Make any necessary adjustments to achieve the audio/video match. Then fade-out the new audio track so that the fade ends when the second dissolve does. A three or four-second audio fade-out is preferred, because audio usually fades-out slower than dissolves do. Music needs more time to fade away. Save your project when you are done.

Lock your tracks again and un-mute the main theme music. Now select the section of music that is below the part when the montage is. You may want to 'solo' the audio track to decide on which portion of music you want to use. Just be sure that it is long enough to start when the speaker finishes, and ends a second or two after the speaker reappears and begins speaking again, maybe around 31 or 32 seconds. Copy this selection, unlock your tracks and paste it into the Audio 2 (or 3) track. Since space is not an issue this time, placing it is not critical for now.

The idea here is to begin the fade-up at the point when the speaker stops talking. The music will carry the sequence into and through the montage, and fade-out just as the speaker begins talking again. Mute your main theme while making these adjustments. If you copy and paste a clip that is too short no problem, it can be stretched back to the original length if you really want. The trims or 'marks' do not affect the actual digitized clip. Save your project when you are done making adjustments to the audio track.

We are almost done! Lock your tracks and select the last part of you main theme. Normally production music has an ending, but since this piece is only a minute or so, the ending of it was probably cut-off. If this is the case, just select enough to last until the title credit page dissolves to black. Copy that selection, unlock your tracks, and paste it in Audio 2 (or 3). The fade-in should begin right when the speaker finishes. The fade-out should last until the title completely fades to black. The fade-in should be about two or three-seconds, and the fade-out about four, maybe five. You no longer need the main theme music, so go ahead and delete that from the timeline. Preview and save your project.

Now break out that sound effect in your bin and double-click it. Set the 'marks' on each end with a half-second pad. You shouldn't need any fades. Place it anywhere you want in the project, maybe while the speaker is talking, or at the end. Why? To give you experience with a sound effect, and because you deserve to put this clip anywhere you want, for creative sake. You earned it. You may have to adjust all the audio clips in the project for timing, or so that each volume is not too loud or too low. Preview and save your masterpiece.

Well, there you go. A completed video project with beginning, middle and end. It may not make much sense, but you get the general idea. Give yourself a round of applause! There is a whole lot more that an editing package offers, and this was only the tip of the ice burg. Even so, with all the features digital editing software has, these are the functions you will find yourself doing the most when you actually get down to editing.

Whether you approach your edit session as we did in this example, or come up with an approach of your own. The important things to take from this example are an understanding of editing fundamentals and concepts, and getting to know your software. There are no standards in many of the technical procedures we use in this industry, including an edit session. Everyone approaches an edit session in different ways.

However way you choose to edit, the important rule to remember is preparation. Prepare everything beforehand if possible before you begin to edit. If you are organized, you will find the edit session an easier and more enjoyable experience. Keep your edits timely and tight, and remember continuity. I hope these article have been of some help to you in any way. Good luck with all of your endeavors. Now go on out an edit a video!