Video Editing 101: the Different Types of Video Editing

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You see a Hollywood movie nowadays, and you are mesmerized by it!

Awesome car chases. Brilliant action shot over stunning landscapes. Outstanding visual displays.

But do you know how much work video editors do to create such phenomenal movies?

Video editing is a massive industry, growing each year exponentially.

It is also increasingly accessible for editing videos and creating brand-new, more beautiful ones.

You need a capable computer and an eye for detail.

Let’s look at a few video editing techniques that might spark your interest in becoming a video editor.

Linear video editing

Linear video editing is rarely used nowadays.

It involves copying video clips from one tape to a new one in a specific sequence.

For example, tape 1 has ten scenes of 5 minutes each. You need 4 of those, so you bring another tape and copy only those four scenes from tape 1 to tape 2.

The resulting tape two has been created linearly.

Back then, this was one of the few video editing methods used because people couldn’t access computers and video editing software.

As you can probably imagine, linear video editing has a few disadvantages.

For example, you cannot erase data from tape two and begin again if you make a mistake. It would be best to start from scratch, which takes time and effort.

Linear video editing is usually done using two VCR tapes.

Non-linear video editing

This type of video editing is done using computers and specialized editing software called NLEs (short for Non-Linear Editor). Non-linear editing is the standard form of editing today.

The process begins by copying raw video footage into a computer. This footage is then opened in an editing program like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut.

The editor has full control over the editing process. He can create a new video file with different scenes, arrange them in any order he wants, and insert and delete them if necessary.

Once the editing process is complete, the new video clip can be copied to a CD or USB memory stick or uploaded online.

Non-linear video editing is very popular these days. Many companies use it to create brand-new video footage quickly and easily.

Kinetic Editing

Kinetic editing emphasizes dynamic and energetic visual effects, transitions, and pacing.

It uses fast cuts, quick camera movements, and rapid transitions between shots to create a sense of movement and excitement.

Read more about kinetic editing.

Offline editing

Offline video editing is another technique that consists of making a copy of the raw video footage and compressing it to a smaller resolution.

The editor creates a duplicate of an existing raw video and compresses it into a format like ProRes. This smaller-resolution footage is called proxy footage.

The editor works with the proxy footage, making adjustments, adding/deleting clips, etc.

When editing is done, the editor exports the project but allows the original raw video footage to replace the proxy footage.

This technique is usually used when the editor doesn’t have a sufficiently capable machine to edit video clips in raw format.

As you probably already know, editing a 4K video clip requires a lot of processing power, and most computers aren’t equipped to do that.

Many beginner video editors don’t have the necessary budget to invest in a more powerful machine yet, so they rely on offline cutting to achieve their goals.

The smaller resolution footage (proxy footage) is easier to work with and doesn’t need a lot of computer resources.

The editor uses the proxy footage to edit video clips and exports the final version with the original, raw video footage.

This technique is rarely used nowadays but is still a vital video editing process.

Online editing

Online editing is merely the opposite of offline editing.

The editor doesn’t create proxy footage. Instead, he works directly with the raw video footage to make adjustments, inserting or deleting clips, etc.

Online video editing is usually done on powerful machines with fast processors and high RAM.

Assemble editing

Assemble video editing is a raw type of editing that consists of putting together a series of video clips without any transitions between them.

The video clips are “glued” together linearly without adding smoothing effects or visual improvements.

It is also known as punch-and-crunch editing.

Insert editing

Insert video editing is a more sophisticated process that implies adding new video clips to existing video footage.

This technique gives the editor more control when creating a new project than assembling editing.

For example, let’s say you want to add a video clip over footage of someone speaking. If you do this with assembling editing, the result looks unpolished, and the new video footage will also replace the audio track.

If you do it with insert editing, it creates clear beginning and endpoints, and you can preserve the original audio footage.

The result is a more polished product with a more powerful visual impact.

Initial assembly

Initial video assembly is the first stage in a video editing process. It involves arranging the video clips from the order in which they have been filmed to the order in which they are displayed in the final cut (end product).

Rough cut

A rough cut is the second stage of a video editing process and is usually very complex.

It involves trimming video shots and adding titles, graphics, and effects. The audio soundtrack is still there but not yet polished. The video’s colors during this stage are also unmatched and require additional improvement.

Final cut

The final cut is the third stage of video editing. It involves polishing the video clips and audio tracks and making final adjustments and arrangements.

The audio tracks and sound effects might still need improvements, and this is done during the mixing process by a professional sound editor.

Color correction and color grading

The last step before a video is released is usually some color correction.

Color correction matches the colors of the shots used in the film, which might have been recorded at different locations, under different lighting conditions, and with different cameras.

The color temperature can influence the viewer’s mood and appreciation of the video clip.

The color temperature refers to the tint of the color in a video clip.

It is measured in Kelvin and can range from cold to warm.

For example, cold color temperatures usually have a blue tint, while hot colors tend to reach more toward red and orange.

Bespoke editing

Bespoke means made according to the requirements of a project or customer.

Bespoke video editing implies creating video footage depending on certain given factors.

For example, you might capture five hours of video clips at a party and want to create a final product that is no more than thirty minutes long.

You use special video editing software to do this. The process implies manually selecting which video clips are to be eliminated and video clips and those who should be preserved.

Sometimes, bespoke editing is used to create video clips with a particular final size, let’s say no bigger than 1GB so that they can be uploaded online or burned into CDs/DVDs.

Live editing

Live video editing usually happens during live video coverage.

It’s a more complicated process done by professional videographers and editors.

It implies using multiple video sources and cameras routed in a single console displayed live on television.

Compression. Reducing the size of your footage

Compression is a process that involves reducing the amount of data a video file has.

It is done to make the download and upload process more comfortable or to save space.

For example, you have a 1GB video file, but you need to upload it online, where the video size limit is 200MB.

You use compression to reduce the video size without deleting scenes or making other adjustments.

Bit Rate. Reducing the size of your footage

Bit rate refers to the amount of data stored in each second of the video.

It is usually measured in kilobits per second (kbps). The more data stored in each second, the more detailed the images will be. At the same time, a video with a higher bit rate will occupy more space on a disk.

The compression technique radically reduces the bit rate of a video to make it fit a certain size. Although it can take time to compress a video, it is an excellent method of saving disk space.

Aspect ratio. Changing the dimension of your footage

Aspect ratio is a common term found in video and image editing.

It refers to the dimensions of a particular image or video file, such as height and width.

The most common aspect ratios used are 4:3 or 16:9. The first number always refers to the width, while the second refers to the height.

Computers, TVs, and laptops with a wide aspect ratio, such as 16:9 or 21:9, are more suitable for watching movies and video clips.

On the other hand, screens with a 4:3 ratio are usually more suitable for document reading.

What’s next?

Now you know more about video editing than most people; as you can see, it’s not difficult to understand.

Video editing is a logical process; once you learn the ropes, it can be entertaining to do it as a hobby or for a living!

Author

    by
  • Jan Sørup

    Jan Sørup is a indie filmmaker, videographer and photographer from Denmark. He owns filmdaft.com and the Danish company Apertura, which produces video content for big companies in Denmark and Scandinavia. Jan has a background in music, has drawn webcomics, and is a former lecturer at the University of Copenhagen.

7 thoughts on “Video Editing 101: the Different Types of Video Editing”

  1. In Aspect ratio you said that 1st number always refers to the height & 2nd number refers to the width.
    Which is opposite.
    Please correct this mistake.

    Reply
    • Hi Bhushan.

      Nice catch!! I can’t believe, I didn’t catch that typo. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

      Best, Jan

      Reply
    • Hi Erick.

      Thank you. I’m glad that you found it useful. I’m not sure what you mean by if I’m doing video editing analysis?

      Best, Jan

      Reply

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