How to Edit a Music Video

STEPS

For making music videos, there are certain steps one must make to ensure he is being the most productive and useful. These steps are as follows:

1. Take ALL footage and sync it all up (to music)

2. Then take a performance cut 

3. Then a narrative cut 

4. Effects we are doing

5. Then colours grading last 

How to sync:

On the Timeline there is the playback video. 

2 ways to sync:

Picture sync: Go to rushes, and find camera you are using, and find a piece of footage with a playback video in it and find a matching number that correlates to the playback on the timeline, and mark it in, with only the video. Drag it into the timeline, and to check it is in sync look at the picture on the timeline and then check the time clock on the timeline to see if they match, if they do, they are synced correctly.

Audio syncing:

Play the rush, and listen for a distinct sound, such as a deep bass drum or snare. When the sound is found, magnify the sound within the rush, and identify EXACTLY where it starts. When the point is found, mark the rush in. Then, find exactly where that same sound is on the playback in the timeline. Once this is found, drag the marked rush into the timeline where the sound starts, and the rush will be synced.

After syncing the rush, immediately rename the rush with what is being shot and how (e.g guitar close up). This makes it easier to find relevant footage when editing later. 

HOW TO CUT:

Before starting, make a duplicate of your finished synced rushes timeline. Any big changes to the timeline, duplicate it and rename it. 

The first time the signer sings a line in the song, it has to be a mid of the singer. 

There are 3 main rules of how to cut a video:

1. listen to the music and illustrate what you are hearing. Press the space bar where YOU think the video should be cut, and use the arrow keys to refine it (so it is smooth). Press C where you want to cut, then v and drag the video away.
2. Group your shots together. This stops things from the video looking random, e.g a close of a guitar following a singer singing, will make it appear he is the guitarist: has to make sense. Put two shots that are related next to each other. Top tip: Take your time.
   There is no such thing as editing bloc, so no need to go super fast.
3. Cut some movement into your piece. “Graphic match” if you can follow the movement rule, you will produce a high-quality video. 

Techniques to be organized when doing the project: 

1. Make a plan, and stick to the plan. You want to plan out what you intend to place in your edit before you start, so you have an organized video. Once you have the plan, stay with it. This stops miscommunication, and keeps group editing productive.
2. Do small jobs in bits, instead of starting with 3 mins worth, focus on doing ONLY 10 seconds. Once that is done, do the next 10 seconds. 6 10 second slots, is one minute’s worth, and after doing this 3 times, the music video is cut. This helps with the edit seeming less daunting
3. Dont do rough cuts. You want to make high quality cuts throughout. Never start with a rough cut. Rough cuts and final cuts should be almost exactly the same.
4. Put headphones on, disconnect phone, and edit. Do one hour of solid work, take a break, then come back, no more than an hour.
5. Dont show anyone else what you are working on. This wastes time and creates self-doubt; unnecessary.