How to Edit Videos Faster, and Better
Many people believe that learning to edit videos quickly is simply a matter of cutting corners. And sure, at first, it feels like editing video takes forever and requires endless checking. But the truth is, speed in video editing has nothing to do with rushing, and more to do with having a plan and cutting out unneeded steps. Without a plan, every video you make becomes a brand new project. It involves moving things around, second guessing yourself, fixing things, and creating instead of editing, making your editing process slow and difficult.
You don’t need to edit video slower than everyone else. You just need to edit video faster. The key to editing videos efficiently has less to do with working harder and more to do with creating a clear structure that helps you stay on the right track.
- Avoid constantly reviewing your timeline
One of the biggest things people waste time on when they edit video is replaying it constantly. Beginners will often watch the video every time they change something, and while they might want to “make sure it looks right,” you’re breaking your focus and your editing is going to feel so much slower. Try editing for a while, then coming back to it with a fresh mind.
- Create a consistent editing process
The more repetition that you can build into your editing, the faster you are able to cut video. When every video uses a different process from the last one, you find yourself having to rethink what you should be doing next. A simple framework, like cutting first, arranging second, editing sound third, and making small touches at the end keeps you organized and faster without having to think about every single step.
- Use fewer effects
Video transitions and effects can take up a huge amount of your editing time. Trying to find the perfect transition, for example, or using the wrong transition for a particular edit won’t speed you up, but using too many transitions and effects will certainly hurt your editing efficiency. Editing videos cleanly and simply is not only more efficient, but also looks more current and polished.
- Organize your video projects ahead of time
Jumping into a project right away without any prep work is the most common mistake a beginner makes. When you don’t have your files ready to go, you’ll find yourself going back to find your files and other assets over and over again, interrupting your editing flow. Take a few minutes to get everything organized, and you’ll be able to work much faster through your editing time.
- Become skilled at using shortcuts
It might seem like using keyboard shortcuts is a tiny thing, but learning them will change the way you edit videos forever. Being able to click through a list of actions instead of searching for them will save you time. At first, using shortcuts might not seem like much, but you’ll find yourself doing more in less time without feeling stressed by the editing process.
Conclusion
Editing faster doesn’t mean cutting things too quickly or cutting corners on your work. By cutting out the distractions, creating a workflow you can trust, and building in good habits, you’ll edit videos faster, but in a much more effective way. Once you have your process set up, you can edit video much faster without needing to rush yourself through it.