8 Tips to Improve Your Video Editing If you’re editing your own video and find that it doesn’t look as good as you’d like, don’t give up! With these eight tips, you can make your video come out just how you want it to look – and make editing less of a headache, too. 1) Learn the basics Even if you’re planning on out-sourcing your video editing, it’s a good idea to learn some basic video editing skills. Video editing is a skill set unto itself, and most people who hire out their projects want a finished product without any visual quirks or errors. If you plan on producing your own videos, whether for YouTube, Instagram Stories, or Facebook, be sure to familiarize yourself with some of the basic video-editing techniques before diving in. 2) Use good video editing software (Vegas, Final Cut Pro, iMovie, etc.) Video editing software is available for a wide range of platforms, so finding one that fits your needs and budget shouldn’t be difficult. Try out different options and see which you prefer—there’s no wrong answer here. The more time you invest in learning video editing basics, and experimenting with what works best for you, the better prepared you’ll be when it comes time to put your new skills into practice. 3) Use the right equipment Video editing software isn’t going to do much good without a decent computer. Make sure you have a high-quality processor, at least 4GB of RAM, and a hard drive with at least 200GB for storage. Video can take up gigabytes (and sometimes even terabytes) of storage, so don’t cut corners when buying your machine. 4) Set your frame rate right If you’re editing videos, there’s one thing you should keep in mind: your frame rate. Depending on what type of video you’re shooting and whether or not you’re using a high-definition camera, you might have a choice between 30fps and 60fps. The higher your fps is set, the smoother your video will look. 5) Add good music Add a soundtrack or background music to improve your video editing experience. Good music can make all the difference in how you feel about a video. If you find something that works, put it on a loop so that it plays every time you’re working on a project. You might also try editing your next clip while listening to music from whatever genre you plan on using for your next big release – if there’s a good fit, use some of those songs as part of your soundtrack. 6) Have good lighting Whether you’re shooting a video for professional or personal use, it’s vital that you have good lighting. While not impossible, video is especially difficult if shot in low light. No matter what camera or editing software you use, bright and well-lit footage will always look better than grainy dark footage. If possible, try to shoot at high noon with cloudless skies above you. 7) Have good camera quality The first step to producing professional-quality videos is having a good camera. If you don’t have one, get one—there are many high-quality cameras available for a reasonable price. That said, keep in mind that even an expensive camera doesn’t guarantee that your videos will be top-quality; it all depends on what you do with it. Take some time and learn about lenses, lighting, and other aspects of video quality. 8) Keep it simple! Most video editing software is packed with features and tools, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed. To make things easier, start by mastering two or three simple effects or cuts. You can use these as a base for adding more effects later when you’re ready.