In today’s visually-driven digital era, the ability to create and edit videos has become an increasingly sought-after skill. Whether for personal, professional, or academic purposes, video offers a dynamic and engaging way to convey messages, tell stories, and share information. However, for beginners, the video editing process often seems complex and daunting. This article serves as a comprehensive guide that will thoroughly explore 7 basic ways to edit videos for beginners, equipping you with the knowledge and practical steps to begin your journey in the world of video editing.
Mastering the fundamentals of video editing is a crucial first step for anyone interested in digital content production. The S1 Digital Content Broadcasting program recognizes the importance of this skill and incorporates video editing as one of the core competencies taught to its students. With a good understanding of editing principles, aspiring professionals in digital content broadcasting will be able to produce high-quality and engaging video works. This article will guide you through the essential video editing stages, from choosing software to exporting the final result.
7 Ways to Edit Videos for Beginners
The video editing process can be broken down into several systematic stages. Here are 7 basic methods that beginners need to understand and master:
1. Choose the Best Video Editing Application
The first step in video editing is selecting the right software or editing application that suits your needs and skill level. There is a wide variety of video editing applications available, from free to paid, with varying features and complexities.
- For Beginners on Smartphones: Apps like InShot, CapCut, VN Video Editor, and KineMaster offer intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces, with comprehensive basic editing features such as cutting, merging, adding text, music, and transition effects. These apps are perfect for creating short video content for social media.
- For Beginners on Computers: Some popular free video editing software options for computers include DaVinci Resolve (more professional but has a steeper learning curve), OpenShot, Shotcut, and HitFilm Express. This software offers more features and control than mobile apps, allowing you to perform more complex editing. For those willing to pay, Filmora, Adobe Premiere Rush, or iMovie (for Mac users) are user-friendly options with powerful features.
When choosing an editing application, consider factors such as ease of use, required features, availability of tutorials, and your device’s specifications. S1 Digital Content Broadcasting students are typically introduced to various types of editing software to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each.
2. Create an Engaging Storyline/Storyboard
Before you start assembling your video in the editing application, it’s highly recommended to create a storyline or storyboard. This is a visual representation of how your video will unfold, including the sequence of scenes, transitions, and other visual elements.
- Creating a storyline helps you visualize the entire video and ensures that the message you want to convey is communicated effectively.
- With a storyboard, the editing process will be more structured and efficient, as you already have a clear guide for the sequence of clips and necessary elements.
- A good storyline also assists in filming, ensuring you capture sufficient footage that aligns with your creative vision.
In the S1 Digital Content Broadcasting curriculum, storyboard creation is taught as a vital part of the video content pre-production process.
3. Arrange Your Recorded Footage
Once you have your storyline and the necessary footage, the next step is to import and arrange your recorded video clips onto the editing application’s timeline. The timeline is the main workspace where you will organize the sequence of video clips, audio, and other elements.
- Start by importing all video, audio, and image files you will use into your editing project.
- Drag and drop video clips onto the timeline according to the storyline you’ve created.
- Carefully arrange the clip order to ensure smooth transitions between scenes and a coherent narrative flow.
S1 Digital Content Broadcasting students learn techniques for effectively arranging video to create engaging narratives and maintain audience attention.
4. Understand Video Editing Terminology
To simplify the learning process and facilitate communication with other editors (if you collaborate), it’s important to understand some basic video editing terms:
- Cut: A direct transition point between two video clips.
- Transition: A visual effect used to connect two video clips, such as fade, dissolve, wipe, etc.
- Timeline: The workspace in an editing application where you arrange and manipulate video and audio clips.
- Footage: Raw, recorded video material.
- Render: The process of compiling all editing elements into a final video file.
- Aspect Ratio: The proportional relationship between the width and height of the video (e.g., 16:9 for widescreen video).
- Frame Rate: The number of frames (still images) displayed per second in a video (typically 24, 30, or 60 fps).
- Resolution: The size of the video dimensions in pixels (e.g., 1920×1080 for HD video).
Understanding these terms is part of the foundational knowledge taught in S1 Digital Content Broadcasting.
5. Assemble and Trim Video Clips
One of the primary tasks in video editing is assembling and trimming video clips. This involves selecting the best parts of each recording and removing unnecessary or less desirable sections.
- Use the trimming or cutting tools available in your editing application to remove unwanted beginnings and ends of clips.
- Cut clips at precise points to create smooth transitions and maintain the desired rhythm of the video.
- Consider camera angles and visual composition when trimming to maintain visual continuity.
The skill of effectively assembling and trimming video clips is strongly emphasized in the video production courses within S1 Digital Content Broadcasting.
6. Add Visual Effects Sparingly
Visual effects (VFX) can be used to enhance the visual appeal of your video, but their use should be wise and appropriate to the video’s context.
- Transition effects like fade in/out or dissolve can be used to connect scenes more smoothly.
- Other visual effects such as color correction, blur, or distortion can be used to create a certain mood or highlight important elements.
- For beginners, it’s advisable to use visual effects minimally so as not to appear overdone or distract from the storyline.
In S1 Digital Content Broadcasting, students learn about various types of visual effects and how to use them effectively in video content production.
7. Set the Video Mood with Color Grading
Color correction and color grading are processes of adjusting and enhancing colors in a video to create a consistent visual look and desired atmosphere.
- Color correction aims to fix lighting and color issues that might be present in the footage.
- Color grading is more artistic, where you adjust colors to create a specific mood or visual style. For example, warmer colors can create a bright and optimistic atmosphere, while cooler colors can create a more dramatic or mysterious mood.
Understanding color theory and color correction techniques is an important part of the S1 Digital Content Broadcasting education.
8. Add Appropriate Sound Effects
Audio plays a crucial role in creating an immersive video viewing experience. Sound effects can be used to reinforce visual actions, create atmosphere, and add layers of depth to your video.
- Choose sound effects that are relevant to the scene and do not overpower the main audio (dialogue or narration).
- Adjust the volume of sound effects to sound natural and not too dominant.
- Use sound effects judiciously to avoid an excessive or unprofessional impression.
S1 Digital Content Broadcasting students learn about the importance of sound design and the use of sound effects in audiovisual production.
9. Exporting
After all editing processes are complete, the final step is exporting or saving your video in the appropriate file format.
- Choose a file format that suits the intended use of your video (e.g., MP4 for web and social media).
- Set the video resolution and frame rate according to your needs and desired quality.
- Pay attention to the exported file size to ensure it’s easy to upload and share.
- Editing applications usually provide various export preset settings that you can use.
Understanding different video formats and export settings is a competency taught in S1 Digital Content Broadcasting.
10. Review the Edited Video
Before publishing your video, take the time to review the entire edited result.
- Watch your video from beginning to end, paying attention to transitions, cuts, audio, and visual effects.
- Ensure no visual or audio errors were overlooked.
- Ask for feedback from others to get a different perspective.
The review and revision process is an important part of a professional video content production workflow and is emphasized in the S1 Digital Content Broadcasting program.
Conclusion
Editing videos for beginners might feel challenging at first, but with the right guidance and consistent practice, you’ll be able to master the basics and produce engaging, high-quality videos. The seven methods discussed in this article are an important foundation for aspiring video content creators. If you have a deep interest in digital content production and want to develop your video editing skills professionally, the S1 Digital Content Broadcasting program offers a comprehensive and relevant curriculum to prepare you to become an expert in this industry. With dedication and a passion for learning, you can transform your creative ideas into stunning and memorable video content.
Join us in S1 Digital Content Broadcasting and enhance your digital literacy skills for a brighter future in the media industry! Enroll now and become part of the innovative generation of digital content creators.
General Requirements
- Graduates of SMA/SMK/MA/Equivalent.
- Possess copies of diplomas, academic transcripts, and certificates of national or international competition participation*.
- Possess a Diploma Equivalency Letter from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia for applicants graduating from abroad or homeschooling. Click here for more information.
Registration Steps
- Find Information Regarding Telkom University New Student Admissions.
- Create an Account.
- Complete Personal Data.
- Complete Registration Data.
- Print Participant Card.
Selection Paths
Active Selection Paths for all D3 and S1 programs can be viewed on the following page:
https://smb.telkomuniversity.ac.id/jalur-seleksi/#diploma-sarjana
Tuition Fees
Telkom University has several tuition fee components for each study program:
- UP3 (Education Implementation Participation Fee): This is a development fee, paid only once at the beginning of registration.
- SDP2 (Regular Education Development Fund Contribution): This is a contribution fee, paid only once at the beginning of registration. The SDP2 fee is differentiated based on the selection path followed:
- Regular Path: All open selection paths other than the USM path.
- USM Path: Special Invitation Selection Partner (USM) path.
- BPP (Education Implementation Fee): This is the education fee paid each semester during lectures.
| Program Name | UP3 | SDP2 (General Path) | SDP2 (USM Path) | BPP/Semester |
| S1 Digital Content Broadcasting | Rp9.000.000 | Rp12.000.000 | Rp20.000.000 | Rp10.000.000 |
Author: Ariq Rai Aryandra
Directorate: Center for Information Technology
Tags: Video Editing