Video Editing Overview

While basic video editing may be done on tablets and phones there are more constraints than for image editing.
Video files are very large so that free space must be available for the file and similar space for the editing to be done.
It may make your tablet or phone will slow up markedly and reduce battery power quickly while editing.

Example:
A video file may take up about 6 Gigabytes for 30 minutes in High Definition setting. This is one third of the device storage in a 16 GB phone. A short video of 1 minute is not so much a problem, being about 130 Megabytes.

It is hard to recommend anything but minor video editing on mobile devices. For any remotely serious video editing a laptop or desktop computer with a fast processor and dedicated graphics card is preferred.

Having said that, there are videographers that work with mobile devices and produce quality work. It is not impossible but may require high skill or some compromises.

Terminology

  • Clip - this is often the term used to refer to one video that will be part of a sequence that will make a complete story. A clip can also include a still image. A still image can be shown still or video 'created' by zoom in/out or pan across the still image.
  • Audio - the sound section that accompanies a video. This may include music and special effects
  • Narration - this is the voice part of the audio. Narration is often done after shooting the video clips
  • Frame - a video is actually a large number of still images that are changed quickly to give the impression of movement. A frame is one of the images that make up the video.
  • Transition - this usually refers to the way that a change is made from one clip to the next. Few videos use an abrupt change but it is sometimes done for dramatic reasons. Transition may use fading, cross-fade, special effects and so on to move to the next clip.
  • SD - Standard Definition, approximately, this is the size of earlier videos at the start of digital TV*
  • HD - High Definition, this is the next step up in video that was developed to improve the picture quality*
  • 4K - a step up from HD, 4K (or UHD) is available on some cameras and a few phone and tablet cameras*

*Note: the explanation of video resolution (SD, HD, UHD) is simplified above. This is because a full explanation is quite complex with video resolution varying with video coding systems, screen size ratio and other factors.

There are a lot of techniques to making an effective video that must be in place when the video is taken. Cropping, for instance is a lot more constrained due to screen size and picture quality limitations. When viewed on a TV, images will be cropped by the TV to ensure no gaps at top and bottom so 'extra' space must be included which is especially important when using close-ups. Editing is aimed at creating a complete video which must be assembled from deliberately taken clips otherwise the story will seem to have gaps. A lot of planning is needed before editing to ensure that all the clips needed have been shot and at a similar quality.

Editing

Editing may include:

  • Organising a series of video clips to make a complete movie.
  • Adjusting start and end point for each clip.
  • Adding transitions between clips.
  • Adding narration and adjusting sound levels
  • Creating, editing and adding music and adjusting levels
  • Adding sound / music and adjusting levels
  • Creating and adding titles, endings, credits

As a guideline budget an hour per minute of finished video to shoot the clips and then an hour per minute to edit.
This is for a basic video.
(Shooting the clips can take some time due to set up time for things like; tripods, checking camera angles, sound checks and microphone position, dummy runs, multiple takes etc. Editing takes quite some time as adjustments have to be seen in context so you need to review clips multiple times to ensure the editing is at the right point, music takes up in the right frame and is quieted as narration comes in etc)

it is important to realise that there are particular ways of thinking about creative video work.
These may include:
Shots can be made out of sequence; the clips can be made in any order and then assembled to make the 'story'.
In professional movies, much of the sound, especially effects is added at editing. (noises; such as car accelerating, door closing can be added at just the right point and loudness adjusted to suit)
Shots can be made from different points for the same clip and the best one selected at editing or parts of each clip mixed at editing.
Additional video is often shot at each scene to act as a bridge in a story. For example: travel by plane might take some main shots at an airport but also might include some shots of boarding, planes taking off or landing, check-in areas etc.

Using Video Editing Software

You can go here to get more detail of preparing and shooting video.
To edit the video that you have made you can click here to get information about video editing software.

For an example of quality videography click here.

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