10 Editing Mistakes Small Channels Don’t Know They’re Making
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the most common video editing mistakes encountered by new YouTubers and provides actionable advice to enhance video quality and viewer engagement. Key topics include the importance of editing intros to capture attention quickly, the role of pacing in maintaining viewer interest, and the benefits of using visuals effectively to complement content. The video also discusses audio considerations such as ensuring clear sound and appropriate music selection. Further, various editing techniques like J and L cuts are explained for creating smoother transitions, and the importance of balancing effects to prevent over-editing is emphasized. It recommends spending more time on the intro to minimize early viewer drop-off and using music strategically to support the narrative and engage the audience. Editors are encouraged to take creative risks to innovate while ensuring their edits serve the video's goals and viewer needs.
Takeaways
- 🎬 Edit intros to engage viewers immediately and avoid drop-offs.
- 🎥 Use visuals to support and clarify your points for better engagement.
- ⏱️ Pacing is crucial; maintain a flow to keep viewers interested.
- 🎶 Select appropriate music to enhance the emotional tone without overpowering the content.
- 🔊 Ensure audio clarity and proper levels to complement visuals.
- ➖ Avoid over-editing; too many effects can distract and confuse viewers.
- 🧩 Use J cuts and L cuts for smoother audio-video transitions.
- 👁️ Be the first viewer of your edit; anticipate audience reactions.
- 🖼️ Incorporate a variety of elements like text, b-roll, and diagrams to enrich content.
- ✂️ Regularly review edits with fresh eyes to refine clarity and impact.
Timeline
- 00:00:00 - 00:05:00
The video begins with a discussion on common video editing mistakes made by new YouTubers. The hosts introduce Nate, a video editor, who emphasizes the importance of delivering on the viewer's expectation swiftly, particularly in the intro, by using visuals and avoiding lengthy opening remarks.
- 00:05:00 - 00:10:00
Nate explains the concept of teasing and showing the process within the content to maintain viewer engagement. He advises against starting videos with non-essential, long-winded introductions and recommends focusing well on editing the intro for better viewer retention.
- 00:10:00 - 00:15:00
The hosts discuss finding engaging content for video hooks, suggesting that editors listen to podcasts passively to identify intriguing content. Good hooks often involve strong statements or questions, engaging storytelling, and cutting out unnecessary parts to maintain viewer interest.
- 00:15:00 - 00:20:00
They stress the importance of cutting unnecessary content during editing to enhance retention. Fresh perspectives can help identify which parts to cut. Functional visuals can further complement the content, making it easier for viewers to follow along without confusion.
- 00:20:00 - 00:25:00
Emphasizing the need for clarity in videos, Nate explains how to eliminate items that aren't clearly articulated. Additionally, seamless pacing is critical; rapid content changes aligned with the narrative and music shifts can maintain viewer engagement.
- 00:25:00 - 00:30:00
The importance of avoiding harsh cuts in videos is discussed, with solutions like using stock footage, J-cuts, and L-cuts to smooth transitions. Well-managed audio with proper volume levels for music and effects is crucial, as poorly executed audio is a common editing mistake.
- 00:30:00 - 00:35:15
Finally, they discuss the balance of creativity and functionality in editing, urging editors to take risks, but cautioning against over-editing. Successful edits often include a strong understanding of viewer purpose and appropriate layering rather than excessive effects.
Mind Map
Video Q&A
What is the most common video editing mistake for new YouTubers?
A common mistake is not effectively editing the intros to engage viewers right away, often leading to high drop-off rates.
How can you make a video intro more engaging?
Cut to the core content quickly, use visuals to support your statements, and tease upcoming content to keep viewers interested.
Why is pacing important in video editing?
Proper pacing keeps viewers engaged, prevents them from skipping ahead or clicking away, and supports storytelling effectively.
How can visuals add value to a YouTube video?
Visuals help clarify and emphasize points being discussed, making the video more engaging and easier to follow.
What are J cuts and L cuts?
J cuts and L cuts are editing techniques that overlap audio and video between clips to create smoother transitions.
Why is music important in video editing?
Music enhances the emotional tone, aids in story pacing, and can keep viewers engaged when used appropriately.
How can overly editing hurt a video?
Too many effects and fast cuts can distract from the content, make the video feel overwhelming, and may signal insecurity in the video’s quality.
What role does audio play in video editing?
Audio is crucial as it forms 50% of the viewer's experience, affecting engagement and clarity.
What mistake do editors make regarding audio levels?
Editors sometimes make sound effects or music too loud, which can distract from the main content.
What can help editors improve video pacing?
Using varied music tracks, ensuring clear and concise content, and regularly reviewing edits for flow can enhance pacing.
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- 00:00:00these are some of the biggest video
- 00:00:01editing mistakes that new YouTubers make
- 00:00:04and the truth is you can avoid them
- 00:00:06pretty simply if you just know what to
- 00:00:08do and so today we're here with Nate and
- 00:00:11he is our think media video editor he's
- 00:00:13been editing for us over the past year
- 00:00:16over 150 videos for think media and so
- 00:00:19welcome to the channel I'm excited to
- 00:00:21pick your brain uh about video editing
- 00:00:24and I'm also a video editor it's kind of
- 00:00:26my background as well and so I think
- 00:00:29there's going to be a lot that people
- 00:00:30can get from this but welcome yeah it's
- 00:00:32great to be in front of the camera this
- 00:00:33time and kind of get to connect and I
- 00:00:34love sharing you know what I know about
- 00:00:36editing so I think we should just dive
- 00:00:38right into it awesome so the first uh
- 00:00:40mistake that a lot of people make in
- 00:00:42editing is in their intros so share with
- 00:00:45me maybe some of the things that you see
- 00:00:48people are making and how they can fix
- 00:00:50these mistakes yeah I think really it
- 00:00:52just comes down to you know once you
- 00:00:54earn the viewers click you really just
- 00:00:56want to deliver and just kind of affirm
- 00:00:58why they're watching it so that even
- 00:01:00distills down into editing you know much
- 00:01:02more about planning but also in the
- 00:01:03editing stage cut right to it cut right
- 00:01:05to the point so I I like to you know cut
- 00:01:09right into the content as soon as
- 00:01:10possible but what can you lead what can
- 00:01:12you tease up so when it comes to like
- 00:01:14let's take a YouTube video right it's
- 00:01:16kind of more scripted you have an idea
- 00:01:18of what you want the hook to be you
- 00:01:20might say what is the best camera for
- 00:01:22YouTube in 2024 so I'm going to make
- 00:01:25sure that I'm showing visuals of those
- 00:01:27cameras yes rather than just being just
- 00:01:29and a talking head of you show something
- 00:01:32that you're actually going to deliver on
- 00:01:34the audience so definitely having lots
- 00:01:36of visuals helps and to add to that too
- 00:01:38I think we've seen a lot of people in
- 00:01:39our community some have cooking channels
- 00:01:42and it's like they will say they'll say
- 00:01:44the right things in the video which is
- 00:01:46you know today I'm going to show you you
- 00:01:48know how to cook sour or how to make
- 00:01:50sourdough bread and and I and I'll you
- 00:01:54know watch their videos and they're not
- 00:01:55showing the visual the the what we call
- 00:01:57b-roll of the actual process so show
- 00:02:01that final product which is they're
- 00:02:03going to see at the very end show that
- 00:02:04at the very beginning and that will let
- 00:02:06the viewer know like okay that looks
- 00:02:08really tasty that looks really good or
- 00:02:10showing the camera like that looks
- 00:02:11really cool and and that just kind of
- 00:02:13lets the viewer know that you're going
- 00:02:14to deliver on that promise or a big
- 00:02:16braing move sometimes you can just show
- 00:02:17the process and maybe you hold off on
- 00:02:20the final result and so until they get
- 00:02:21to the end do they see what that
- 00:02:23reaction of that sourdough bread was
- 00:02:25when you eat it so there's little tricks
- 00:02:27you can do subconsciously to kind of
- 00:02:29keep people engage in watching but yeah
- 00:02:31definitely having good visuals to
- 00:02:33supplement why they click on it is huge
- 00:02:36I really like that like teasing aspect
- 00:02:38which I think a lot of people miss out
- 00:02:40on especially because you want to do
- 00:02:41that early on in the video and so you
- 00:02:44know a lot of people when they start on
- 00:02:46YouTube they might just press record and
- 00:02:50then they'll be like hey guys welcome to
- 00:02:52my channel and uh what you can do is
- 00:02:55edit all that out if you if you've
- 00:02:57already shot the video edit all that out
- 00:02:59but uh I think the visuals and the
- 00:03:00teasing actually what's coming up and
- 00:03:02holding that off is super super smart
- 00:03:04and real quick I just want to say like
- 00:03:05you know there's so much you can do with
- 00:03:07editing so maybe you felt pretty poor
- 00:03:09about how you film the video but if you
- 00:03:11take some time to really edit it you can
- 00:03:13take a video that maybe you didn't feel
- 00:03:15too good about and make it a great video
- 00:03:17I'd also say I always tell people to
- 00:03:19spend more time editing their intro than
- 00:03:22the rest of the video because if you go
- 00:03:24into the YouTube Studio analytics you'll
- 00:03:26see that the biggest drop off you'll
- 00:03:28typically see in your videos is in those
- 00:03:31first 10 seconds so we really like to
- 00:03:35spice it up maybe a little bit of extra
- 00:03:37text like subtitles because even on
- 00:03:40YouTube now on your phone when you hover
- 00:03:42over the thumbnail it automatically
- 00:03:44starts playing and as an editor you
- 00:03:46should think about what visuals am I
- 00:03:48going to show can I put text on the
- 00:03:50screen so that they can see what's
- 00:03:51happening and having that in mind is is
- 00:03:55very smart but that doesn't mean that
- 00:03:58the rest of the video there's no editing
- 00:04:00it's terrible right that's not what
- 00:04:02we're saying here but if you can I think
- 00:04:03just spend a little bit of extra time
- 00:04:05there it can assist you just you know
- 00:04:08throughout the whole video I think about
- 00:04:10the video that Omar and I did that you
- 00:04:12edited where you know we were talking
- 00:04:14about YouTube in 20124 and uh you took
- 00:04:18that maybe 35 minute long kind of
- 00:04:21podcast format and you took the best
- 00:04:24moments right and you really created a
- 00:04:26very engaging Hook is what we call it
- 00:04:29the opening of the video whereas a lot
- 00:04:32of people they don't spend that extra
- 00:04:34time and effort to do that they might
- 00:04:36just start the video right at the very
- 00:04:38beginning and we've tried this before
- 00:04:39and we've seen that you know if your
- 00:04:41content's good if it's engaging like it
- 00:04:43still works but you'll get better
- 00:04:45results by spending that extra time and
- 00:04:46effort practically speaking how can an
- 00:04:48editor what should they look for what
- 00:04:51types of things are they looking for if
- 00:04:52they have a video podcast or a long
- 00:04:54talking head video they want to try
- 00:04:55doing that coming up style in the
- 00:04:57beginning like are you just looking for
- 00:05:00the most interesting engaging or like
- 00:05:04controversial like what kind of what
- 00:05:05kind of things do you look for so you
- 00:05:07are trying to look for like the best
- 00:05:08clips that are going to be is going to
- 00:05:11Intrigue the viewer and actually very
- 00:05:13interesting tip I've learned from other
- 00:05:15editors is they'll just listen to the
- 00:05:17podcast in the background and if
- 00:05:19anything kind of perks up your ear when
- 00:05:21someone says something maybe it's the
- 00:05:23way they said it or just a very
- 00:05:24intriguing thought and you're kind of
- 00:05:26re-engaged you should take note of that
- 00:05:28specific point so for an example of one
- 00:05:31of those is is vlogging dead it was a
- 00:05:33very controversial statement and it was
- 00:05:35just very I I love you want to hear the
- 00:05:37answer you want to hear the answer and
- 00:05:38it's very just like a very controversial
- 00:05:40abrupt way to just begin the video and
- 00:05:43so you are looking for something I just
- 00:05:46look for very strong statements and you
- 00:05:49know questions too work really well so
- 00:05:51if there's a question you're going to
- 00:05:53tease the answer what that could be but
- 00:05:55often times there's just like a a
- 00:05:58certain like musical quality of how you
- 00:06:00might say something is just said very
- 00:06:02confidently that you are going to use in
- 00:06:04that hook so once you kind of go through
- 00:06:07and you've found like a bunch of
- 00:06:09different clips that all sound pretty
- 00:06:11good you can begin to have to vet those
- 00:06:13ideas and it's like a puzzle you have to
- 00:06:16see how they fit together and that's the
- 00:06:18tricky part because you might have some
- 00:06:19good stuff but you got to cut it out
- 00:06:21because it won't fit with that hook you
- 00:06:23are telling a mini story of What the
- 00:06:26hook is going to be so like for instance
- 00:06:29vlogging dead and then Omar says it's
- 00:06:31absolutely not dead but then he goes
- 00:06:33into another tangent about shorts and
- 00:06:36whatnot it's kind of extending on that
- 00:06:38same idea without going without
- 00:06:40revealing too much of the answer right
- 00:06:42so then we kind of just take you on it's
- 00:06:44like a storytelling really it's like
- 00:06:46what the viewer expectations are the
- 00:06:48different changes that might happen
- 00:06:50throughout the video so really taking
- 00:06:52time to build out that just even just
- 00:06:55the clips building out what those
- 00:06:57statements are as your a-roll cut can
- 00:06:59take it can take a long time once you go
- 00:07:02from there it's about having fun and
- 00:07:03adding Boll to supplement those visuals
- 00:07:06hide some of those cuts I think a big
- 00:07:08thing too is like you'll have a good
- 00:07:10statement but it's too long how do you
- 00:07:12make that shorter that's really tricky
- 00:07:15you have to really sit down and think
- 00:07:16about that but that's kind of the fun
- 00:07:18too is like what bits make it you know
- 00:07:21what is the Core Essence of what you're
- 00:07:23saying and this is just another big
- 00:07:26thing with editing is just like you'll
- 00:07:27be talking about a YouTube thing and you
- 00:07:29might be explaining a certain concept I
- 00:07:31might have to go in and kind of cut out
- 00:07:34what is the most clear way of saying
- 00:07:36this thing and that will just provide
- 00:07:39Clarity to the viewer you sometimes we
- 00:07:41might you know ramble on for too long
- 00:07:43and you know we're all guilty of this so
- 00:07:45being able to go in and kind of choose
- 00:07:48what is the most clear points is going
- 00:07:49to better register to the viewer and
- 00:07:52they can actually retain and understand
- 00:07:53what you said yes I I love that and
- 00:07:56that's a very hard thing to do it like
- 00:07:58sounds easy but it's actually very hard
- 00:08:00to do and I think that's something that
- 00:08:02editors probably just over time get
- 00:08:04better and better at but mistake number
- 00:08:06two is not cutting enough out or just
- 00:08:10uploading your first draft right so when
- 00:08:12I got started on YouTube I would edit a
- 00:08:14video and just upload it straight to
- 00:08:15Youtube that's what you do you just you
- 00:08:17know you take out all the mistakes take
- 00:08:19out all the pauses and that's your video
- 00:08:22and what I learned when I started to
- 00:08:24learn YouTube and how to edit for
- 00:08:25YouTube and what performed better for
- 00:08:27the platform was not always should
- 00:08:30everything that was said when filming
- 00:08:32make it to the final um to the final
- 00:08:35output of the video and I remember when
- 00:08:37you first came on and we kind of gave
- 00:08:39you Authority and we're like Nate if you
- 00:08:42feel like something should be out of
- 00:08:44this video think about the viewer think
- 00:08:46about the retention of this video and
- 00:08:49what are some things that you look for
- 00:08:51that should be taken out in a video and
- 00:08:54what I recommend is like when you edit
- 00:08:55your first draft watch it again right as
- 00:08:58the viewer but what should you be
- 00:09:00looking for that maybe should be cut out
- 00:09:03because often times people are leaving
- 00:09:04stuff in there that that shouldn't be in
- 00:09:06there right I think a very practical way
- 00:09:08to look at this is if you have a first
- 00:09:11cut of your video you need fresh eyes so
- 00:09:13either take a break from it maybe come
- 00:09:15back a day later or five minutes later
- 00:09:18and watch it again and another way you
- 00:09:19can do this is by getting a new
- 00:09:22perspective so have your friends or your
- 00:09:24brother or your sister watch your video
- 00:09:26and something really weird happens when
- 00:09:27you have another viewer watching it you
- 00:09:29become much more critical of what's
- 00:09:31being said you feel the pressure so you
- 00:09:33realize oh man this thing is just way
- 00:09:36too long so really if you can get
- 00:09:38feedback from people even like I've sent
- 00:09:40you videos and you critique them like n
- 00:09:42this wasn't really that clear or whatnot
- 00:09:44it's just a great way to kind of
- 00:09:46expedite what should be in the video
- 00:09:49that that's really good and I know that
- 00:09:51I've shown my video to people before and
- 00:09:53I'm watching it and I'm like and I'm
- 00:09:55like telling them I'm like let me just
- 00:09:56skip forward a little bit like just
- 00:09:58watch this part because I I'm like I
- 00:09:59want you should probably cut that stuff
- 00:10:00out exactly and so it that's like such a
- 00:10:03life hack you know just kind of feeling
- 00:10:06that like I want to skip forward because
- 00:10:08like this wasn't boring for me when I
- 00:10:09was editing it but I'm like I can tell
- 00:10:11it's boring for them and I can feel that
- 00:10:12and so those are uh you know maybe if
- 00:10:15you're a more entertainment Channel but
- 00:10:16on a practical level if you're
- 00:10:18information or educational uh watching
- 00:10:20that with fresh ice you start to realize
- 00:10:22like you know what I already made my
- 00:10:23point I don't need this extra story that
- 00:10:25I added for tip number four whatever it
- 00:10:27is another thing that that a lot of
- 00:10:30people do is they just don't provide
- 00:10:32enough visuals and YouTube is such a
- 00:10:34visual platform it's video right so you
- 00:10:36have audio but you also have video so
- 00:10:40how much more engaging you know can it
- 00:10:41be for someone to look at you but if you
- 00:10:45can somehow use visuals uh in editing or
- 00:10:48in your video somehow to make the point
- 00:10:50more clear it's gonna it's going to help
- 00:10:52to your advantage and it's going to make
- 00:10:53it a lot easier to watch which is I
- 00:10:55think part of the editing job and maybe
- 00:10:57talk about the video on what you did for
- 00:11:00how to Niche down on YouTube I think you
- 00:11:02added really good visuals and we'll show
- 00:11:04that on the screen here yeah I am a very
- 00:11:06visual person by you know my personality
- 00:11:08so you are explaining a topic and I
- 00:11:11can't see it it's really hard for me to
- 00:11:13understand it so me being the first
- 00:11:16viewer of the video I want for you to
- 00:11:19understand it as well so I want to
- 00:11:21provide visuals when you were breaking
- 00:11:23down how to pick a niche you use um an
- 00:11:25example of profit proficiency and
- 00:11:28passion M and so I think about okay what
- 00:11:32is a good way to visually represent this
- 00:11:35and you know a VIN diagram because we
- 00:11:37had some overlap was probably the best
- 00:11:39way to go about that and at a very basic
- 00:11:42level I could have just showed the VIN
- 00:11:44diagram as a still image and you know
- 00:11:46that's better than nothing for sure but
- 00:11:48I wanted to go a layer beyond that and
- 00:11:52add a little bit of like color to the
- 00:11:54different bubbles so passion was
- 00:11:56represented by like purple proficiency
- 00:11:58was was represented by Blue there's just
- 00:12:01another way to kind of Engage The
- 00:12:02Audience that better clearly understand
- 00:12:04the principles that are are there and it
- 00:12:07could be as simple too for people um you
- 00:12:09know obviously you could like create a
- 00:12:11diagram creat graph that was so
- 00:12:13necessary for that video and for that
- 00:12:15edit but maybe it's as simple as adding
- 00:12:17in some b-roll you can use story blocks
- 00:12:19you could even add in just text so like
- 00:12:22if you're going through you know are
- 00:12:23these nine mistakes we're going to have
- 00:12:25text on screen because it makes it
- 00:12:27easier for the were to follow along and
- 00:12:30that that's kind of like that's the goal
- 00:12:31you want to make it easy for them to
- 00:12:33follow along adding in visuals uh really
- 00:12:36helps that a lot and maybe you're not
- 00:12:38like super technical or like maybe your
- 00:12:40editing skills are not super there yet
- 00:12:42one way could do that is just you know
- 00:12:44get b-roll of you drawing on a piece of
- 00:12:46paper you know can you do something like
- 00:12:48another practical way to show and
- 00:12:50represent that so drawing um whatever it
- 00:12:53may be whatever your skill set is try to
- 00:12:55use that to kind of better explain what
- 00:12:57your point is yeah if you don't do that
- 00:12:59you know it's often times you know if
- 00:13:01it's just a-roll and you're talking and
- 00:13:02there's no visuals it can be kind of
- 00:13:04confusing and that's the next mistake is
- 00:13:06that usually when people just get
- 00:13:08started their videos can be hard to
- 00:13:11follow along a bit confusing how do you
- 00:13:14fix that in an edit besides you know
- 00:13:16besides the visual element how can you
- 00:13:18take things out or you know what are you
- 00:13:19looking for to try and make it easier to
- 00:13:21follow along yeah the last thing you
- 00:13:22want to do is confuse your viewer you
- 00:13:24really just want to make sure it's clear
- 00:13:26and that they're they are understanding
- 00:13:28it
- 00:13:29and I you know I think about the viewer
- 00:13:31and I want to respect their time so they
- 00:13:33clicked on their video they're giving
- 00:13:34you the most valuable asset which is
- 00:13:36their time and attention so I want to
- 00:13:38make sure that you know I'm respecting
- 00:13:40that so if there's anything maybe that
- 00:13:42was poorly explained and you are
- 00:13:45yourself as an editor like questioning
- 00:13:47what does that mean a lot of times I'm
- 00:13:49just getting a video and I'm learning
- 00:13:51that topic for the first time so it is a
- 00:13:54little bit weird to kind of go in and
- 00:13:55like okay what is these what does he
- 00:13:57mean by this and and try to understand
- 00:14:00that and like okay well how do I then
- 00:14:03represent that it's really knowing the
- 00:14:05essence of what you're saying is
- 00:14:07probably a good part of my job as an
- 00:14:09editor and I think that's another thing
- 00:14:11I don't think AI is there to kind of
- 00:14:14solve that there there has to be a mind
- 00:14:15behind the editor so as far as like more
- 00:14:18practical things of like what to remove
- 00:14:20is there anything that wasn't clearly
- 00:14:22articulated and sometimes just by the
- 00:14:24tone of your voice maybe you're not
- 00:14:26confident in what you said a lot of
- 00:14:28times I've kind of cut things out from
- 00:14:30you that maybe you said and you weren't
- 00:14:32sure about I would go in and like well I
- 00:14:35know what he's trying to say let's just
- 00:14:37cut out some of that fluff and even it
- 00:14:40cutting out ums and butts and filler
- 00:14:43words can go a huge way to make sure
- 00:14:45that you're being conveyed as smart and
- 00:14:48intelligent that's a huge thing so even
- 00:14:51as simple as like cutting out filler
- 00:14:53words yeah just makes you your presence
- 00:14:56feel a lot more ath authentic yeah
- 00:14:58that's really good so another tip you're
- 00:15:00even to make it more clear to follow can
- 00:15:02be the pacing which is our next mistake
- 00:15:04is that it's too slow and things don't
- 00:15:06follow along very well and I I think a
- 00:15:10big thing that you can do is you can
- 00:15:11utilize music and we'll talk about music
- 00:15:13more in depth but there's certain
- 00:15:15editing elements you can do to really
- 00:15:17work on your pacing and I think some of
- 00:15:20the tips we're already talking about if
- 00:15:22you just do those if you show them to a
- 00:15:24friend if you show your video to a
- 00:15:25friend if you start to cut out and make
- 00:15:27it more visual that can help with the
- 00:15:29pacing but like I think people
- 00:15:32undervalue the importance of pacing
- 00:15:35because that's really what we're talking
- 00:15:37about here when you're talking about
- 00:15:39cutting things out and making them more
- 00:15:40simple it's all for the pacing and so
- 00:15:43when there's slow pacing in a video
- 00:15:45people are going to skip through or
- 00:15:47they're going to want to jump ahead or
- 00:15:49maybe click off your video those are bad
- 00:15:51bad signals for the YouTube algorithm
- 00:15:54and so it comes back to pacing and I
- 00:15:56know you're a filmmaker at heart and so
- 00:15:59like pacing even goes to like
- 00:16:00storytelling there's certain
- 00:16:02storytelling elements that we can do to
- 00:16:05make something kind of flow better and
- 00:16:07and be more natural and have a good
- 00:16:09pacing so I think I want to break this
- 00:16:10down between like a beginner and a
- 00:16:12professional maybe that is involving
- 00:16:14more storytelling but on a very very
- 00:16:16basic level let's say you're an
- 00:16:18education type YouTube channel one great
- 00:16:20way just even formatting your videos is
- 00:16:23I have 10 tips to share with you right
- 00:16:25so if you have 10 tips and each point is
- 00:16:28a about a minute long but tip number
- 00:16:30seven is 5 minutes long that is just
- 00:16:33kind of a weird way to break up the
- 00:16:35video and so you might find that you
- 00:16:38should really take Point number seven
- 00:16:40and you know maybe only convey about one
- 00:16:42minute so each point is about one minute
- 00:16:45long and I think that's another thing
- 00:16:47for pacing too is just like what is
- 00:16:49enough you know Sean always talks about
- 00:16:51be brief be bright be fun and be done so
- 00:16:54you want to have you want to kind of lie
- 00:16:57on being concise and being brief
- 00:16:59especially with education you don't want
- 00:17:01to go too in the rabbit hole cuz then
- 00:17:02you'll just overwhelm consume your
- 00:17:04viewer right so I think you know in a
- 00:17:08more practical sense if you can go from
- 00:17:10like. one point 2 3 a great way to kind
- 00:17:13of re-engage the viewer is instead of
- 00:17:16just laying music underneath your entire
- 00:17:18video that's one track that's just very
- 00:17:22repetitious spice up the music use 10
- 00:17:24different tracks about a minute long
- 00:17:26each so for each point there's a music
- 00:17:29track that brings a new energy to your
- 00:17:31video that's something I do on think
- 00:17:32media a lot is you bring up Point number
- 00:17:34one and I have one track for that and I
- 00:17:36try to find and match the right mood to
- 00:17:39that point and then by the time we
- 00:17:41transition it feels like you're you know
- 00:17:43you're moving on you're respecting the
- 00:17:45viewer yeah I love that and I I I really
- 00:17:48appreciate even uh when I watch YouTube
- 00:17:50videos and it feels like I'm starting
- 00:17:52something new it actually makes it
- 00:17:53easier to follow along I'm like okay I
- 00:17:55I've like I've accomplished that and
- 00:17:57it's almost like in a sense of a of an
- 00:17:59accomplishment from understanding this
- 00:18:00and moving on to the next part of the
- 00:18:01video and so I think that's a really
- 00:18:03cool trick you can add so tell me what
- 00:18:05it looks like more on a professional
- 00:18:07side of Storytelling okay so I think if
- 00:18:09you are really you know diving into
- 00:18:11edits and maybe you are creating a hook
- 00:18:13pacing for a story is you know you can
- 00:18:17have fun with it you know you can use
- 00:18:20you can use pacing as a storytelling
- 00:18:21tool so maybe your hook maybe it starts
- 00:18:24out maybe a little bit slower but then
- 00:18:27it ramps back up then slows down again
- 00:18:29so diary of the CEO will use that ver
- 00:18:32that variation of pacing as a
- 00:18:33storytelling measure so rather than your
- 00:18:35video being one monotonous tone can you
- 00:18:39vary it you know it's nice to have some
- 00:18:41contrast as humans we love to have that
- 00:18:43in storytelling you don't go from
- 00:18:46leaving the Shire all the way to
- 00:18:48reaching the end there's all these ups
- 00:18:50and downs in the journey along the way
- 00:18:51the highs aren't High unless you kind of
- 00:18:53feel those lows and it's not as Snappy
- 00:18:56when you don't kind of feel it drawn and
- 00:18:58so and there's certain moments where
- 00:18:59maybe it's a little more emotional a
- 00:19:01little more serious where you might have
- 00:19:03a slow zoom in and it's and it's one cut
- 00:19:06for you know 8 10 seconds and then it
- 00:19:08goes the music kicks on like and it's
- 00:19:10like you know and then it cuts back to
- 00:19:11fast pace and that you know gives you
- 00:19:13more EV energy feeling of an excitement
- 00:19:15and so there yeah there's a very
- 00:19:18specific example from one of your videos
- 00:19:20you're telling about your story of
- 00:19:22YouTube and the certain highs you felt
- 00:19:25during your YouTube channel and the
- 00:19:27career your YouTube channel was taking
- 00:19:28off so I hit it with some fast-paced
- 00:19:30music Fast Cuts you know I'm showing I'm
- 00:19:33showing exaggerated b-roll of like you
- 00:19:35on stage you with glitter flying down
- 00:19:37the view count is going up but then you
- 00:19:40hit like a deep hit and it cuts the
- 00:19:42black and it fades up and you talk about
- 00:19:45the kind of the depression you felt when
- 00:19:47you start you stopped getting views and
- 00:19:50so having that variety just you make it
- 00:19:53a lot more engaging it's more fun to do
- 00:19:55that so you know even on an educational
- 00:19:57video like that you can use storytelling
- 00:20:00yeah I love that those are very powerful
- 00:20:02tips and um that all play a role into
- 00:20:05the pacing and that I really think holds
- 00:20:08viewers longer and and creates a better
- 00:20:10video just in general so tell me a
- 00:20:12little bit about harsh cuts which is uh
- 00:20:15something I think a lot of people do and
- 00:20:18then how do you fix that yeah so I think
- 00:20:20on a very very basic level if you're you
- 00:20:22know cutting your a-roll and maybe had
- 00:20:24to fix a mistake you know rather than
- 00:20:26like showing a jump cut can you hide
- 00:20:29that cut can you explain what a jump cut
- 00:20:30is in case someone's watching this they
- 00:20:32never even heard that so a jump cut
- 00:20:33simply if you take one clip and let's
- 00:20:35say you flubbed up your line in the
- 00:20:37middle so you cut here and then you cut
- 00:20:39out that segment well now you're left
- 00:20:41with this sudden jump in your edit if
- 00:20:43you're talking head if you haven't
- 00:20:45changed the angle at all so a very
- 00:20:47simple way to fix that is to you know
- 00:20:50use some stock footage or maybe cut away
- 00:20:53or to cover that cut to cover that cut
- 00:20:55so it feels like it's one continuous
- 00:20:58fluid thought rather than having that
- 00:21:00cut you could also crop in a little bit
- 00:21:03as well and match that eyeline so it
- 00:21:05goes from uh cutting from the wide angle
- 00:21:07and it looks like it just tightens in a
- 00:21:09little bit explain what a j cut and an L
- 00:21:11cut is cuz that's another really good
- 00:21:13tool to really smooth out harsh you know
- 00:21:16harsh Cuts so A J cut basically allows
- 00:21:19you to play the the audio coming from
- 00:21:22the next clip before you cut to the
- 00:21:25visual and an L cut is the same but
- 00:21:28opposite so you leave the audio from the
- 00:21:31first clip going into the second one and
- 00:21:33that's why it's called a JNL cuz it
- 00:21:34looks like that on the timeline so
- 00:21:37that's another way like let's say you do
- 00:21:39you did have a jump cut by taking the
- 00:21:41audio and just slightly shifting it over
- 00:21:44now it out yeah and fading it out it now
- 00:21:46feels a little bit more fluid and it's
- 00:21:49just again it's another way to make it
- 00:21:50feel more smooth I think it's nothing
- 00:21:54worse than having a harsh cut where
- 00:21:56maybe you you slightly cut off right
- 00:21:58before you're about to say something it
- 00:21:59just feels harsh it feels cheap it feels
- 00:22:02like you're not taking the time to make
- 00:22:04sure it feels polished that's what we're
- 00:22:07really looking for is in a YouTube video
- 00:22:09to make it feel like it's been well
- 00:22:10crafted using those types of cuts really
- 00:22:13helps smooth out the audio and audio is
- 00:22:15a very important part of the video
- 00:22:17process you know it's 50% of the
- 00:22:19experience you know it's not just people
- 00:22:21watching a video but they're actually
- 00:22:23listening to it as well and so that's a
- 00:22:26mistake that people make and a lot of
- 00:22:28times it can't be fixed in editing
- 00:22:31however you know there's like podcast
- 00:22:32enhance U which allows you to basically
- 00:22:35you know kind of revamp that audio up
- 00:22:37and hopefully save it in certain you
- 00:22:39know circumstances it can work really
- 00:22:41well but uh there's certain things like
- 00:22:43eqing how should you know how much
- 00:22:45should people actually you know work in
- 00:22:47the edit on the audio how important how
- 00:22:50important is that I think audio is
- 00:22:51something that's often neglected
- 00:22:53probably because it's not Visual and we
- 00:22:54can't really see it but it makes so much
- 00:22:56of an impact on your final video George
- 00:22:59Lucas said that the movie going
- 00:23:01experience is 50% audio so I think we
- 00:23:04should really respect having good audio
- 00:23:06so what does that look like you know
- 00:23:08when you're in production hopefully have
- 00:23:09good audio like this so really goes a
- 00:23:11long way so having those principles in
- 00:23:14production but as an editor there's some
- 00:23:16things you can do to you know enhance
- 00:23:18that so whether it's just like your
- 00:23:20microphone maybe it's a little muffled
- 00:23:22you can learn some simple EQ techniques
- 00:23:24to kind of improve that so that's a very
- 00:23:26simple tactical way of going about it
- 00:23:28but you know what are some other ways
- 00:23:31you can enhance the soundscape of your
- 00:23:33video you have your one layer of audio
- 00:23:36which is you know your narration your
- 00:23:38voice over you can have music you can
- 00:23:41have some like ambient sounds or you can
- 00:23:43have some sound effects all those things
- 00:23:46are different tools for your video so
- 00:23:48when we create a hook you know music is
- 00:23:50definitely playing a role the the voice
- 00:23:53over is definitely a role but also sound
- 00:23:55effects is just another way to add to
- 00:23:57those layers
- 00:23:58so all that people often though make
- 00:24:00them too loud too very true you got to
- 00:24:03be careful there because you really you
- 00:24:05really want to make sure that the sound
- 00:24:07effects aren't like you know they'll
- 00:24:09they'll put one in there and they'll
- 00:24:10just leave it at zero DB and it's like
- 00:24:12it's like whoa and so you really want to
- 00:24:13bring those down and listen to it yeah
- 00:24:16and so any advice there on just like
- 00:24:18where should the music volume and sound
- 00:24:19effect volume lay if you are education
- 00:24:22like we are I would definitely a on
- 00:24:24having the music quieter than you think
- 00:24:26so you know I would say like in in
- 00:24:29resolve basically my music is set to 36
- 00:24:32or 39 so it's really low down there and
- 00:24:34that's because I want you to pay
- 00:24:36attention to the video but the music is
- 00:24:37kind of help guiding you it's it's
- 00:24:39helping with pacing and whatnot but you
- 00:24:42don't want it to be a distraction you
- 00:24:43don't want to have to conflict with the
- 00:24:46information needed now there's certain
- 00:24:48moments in the hook where the hook music
- 00:24:50is a little bit louder cuz we want to
- 00:24:52hear that we want to feel energized by
- 00:24:54that music but definitely you know don't
- 00:24:57have that compete with the you know your
- 00:24:59voice you definitely want to make sure
- 00:25:01you're clear in that regard for like
- 00:25:03entertainment and film making wise you
- 00:25:05know maybe you are doing something a
- 00:25:06little bit more in depth you want to
- 00:25:08play around with those and whatnot or
- 00:25:10let's say you have a music break and the
- 00:25:12music can rise and you know it falls off
- 00:25:14so you from a very technical standpoint
- 00:25:17if you're doing education definitely air
- 00:25:19on the side of having it quiet so that
- 00:25:21we can really hear you and that leads us
- 00:25:22to number eight which is music and
- 00:25:25there's a few more things here and tips
- 00:25:26that I really want to into but at think
- 00:25:29media we use epidemic sound and uh we
- 00:25:32love using them they have a really great
- 00:25:34uh library of music that you can use on
- 00:25:36your YouTube videos still monetized and
- 00:25:38then you also have a huge sound effects
- 00:25:41library and one of the things that I
- 00:25:42like is when you find music you know you
- 00:25:44can sort it by mood you can sort it by
- 00:25:46genre then you find a cool song you can
- 00:25:48just hit find similar songs and then you
- 00:25:50can just like kind of find what works
- 00:25:52for your channel and uh there's a lot of
- 00:25:54different just type of music in there to
- 00:25:57fit the emotion so if you guys want to
- 00:25:59check out this special offer that
- 00:26:00epidemic sound gave us for you guys then
- 00:26:02just check the link down in the
- 00:26:03description or go to think Medias
- 00:26:05sounds.com now people make a lot of
- 00:26:07mistakes with their music and I think a
- 00:26:09big one is choosing the wrong music you
- 00:26:11know some people just like you can just
- 00:26:13tell like this doesn't fit the vibe you
- 00:26:16know and so one of the things I really
- 00:26:18like to feel is I think about the
- 00:26:20emotion that the music because music
- 00:26:21gives you emotion yes and when you're
- 00:26:23watching a YouTube video what there is
- 00:26:25an emotion to that and so trying to find
- 00:26:28the right thing there what are you
- 00:26:29looking for when you're picking out your
- 00:26:31music and how to enhance the actual
- 00:26:33video and at what points of the video is
- 00:26:36music necessary not necessary like
- 00:26:38should people use Music the whole time
- 00:26:40what are what are some mistakes or tips
- 00:26:42here I really think you should be
- 00:26:43thinking about your viewer your audience
- 00:26:46and kind of what their tastes would be
- 00:26:48for and what's kind of expected of that
- 00:26:50genre so for an educational thing it' be
- 00:26:53very you know misguided if we had hard
- 00:26:56rap during our video
- 00:26:58you know um cuz you want to set the
- 00:27:00expectation of you know what your genre
- 00:27:03is so if it's educational you don't want
- 00:27:06anything too distracting right so I like
- 00:27:08to look for maybe something that's a
- 00:27:10little bit more simple maybe a little
- 00:27:11bit more positive but also something
- 00:27:14that's simplistic minimal in the
- 00:27:15background and it's not competing with
- 00:27:17the the vocals because I think what
- 00:27:19you're conveying is the most important
- 00:27:21part when it comes to like you know
- 00:27:23entertainment you can definitely have a
- 00:27:24lot more fun with that and finding the
- 00:27:26right tone but yeah find like what what
- 00:27:29does the audience you know what what do
- 00:27:31you think they would appreciate now I
- 00:27:34often consider myself the first viewer
- 00:27:36of a you know think media video so there
- 00:27:38is a little bit of my own tastes in the
- 00:27:40videos so for instance the last um
- 00:27:43podcast edit we did the hook I went for
- 00:27:46something a little bit more Airy a
- 00:27:48little bit more cinematic at the
- 00:27:49beginning instead of certain tone but I
- 00:27:52didn't want to linger there I also
- 00:27:53wanted to spice it up so I transition
- 00:27:56into a faster paced track cack right
- 00:27:58after we cut to Black so there is some
- 00:28:00like having some variety but it is kind
- 00:28:03of what is the tone of it and the
- 00:28:06emotion I I totally agree with you it's
- 00:28:08all about like kind of the music will
- 00:28:10provide the emotion for the video so
- 00:28:12what your video is about is going to
- 00:28:14play so much into that and I think if
- 00:28:16you have an educational informational
- 00:28:18type of YouTube channel you don't need
- 00:28:20music the entire time I highly recommend
- 00:28:22music uh at the beginning of the video
- 00:28:24if you're going to do some sort of like
- 00:28:25coming up type of thing or really have
- 00:28:27like a a edited hook that is going to be
- 00:28:30a bit more engaging highly recommend
- 00:28:31that but another thing you can do to
- 00:28:34just kind of keep viewers engage is
- 00:28:36throughout the video If you start to do
- 00:28:38something funny or you know you can add
- 00:28:40in some like goofy type of music just
- 00:28:42for that short little segment if you if
- 00:28:44you like start getting uh motivational
- 00:28:46or upset you can add in that or if
- 00:28:48you're like sharing a sad story you know
- 00:28:50and maybe it's a little bit fun you can
- 00:28:52add in like some violin music so there's
- 00:28:53things you can do there just at
- 00:28:55different parts of the video that could
- 00:28:57be funny you could use it to actually
- 00:28:59just increase that emotion of the story
- 00:29:01you're telling and so there's different
- 00:29:02ways it's kind of case by case on how
- 00:29:04you want to do that but I think
- 00:29:06utilizing music and sound effects
- 00:29:09throughout the video at different points
- 00:29:10when they fit can really help a lot just
- 00:29:13keep the viewer engaged yeah it's making
- 00:29:14the point more clear of what you're
- 00:29:16trying to say so if there is something
- 00:29:18humorous about you know a joke you know
- 00:29:20having music or slow zoom in might kind
- 00:29:23of help amplify and make it even more
- 00:29:25funny so that's a great way to make your
- 00:29:27message even more powerful now you
- 00:29:29mentioned this a little bit earlier
- 00:29:30about being that first viewer of the
- 00:29:33video and you were telling me that
- 00:29:35people you know they don't do this this
- 00:29:37is a mistake and so expand on that a
- 00:29:39little bit more and how uh what kind of
- 00:29:41mindset you know should a video editor
- 00:29:44be in when they take on a project yeah
- 00:29:46this was something like hugely
- 00:29:48comforting to me as you guys you know
- 00:29:51from the very first time I edited your
- 00:29:52videos you guys were like Nate I want
- 00:29:54you to have responsibility I want you to
- 00:29:56own the edit
- 00:29:57and that really kind of you know
- 00:29:59cemented with me because I think that's
- 00:30:01so important you know if you're afraid
- 00:30:03to take risks and you know try something
- 00:30:06or you're afraid oh maybe no one won't
- 00:30:08like this then it just hinders the
- 00:30:11creativity of the video and makes it
- 00:30:13less fun and so I think owning the edit
- 00:30:16what that really means is like if you
- 00:30:18find something that could be funny and
- 00:30:21you want to make that more humorous or
- 00:30:22you have an idea there's some element of
- 00:30:24trying that and having fun with it that
- 00:30:26you should definitely at least follow up
- 00:30:28on because chances are if there's
- 00:30:30something funny to you then it's going
- 00:30:32to be funny to other people so I think
- 00:30:34that's a huge thing is like rather than
- 00:30:35thinking about an audience and kind of a
- 00:30:38vague picture like I think that's good
- 00:30:39to do definitely I always have like a
- 00:30:41viewer of what a think media person is
- 00:30:44but there's so much of me in the edits
- 00:30:46too that I'm like this is my taste you
- 00:30:48know I'm going to try this I think a
- 00:30:50funny example is when you were um
- 00:30:52reviewing the road podcaster Duo and you
- 00:30:55were talking about how the m microphone
- 00:30:57made it sound like you're in a grocery
- 00:30:59store I could have left that kind of
- 00:31:01there but I thought taking your
- 00:31:04personality and amplifying it and
- 00:31:06actually place you in a grocery store is
- 00:31:08just a fun way to make the video it's
- 00:31:10just more fun you know fun for me fun
- 00:31:12for you fun for the viewer and I think
- 00:31:13they appreciate those little things
- 00:31:15taking the extra time for those yeah and
- 00:31:17I think if you are editing your own
- 00:31:18videos or if you're editing videos for
- 00:31:20someone else like feel free to take
- 00:31:21risks try new things you know you're
- 00:31:23going to get inspired watching other
- 00:31:25YouTubers or TV and movies and it's like
- 00:31:28take those Curiosities take those ideas
- 00:31:31Implement them into your video and if it
- 00:31:33doesn't like if you watch it back you're
- 00:31:34like it wasn't as funny I've done this a
- 00:31:36lot where I've edited I'm like I think
- 00:31:37this is going to be funny like go way
- 00:31:39over the top and I'm like face tracking
- 00:31:41and all stuff then I watch back I'm like
- 00:31:42that was too much and it's not that
- 00:31:44funny I I'm like I can just delete it I
- 00:31:46can go back you know command z a lot of
- 00:31:48times like I feel like I go like for the
- 00:31:50road podcast I felt like I was going too
- 00:31:52far but then you watch it back it's like
- 00:31:54well it actually it fits is oddly enough
- 00:31:57but but I that's something I really want
- 00:31:58to convey to a viewer cuz I when I first
- 00:32:01got started I was being very careful and
- 00:32:04I didn't want to you know push the
- 00:32:05envelope too much so I just want to give
- 00:32:07you permission especially if you're
- 00:32:08editing your own videos yeah go for it
- 00:32:10have take some risks go for it but also
- 00:32:13if you're editing for someone have that
- 00:32:15conversation I think really if you and
- 00:32:18maybe you're hiring editors you want to
- 00:32:20lend that ownership to them because
- 00:32:22they're going to deliver a better
- 00:32:23product ultimately 100% like you don't
- 00:32:25know truly what my preference would be
- 00:32:28on a certain you know idea that you have
- 00:32:31because like and I'm I going to sit down
- 00:32:33and talk to you have a zoom meeting
- 00:32:35about that particular idea most likely
- 00:32:37not we got to push out video so it's
- 00:32:39like I kind of have to take those
- 00:32:40assumptions and run with it yeah I love
- 00:32:43that now for the final mistake this one
- 00:32:45might be the biggest one and I think is
- 00:32:48editors you know start to grow over time
- 00:32:51and I think just the evolution of
- 00:32:53YouTube and where it's at I think people
- 00:32:55make the mistake of editing too much
- 00:32:57like too many effects the cuts are way
- 00:33:00too fast they've trimed now too much
- 00:33:02down theing made that mistake myself
- 00:33:05yeah definitely and I think you know
- 00:33:07it's hard because it depends on what
- 00:33:09type of videos you're making but I just
- 00:33:10like I do think there is uh a need on
- 00:33:14YouTube for even slower edits at time
- 00:33:16and for letting them breathe and a bit
- 00:33:18more storytelling whereas we see a lot
- 00:33:20of people just like you actually if you
- 00:33:23want to succeed on YouTube and you're
- 00:33:25editing your videos you don't need need
- 00:33:27crazy effects you don't need subtitles
- 00:33:30for every word you don't need music you
- 00:33:32know going throughout the entire video
- 00:33:35and cropping in and out every single
- 00:33:36time you'd be surprised if you just sat
- 00:33:39down and talked to a viewer of your
- 00:33:41Channel or watched how they watch it's
- 00:33:43like why are they watching your video I
- 00:33:45think editors need to ask themselves
- 00:33:46that question is why is someone watching
- 00:33:49this video for us I think media
- 00:33:50oftentimes as much as we love the
- 00:33:53storytelling and the editing and and
- 00:33:54those types of videos I love that too
- 00:33:57like this video right here it it's not
- 00:33:59crazy edited right and we're talking
- 00:34:01about editing yeah and because people
- 00:34:02just want to hear our feedback our
- 00:34:05experiences you know editing over the
- 00:34:06years for YouTube and so I think what
- 00:34:09will help most YouTube editors out there
- 00:34:11is just asking themselves and
- 00:34:13understanding the viewer and asking why
- 00:34:15are they watching this video absolutely
- 00:34:17I think over editing can often scream
- 00:34:19insecurity in your video so if you begin
- 00:34:22a video with something you know is going
- 00:34:23to be good often times yeah you can ease
- 00:34:25up on the editing cuz you know the value
- 00:34:27is so good you don't want to kind of you
- 00:34:30know flashbang your viewers with
- 00:34:32different you know Graphics I I kind of
- 00:34:34do a little bit of that at the beginning
- 00:34:36just to really hook the viewer but I
- 00:34:37don't I try not to go too crazy because
- 00:34:40I think ultimately you know people are
- 00:34:42there for information and they're there
- 00:34:44you know hearing from you so if you can
- 00:34:47find that balance where you're not going
- 00:34:49crazy Overboard you're again respecting
- 00:34:51the viewer and knowing hey you have
- 00:34:53attention to span more than 5 Seconds
- 00:34:55you you can you're adult you can learn
- 00:34:57from this video so I think yeah it's you
- 00:35:00know finding that balance is definitely
- 00:35:01key now if you are a video editor out
- 00:35:03there and you're looking to save time
- 00:35:04Nate and I have been using some AI tools
- 00:35:06that have saved us hundreds of hours of
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- 00:35:12click on the screen you can check that
- 00:35:13out we'll see you in the next video
- Video Editing
- YouTube Tips
- Pacing
- Intros
- Visuals
- Audio
- Music
- Viewer Engagement
- Editing Techniques
- Content Clarity