With content creation becoming a full-time job for many people, video editing skills should be in the arsenal of everyone eager to create video content for any platform, including YouTube and Instagram reels. Not having access to a powerful computer to edit video is part and parcel of the time when people just want to get started. In fact, many content creators edit exclusively on their mobile phones.
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Here, I’ll walk you through the basics of video editing. Plus, there are many free video editing apps available to download on both iOS and Android. The experience is definitely better with paid apps like LumaFusion, but using a free app like VN, you can get similar-looking results.
1) Make sharp cuts
I’ve seen a lot of people get carried away with fancy motion graphics, VFX and what not, while they ignore the basics of video editing – cutting.
Making sharp cuts is paramount for every edit. Trimming off excess fluff, bad parts of a shot, and analyzing what’s considered part of an edit is just as important as the quality of the footage. So, read about the different cuts and learn how to create flow using shots as a transition tool.
2) Choosing the right timeline frame rate
Did a video shoot to export at 30 fps? Well then, you should create a 30 fps timeline before starting the project. Depending on the project you’re working on, the frame rate can change the mood of the project.
Creating mini-vlogs for Instagram reels? Edit in a 60 fps timeline. Editing a feature film for your college project? Edit in 24 fps. Simply put, the needs of your project should govern the framerate you choose in your timeline and when filming yourself.
3) Know your aspect ratio
Trust me, you don’t want to post landscape videos on Instagram reels. So, make sure you edit in 9:16 for vertical videos and only choose a “cinematic” aspect ratio like 16:9 or higher, 1.85:1 for longer projects like movies and YouTube.
4) Titles are your friend but in moderation
Never go overboard with the amount of titles and, therefore, the text you put in your videos. A massive amount of text can bore your audience and they’re not going to read it anyway. Your audience is there to watch, not read. Therefore, give them what they want. For example, have you ever seen Apple commercials bombard viewers with obscene long copies? no right?
5) Export Rights
For once, assume you’ve done everything perfectly. From color grading to cuts. But when exporting, let’s say, a 4K60 timeline, you chose to get the output in 720P 30 FPS. Now, if you do something similar, congratulations, you’ve successfully ruined your project. Ergo, always export correctly.
Editing 4K 30 FPS Video? It should be exported in 4K30. Depending on the platform, you may choose to shrink the footage by exporting in a lower resolution and bitrate, but unintentionally doing so is a dealbreaker. Also, give importance to the codex. If your editing software supports fancy codecs, use them only if your workflow demands it. You can’t upload a ProRes video to Instagram reels, can you?
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