Key Tips of a Streamlined Video Editing Workflow

Time-Saving Tips for Streamlining Your Video Editing Workflow

Every film project is a unique creation, and every editor has their preferred workflow, their own set of tricks and techniques that they rely on to shape the final product that we see on the big screen. But in the fast-paced world of video editing, and especially in the current climate, time is money. This article goes behind-the-scenes and looks at the planning and prep that goes into crafting a successful film and the tricks you can use to streamline your editorial workflows and remove some of the headaches that can slow you down or distract you from your creativity.

1. Preparation, preparation, preparation! 

Before the cameras start rolling, the planning process kicks into gear. Depending on the film's complexity, editors may come on board about a week before principal photography begins. This early start is crucial to ensure the cutting room is fully prepared for the task ahead.

Collaboration between the editor, director, post supervisor, and line producer is key during this phase. Beyond aligning on creative vision, they work together to determine the specific needs of the editorial department, including tools, processes, timeline, and the estimated volume of media that will be generated during filming. This collaborative effort lays the groundwork for a smooth and efficient editing process once filming begins.

2. Choose the right video editing software:

Editors will have their own preferences when it comes to choosing video editing software, and selecting the right tool is crucial for maximising efficiency. Popular options like Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve offer powerful tools for professional editing.

3.Into production:

And action! Once filming starts, the focus for the editorial team shifts to assembly and how media should be tracked, managed, and organised. Incorrect or unclear data can lead to issues and subsequent delays down the line.

Utilising a trusted and robust dailies review tool is key. ClearView Rush is a user-friendly collaborative review tool designed to streamline the post-production workflow for reviewing dailies, editorial cuts, and digital intermediates. Rush integrates seamlessly into your studio workflow for dailies, cuts, and other key production assets covered by Sohonet’s world-famous 24x7 expert support.

Communication is crucial at this stage as the editorial team collaborates with various stakeholders, ranging from the director to the post-production supervisor, as well as the continuity and Digital Imaging Technician on-set.

Software, Hardware, and Workflow Strategies

Use Proxy Editing for High-Resolution Footage: Effective editing relies on powerful hardware and software capable of handling high-resolution formats. Insufficient hardware can lead to slow playback and potential footage damage, slowing down the process. Offline editing with lower-resolution proxy files allows for smoother playback and faster editing. The finished sequence is then converted into an EDL for online editing, where final touches are added using high-quality footage to pull together the polished finished product. 

Batch Process Tasks: Whenever possible, batch process repetitive tasks to save time and streamline your workflow. This could include tasks like transcoding footage, applying effects or transitions to multiple clips, or exporting multiple versions of your video for different platforms.

4.Collaboration:

Once production wraps up, the focus shifts to post-production, where the final touches are made to bring the film to life. During this phase, the editorial team continues to work closely together to refine the footage and assemble the final cut. 

Efficient organisation and communication are crucial during post-production to ensure that the editing process remains on track and deadlines are met. Utilising project management tools like Asana, Trello or Jira are great and scheduling (Calendly) regular check-ins can help keep everyone aligned and focused on the end goal. 

You’re also going to need to host review sessions with key stakeholders to ensure you’re aligned on vision and direction. ClearView Flex is a video editing collaboration tool that provides editors with a user-friendly tool to stream live, encrypted content with sub-100ms of latency from any source via HDMI, SDI or NDI to up to 40 viewers on tablets, phones, laptops or Apple TV. Editors can switch between sharing the output of their edit session via SDI, (frame/ colour accurate output), and sharing their desktop via HDMI - allowing them to share their edit software, complete with timeline, bins/media libraries and source viewer for a collaborative editing experience.

Flex prioritises sync between all screens so whatever anyone’s bandwidth, you can guarantee you’re all looking at the same thing at the same time and participants can also add annotations to the stream, and communicate to other participants via browser without plugins.

5. Moving content into another workflow:

Moving content between workflows, from offline to online editors, to VFX and beyond, needs to be fast, automated, and simple to streamline the editorial process effectively. That's where a dedicated file transfer tool tailored for editorial workflows comes into play. FileRunner, the automated file transfer software allows you to share files of unlimited size through the browser at blazing speed, without the need for plug-ins, software, or server installs. With optimization for media files and studio-grade security, Filerunner has been designed with the user in mind. Plus, it comes at an affordable price point, ensuring seamless content transfer without breaking the bank.

By implementing these time-saving tips and techniques, you can streamline your video editing workflow, save precious time, and deliver higher-quality content in less time. Whether you're working solo or collaborating with a team, optimising your process will help you achieve your creative vision more efficiently than ever before.

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Other blogs you may find interesting: 

Remote Video Editing for creatives in 2024

Key Steps of a Streamlined Pre-Production Workflow 

Best Video Editing Tools for Remote Video Editing 2024

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