8 Tips to be a Faster Editor

Editing is a crucial part of the post-production process, but it can be time-consuming and challenging, especially when you’re on a tight deadline. To help you be a faster editor, we’ve compiled eight tips that will help you streamline your workflow and save time.

Tip #1: Have a good editing game plan before you begin.

Taking a few minutes to plan the best order for completing your work can help you avoid making things up as you go. Begin by transcoding the clips you can do the most with first, so you can start organizing and editing those while the rest of the clips are transcoding.

If you need to do any graphics work or work in another program, try working on that while your clips are rendered in your editor. If you have multiple things to upload online, edit and upload the first one quickly, so you can work on other projects while it uploads. This will help minimize the time you spend waiting for renders or uploads.

Tip #2: Organize your footage ahead of time

Take some time to organize efficiently. Your main objective is to understand where everything is located and avoid wasting time searching for things later on. Although it may seem like a daunting task, there are excellent tools available that can assist you. Digital asset management platforms such as Shade allow you to organize, label, and tag everything in just a few minutes. The built-in AI saves you time by making searching easier later on, and you will appreciate investing in an intelligent organizational tool.

Tip #3: Know your hotkeys

The less you use your mouse, the better. There are plenty of editing tasks that can be automated using your keyboard. Dropping your clip in the timeline, for example, is something you repeatedly do, so make sure you have one key to drop at the playhead and another to drop at the end of the timeline. Take a moment to memorize these shortcuts and understand their impact on your editing process.

Tip #4: Use markers in your edit

You can place markers to time your edit to music, sync audio manually, and highlight cinematic moments. Placing and labeling markers help keep things organized and show where various elements go in your timeline. They make the editing process easier for you visually.

Tip #5: Use real-time editing

The ability to look over your work and edit it simultaneously will speed things up. While your video loops, you can make adjustments to cuts and add-in clips, gaining a better understanding of the overall edit. You can also identify missing elements or areas that require further attention and make changes as you go, such as inserting clips, adjusting audio levels, and altering the start and end points of clips. This approach allows you to complete the majority of your edit, about 80-90%, and then fine-tune it.

Tip #6: Take a break. (trust me)

This may seem counterintuitive, but research has shown you’re more effective if you take breaks every hour or so. Find an activity that helps you recharge in a couple of minutes. If you are watching an edit over and over again and making tweaks, stepping away helps you come back with a fresh pair of eyes.

Tip #7: Know each program and its strengths and weaknesses.

Figure out what programs are best at each task, and get better at the programs that excel in certain areas. By taking the time to explore different programs and their capabilities, you can better understand how to maximize your efficiency and output. Moreover, it is important to remember that software is constantly evolving and updating, so staying up-to-date with the latest features and functionalities of your preferred programs can be beneficial. This can be achieved through online tutorials, workshops, or even just experimenting with new tools and techniques.

Tip #8: Watch your work as you are uploading.

Sometimes there’s an issue with a clip or something you didn’t notice something in your edit. As you start uploading your product, you should immediately watch it to ensure everything is perfect. If it’s possible, having a fresh pair of eyes to watch it with you would be the best bet. If there is an issue, you can cancel the upload, make the change, and then upload the new one. It can be frustrating to spend 45 minutes uploading a clip only to realize, once it’s finished, that you need to make changes and start the process all over again.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you’ll not only be able to edit faster, but you’ll also produce high-quality work. Remember, the goal is to complete your work quickly and ensure it’s done right.

Happy editing!