7 Common Mistakes That Amateur Editors Make

If you're new to video editing, it will take some time before you learn and become familiar with the tools and features of the editing software. You'll often make mistakes, but that's part of the learning process. 

Are you looking for video software to practice on? Try iMovie downloads for PC that are easy to use. Additionally, you can also avoid mistakes by knowing the don'ts in terms of video editing. Here are some of them:

1. Confusing Storyline 

In making videos, a storyline is vital to have an organized sequence of events. With a precise series of events, transitions can be planned out well, and the video will be smooth and appealing to watch.

Most amateur video editors don't carry a clear plan of the content. They have an idea but can't always implement it because they didn't put much effort into the planning stage. 

One good way to have a proper storyline is to write down the ideas and envision what will happen in the video. Create a document file with time frames and download pictures similar to the ideas you want to execute. 

You can also try the effects to know how it will come out for your video vision by using free video editing software like FXhome. Download YouTube videos similar to your ideas by converting them to mp4 and use them on your video editing software for inspiration.

2. Bad Audio

Audio is an integral part of a video, especially when clear speeches are a must. For clear audio, pros usually use mics and separate backup recorders. They also incorporate different audio software and additional tools like an audio restoration to maximize the quality. 

Newbies in video editing don't realize the effect of every single element, not until they're editing and hear all additional background noises. It will take them another long hour of filming and audio recording to get the best sound. 

3. Wrong Use of Jump Cut

A jump cut is a technique used by video editors to remove a single shot to create an effect of instantly moving forward in time. Expert video editors use jump cuts as effective transitions, while new video editors don't know where to use them. They incorporate the technique anywhere in the video without any purpose. Often, viewers are jarred when this happens. 

4. Incorrect and Short Transitions 

Video transitions are post-production effects and techniques added to video editing to connect one shot to another. Experienced editors already know many transitions and their durations. So, with the video clips, they can understand where to put the transition and incorporate it smoothly. 

If you're new to editing, the transitions may be longer than your clip because you're not familiar with the duration of a single transition. However, you can manage this mistake by adding a basic cut to avoid long fade-outs or wipe transitions taking over your clip. You can also look for video effects software and try out different transitions that can work for your video. Great software to use is LWKS.

5. Inappropriate Music and Wrong Video Formats 

Music adds life and drama to your video. It's one of the fastest ways to reach the audience and trigger its emotion. Expert video editors align their music tracks with the video's mood.  

Most newbies just add trendy songs into their video without thinking of the effect it'll have on their audience. Even for films with serious themes, they add popular songs thinking that they will hook the audience. Instead, it does the opposite - the music overpowers the content of the video. You can watch YouTube channels with good audio, such as nature channels, to know how they use appropriate music and audio for different clips.

Experts use popular formats to avoid problems in uploading and downloading videos. Here are the most used formats:

• MP4

• MOV

• WMV

• FLV

• AVI

• AVCHD

• WebM

• MKV 

New editors don't know about formats and often stick to the default in their software and only realize their mistake once they upload or download the file. Newbies need to always check the formats accepted by the site they're using to set them in their video software. They can also use software that supports various formats, like Shotcut, to avoid these problems. 

6. Careless Elimination of Details

Private and sensitive information is critical and is not allowed to be seen in videos. Some of these include addresses, plate numbers, and other information about a specific person that can compromise the privacy and safety. Pros use blurring tools to cover and hide information. They also use this tool to highlight a subject and remove background details that can be distracting. 

New video editors aren't often well aware of what information they can share. Therefore, they forget to eliminate details that can put them in a difficult situation. If you're a newbie, make it a habit to read privacy laws in different countries or social media platforms before uploading any videos.

7. Wrong Frame Adjustment and Graphics Inconsistency 

Video frames and graphics are the most important elements to consider in editing. Visuals attract and engage your viewers. 

In adjusting the frame, amateur editors don't know the rules about the ratio of the background with the subject. They often just crop frames, even if the subject is not in a favorable position. One famous rule amateurs need to know is the Rule of Thirds that divides the frames into three columns and three rows like a tic-tac-toe board. The intersection of the lines is where the subject is best positioned. 

Most newbies also have different font styles, colors, and sizes incorporated in their video and clash with graphics consistency - distracting the viewers. It's best to maintain a single font and theme of colors to make it appealing to the eyes.

Conclusion

Video editing can be frustrating for newbies. You might have expectations about your finished videos that you didn't reach. You need to know that video editing takes a lot of practice and research. Like the experts, you'll learn and get there after being familiar with the tools and techniques and knowing the dos and don'ts.