How to Speed Up Your Video Editing Workflow

However, your video editing process may consume much more time than it was estimated if the workflow is not planned properly. It includes searching for files, performing the same actions several times, manual changes in settings, constant changes in the application that you use, and other things which may make your project complicated and consume much of your time. It is necessary to remember that you do not have to upgrade your computer or purchase new software to increase the efficiency of the video editing.

In this article, we will discuss how to optimize your workflow in order to make video editing faster without losing professional level of your project.

Organize Your Files Before Editing :

The most convenient way for saving editing time is to plan your project before entering the timeline. Structure all the videos, sounds, graphics, music, project files and other types of files in an organized manner.

The examples of such subfolders in a project folder include: Footage, Audio, Music, Graphics, Project Files and Exports. Use meaningful names on important clips rather than camera-generated names.

This is a simple trick that helps to find assets with ease and avoid searching during editing.

Create a Consistent Editing Workflow

Creating a workflow that you can reproduce will definitely increase your editing speed. Don't make it different every time but try to stick to something similar.

For an example, a workflow is: 

Importing, Organizing, Clip Selection, Rough Cut, Fine Cut, Audio, Colour Correction, Graphics, Final Review, Exporting

Using the same workflow will save your time on making decisions. With some practice, you'll stop thinking what to do next since it would become natural.

Master Important Shortcuts :

The most effective way to enhance your editing speed is learning shortcuts for performing repetitive operations. The use of the mouse and clicking on each button requires extra time.

Below is a list of basic shortcuts you can learn for cutting, selecting tools, zooming in and out of the timeline, play/pause, skipping between cuts and bookmarking positions in the timeline.

Don't try and memorise all of them at once. Just start with the 5 you anticipate using most, and then gradually introduce more!

Use Templates and Presets :

In case you produce similar videos on a consistent basis, then using templates will allow you to save a lot of time. Reusable project elements can be created for titles, lower thirds, transitions, intro animations, subtitles, audio processing, and color correction.

For instance, if you are creating content for YouTube, then you can create a template for the title animation and lower thirds once, and use it again in other videos. The consistency will be maintained while saving effort on repeated tasks.

Templates are very helpful for audio effects that are used regularly, color corrections, transitions, and export settings.

Use Proxy Files When Editing Large Video Projects :

When dealing with high resolution footage, your editing program will become slower. Especially, when you are dealing with 4K and above video footage.

Proxy file is a low-resolution copy of the footage. You can work with proxy files, and switch back to the original high-quality footage in the end when you need to output the finished video.

Use Markers to Identify Important Moments :

Marking can be very effective in making sense of your timeline. Markings can be used to mark dialogues, music change, transition, visual effect, error, or the parts where further editing is needed.

For instance, while working with long interviews, one can add markers in order to go back to interesting dialogues or parts of the interview. Thus, it will be easier to get back to particular moments without watching an interview from scratch once again.

It is especially effective to work with podcasts, interviews, tutorials, and long YouTube videos.

Avoid Over-Editing :

Faster editing does not equal to adding lots of effects. Many transitions, animations, zooming in on the video, filters, etc. can lengthen the time it takes to complete the project and impact the quality of the final product.

Pay attention only to useful edits. Cut all unnecessary pauses, speed up your editing in case of poor pace, make transitions smooth, and use effects for the sake of the story.

Optimize Your Editing Software :

It is always good to spend some time setting up your editing software depending on your PC and project needs. Make sure that you adjust the playback resolution where necessary and use either optimized media or proxies for difficult clips, and try to store all your media on a fast drive where possible.

Also, make sure that you organize your projects and back them up frequently.

Try Using Batch Processing :

As such, when you are dealing with several files to manage, it is essential to consider the aspect of using batch processing to help in the reduction of duplications. Wherever possible, it is highly recommended that one uses the batch or queue mode instead of using the export or process mode one file at a time.

For example, if you will be exporting several videos with almost the same settings, you need to queue up all your exports.

Review Your Workflow Regularly :

Your editing workflow will get better with experience. Once the project is done, reflect on what took you the longest time.

Did you waste too much time looking for the right footage? Were you making the same graphics over and over again? Was the computer struggling with rendering? Did you do some tasks manually instead of automating them?

Figure out and discover substitutions for your following endeavor, however if there is actually anything restricting you. Though perhaps very small, those small improvements to how you tackle your job could result in massive hikes in your productivity over the years.

Practical Example of How to Work Faster :

Let’s suppose that you are editing a 10-minute tutorial for YouTube. Do not insert all of your videos right away into the timeline. First, organize your footage and audio and see which parts of your recording are the best. Make a rough cut using only necessary clips.

After that, make sure the video has good pacing, edit the audio, add saved graphics and presets, color correct it, and watch it in its entirety. Finally, use saved exporting settings to render the project.

This method will minimize repetition and keep the process continuous.

Final Thoughts :

Efficiently editing your videos is not about working hastily on your projects. It's about removing all superfluous procedures, while streamlining into a process which allows for your work to get done more quickly and efficiently. The idea here is that it should be about files, shortcuts, templates and perhaps proxies. It's really about identifying which activities are stealing your time and streamlining them. If you get it right you should be able tospend more time crafting good stories and making professional video productions as opposed to spending your time on tech-y stuff.