The first step is to choose a video editing software that suits your needs and preferences. There are many options available, from free and simple programs like Windows Movie Maker or iMovie, to more advanced and professional ones like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. Each software has its own features, interface, and workflow, so you need to familiarize yourself with the basics before you start editing. You can also use some dedicated audio editing software like Audacity or Adobe Audition to work on your sound separately and then import it to your video editor.
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On the PC Platform We have 3 primary options for professional results. 1. Adobe Premiere 2. Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve 3. Magix Vegas Pro. All have been used to Edit Film. Each has a learning curve. Each has it's Pros and Cons. The best? The one You'll use!
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Increasingly, these days editors have to design the audio as well as cut the video. This was not the case traditionally because audio has it's own set of rules independent from video and to be proficient takes time and expertise. At MTV we always had a professional sound designer cut our audio tracks first. That is not always the case today. Sometimes your NLE is enough to get you through basic editing jobs with audio but a professional job is going to require you to fine tune the audio. It is very important for a professional editor to know how to sweeten audio. You may need to use a DAW (Digital Audio Software) to properly master your audio. There are plugins designed specifically for audio pros that will make your sound great.
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As frustrating as Adobe Premiere can be, I find Audition to be a great compliment to it. You can start with basic templates for different types of projects and export in a variety of formats. It allows the adjusting of individual audio clips from your Premiere project, and can help lay out 5.1 masters of your mono track exports. It also has very good audio correction tools, from waveform audio editing (and sound removal) to repairing clipped audio, to solid Match Loudness options.
The next step is to adjust the audio levels of your video clips. Audio levels refer to how loud or quiet your sound is, and they are measured in decibels (dB). Ideally, you want your audio levels to be consistent and balanced throughout your video, without any peaks or dips that might distort or drown out your sound. You can use the audio meters or waveforms in your video editor to monitor your levels and make sure they are within the optimal range, usually between -12 dB and -6 dB. You can also use the volume or gain controls to adjust the levels of individual clips or tracks, or apply some effects like normalization, compression, or limiter to even out the levels automatically.
The third step is to enhance the quality of your audio. Audio quality refers to how clear, crisp, and natural your sound is, and it can be affected by various factors like background noise, echo, hum, or hiss. To improve your audio quality, you need to use some filters or effects that can reduce or remove these unwanted sounds and enhance the desired ones. For example, you can use the noise reduction or noise gate effects to eliminate background noise, the equalizer or parametric equalizer effects to adjust the frequency and tone of your sound, the reverb or echo effects to add some depth and space to your sound, or the de-esser or de-clicker effects to remove some harsh or popping sounds.
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The Qualifier for Audio with Video, get it right in Recording! Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve uses AI to correct bad audio by essentially replacing the original. Amazing technology!
The final step is to sync the audio with the video. Audio sync refers to how well your sound matches the visuals and the action on the screen, and it can make or break your video. If your audio is out of sync, it can create a distracting and unprofessional impression, and confuse or annoy your viewers. To sync your audio, you need to use the timeline or the source monitor in your video editor to align your audio clips with your video clips, and make sure they start and end at the same time. You can also use the markers or the snapping tools to help you match the audio with the video more precisely. If your audio is slightly off, you can use the trim or slip tools to adjust the timing of your audio clips, or use the speed or duration controls to change the speed of your audio clips.
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I’ll argue that making sure audio and video are in sync is the FIRST step, not the last. If you sweat the details of adjusting levels, ducking music, and the like and THEN nudge clips around, you may have to redo a lot of work. And adjusting the speed of audio clips is usually a bad idea, as it will give the audio an unnatural sound.
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Learn how to produce audio if you want to be an outstanding professional editor. You need to know how compression works, how an expander works and how to use EQ. These tools are not the best inside Premier or Davinci, better to use professional audio software. If you are editing for broadcast or corporate you will need to know how to professionally sweeten audio. Again, cut your audio first if you can. You can also master your audio track once your edit is finished. So it's a back and forth.
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