The Importance of Understanding Video Editing Terminology
The subject of video editing can be both daunting and complex from a technical standpoint and is not made any easier when faced with a wall of foreign jargon and terminology.
One of the first things you will hit will be a myriad of terms and concepts an understanding of which will be crucial for moving forward effectively.
Understanding this new language will not only facilitate effective communication among others but will allow you to fully exploit the capabilities of the tools at your disposal.
From the basics like cuts and transitions to more advanced terms like color grading and keyframing, each term is a building block in the world of video production.
This article is going to pretend to cover every possible term you will encounter in the process of creating your own videos.
It will however set you up with a good overall understand of the terms and the process in general.
The Overall Video Process
The video editing process is a balance of creativity and technical skill and usually follows the same sequence of events.
It begins with pre-production planning where concepts are born, storyboards are developed, plans made and schedules are set.
The production phase consists of capturing the raw footage that will form the backbone of the final product.
Then comes the heart of the process: post-production.
This is where editors cut and splice, add effects, adjust colors and layer sounds to hopefully create a cohesive and compelling narrative.
The final step of post production is rendering where all elements are compiled into a single file, ready for distribution and consumption.
Each phase is laden with specific terms and practices that, when understood, unlock the full potential of the entire process.
Fundamental Video Editing Concepts
A-Roll vs. B-Roll: Understanding Primary and Secondary Footage
A-Roll is the main footage in a video project focusing on the primary subject or storyline.
This could be a person speaking directly to the camera in an interview or the main action in a narrative film.
B-Roll, on the other hand, is supplementary footage that supports the A-Roll providing context, visual interest and depth to the story.
It often includes cutaways, establishing shots and other visuals that help to build a more cohesive and engaging narrative.
Frame Rate and Resolution
The frame rate, measured in frames per second (FPS), refers to the number of individual frames or images that are displayed per second in a video.
Common frame rates include 24fps for a cinematic look or 30fps and 60fps for smoother motion suitable for video content.
Resolution indicates the number of pixels in each dimension that can be displayed, with common standards being 720p (HD), 1080p (Full HD), and 4K (Ultra HD).
Higher resolution means more detail and clarity in the video image.
Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between a video’s width and height.
Common aspect ratios include 4:3 (standard definition), 16:9 (high definition) and cinematic ratios like 21:9.
The aspect ratio affects how content is framed and viewed influencing the viewer’s experience.
Dimension is a less used term refers to the actual pixel measurements of a video, such as 1920×1080 for 1080p HD video which directly impacts the video’s resolution and quality.
This is also often referred to as resolution and in fact is probably the more common term.
Bitrate: Quality vs. File Size
Bitrate is the amount of data used to record each individual frame per unit of time in a video and is typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
A higher bitrate generally means better video quality as more data is used to represent the video image resulting in larger file sizes.
Editors seek to balance the need for quality with the limitations of file size and bandwidth needed for transmission especially when streaming video content online.
Aperture and Depth of Field
The aperture of a camera lens dictates the amount of light that reaches the sensor, measured in f-stops.
A lower f-stop means a wider aperture allowing more light and creating a shallower depth of field which blurs the background and focuses attention on the subject.
Conversely, a higher f-stop results in a smaller aperture sharpening both foreground and background details.
Color Correction vs. Color Grading
Color correction is the process of adjusting a video to achieve a natural look correcting issues like improper white balance or exposure.
Color grading is a creative process altering visual tone to convey a specific mood or style often using tools like LUTs (Lookup Tables) to apply complex color transformations.
Compression: Lossy vs. Lossless Methods
Video compression is a software process reducing file size for easier storage and streaming.
It achieves this in the modern era through a process of discarding repeated data that can be retrieved from earlier or later frames.
This is called Lossy compression and can potentially affect quality but at the same time produce smaller files.
On the other hand lossless compression is achieved by rewriting the data more efficiently rather than discarding it and preserves the original quality.
The downside of lossless compression is the creation of very large video files requiring greater computer resources for dealing with them.
Keying and Layering
Keying is used to remove a particular color (commonly green) from footage often for special effects or to composite different backgrounds.
Layering involves stacking multiple video, image, or text layers to create complex scenes.
Editing Techniques and Effects
Cut-in and J-Cut
Creating a smooth narrative flow often requires seamless transitions between shots.
A Cut-in, also known as an insert shot, is a technique that breaks away from a continuous scene to focus on a detail enhancing the storytelling by drawing the viewer’s attention to a specific element.
For example a cut-in might zoom in on a character’s hands as they nervously tap the table adding to the tension of the scene.
Conversely, the J-Cut is a transition where the audio from the next scene begins while the current visual still plays.
This technique is named after the shape it creates on the editing timeline resembling the letter ‘J’.
It is effective in preparing the audience for a change in scene or perspective and is often used to introduce the ambiance of the next scene before the visual change.
Jump Cut and L-Cut
Jump Cuts are abrupt transitions that propel the story forward by cutting out parts of a sequence creating a sense of time skipping ahead.
This technique can be used to show the passage of time or to emphasize a character’s internal thought process without the need for dialogue.
An L-Cut allows the audio from the preceding scene to continue playing over the beginning of the next visual.
This technique, which forms an ‘L’ shape on the editing timeline, is often used to maintain the continuity of a conversation as the scene changes keeping the audience engaged in the dialogue while introducing new visuals.
Split Screen and Masking
Split Screen is a technique where two or more scenes are displayed simultaneously on different parts of the screen.
This can be used to show parallel action, contrasting elements or to provide additional context to a scene.
It’s a creative way to tell multiple storylines at once or to compare and contrast characters’ experiences.
Masking involves isolating a portion of a scene for specific treatment, such as color correction or effects application, without affecting the rest of the image.
It’s a powerful tool for focusing the viewer’s attention or creating unique visual effects, such as having a character walk through a ‘portal’ into another world.
Time Lapse and Slow Motion
Timelapse is a technique that captures a series of images at a lower frame rate than the playback rate, making slow processes appear to happen rapidly.
It’s often used to show the transition from day to night, the blooming of a flower, or the bustling activity of a cityscape.
In contrast, Slow Motion stretches time by capturing footage at a higher frame rate and then playing it back at a standard frame rate.
This effect can heighten drama, emphasize action details or create a surreal, dream-like quality to the footage.
Both techniques are powerful storytelling tools that alter the viewer’s perception of time within a narrative.
Audio in Video Editing
Voiceover
Adding a voiceover or narration to video content can significantly enhance the narrative depth of the production.
A voiceover is an off-camera narration that provides context, commentary or storytelling to accompany the visual elements.
This technique is particularly useful in documentaries, instructional videos and commercials, where a guiding voice can direct the audience’s understanding and emotional response to the on-screen imagery.
Lip Sync
Lip sync, short for lip synchronization, is a critical aspect of video editing that ensures the audio matches the visible lip movements of the speakers on screen.
Proper lip sync is essential for maintaining the illusion of reality in film and television as even minor discrepancies between audio and video can distract viewers and detract from the credibility of the content.
Separate Tracks
Working with separate audio tracks or multi-tracking provides editors with the flexibility to adjust levels, apply effects, and mix dialogue, music and sound effects independently.
This multi-track approach allows for fine-tuning each element without affecting the others, resulting in a polished and balanced audio experience that complements the visual narrative.
Audio-Video Synchronization
Audio-video synchronization, commonly referred to as sync, is the process of aligning audio to match the corresponding video footage.
Achieving perfect sync is crucial for the authenticity of the video as out-of-sync audio can be jarring and negatively impact the viewer’s engagement.
Editors use various tools and techniques to ensure that dialogue, sound effects, and music are in harmony with the visual content.
Post-Production Workflow
Storyboarding
Storyboarding is the first step in the production workflow.
It involves creating a visual representation of your video’s narrative scene by scene.
This process helps in pre-visualizing the final product and serves as a blueprint for the production team to schedule personnel and resources.
Storyboards can range from simple sketches to detailed illustrations often accompanied by notes on camera angles, lighting, and dialogue.
By meticulously planning each shot, storyboard artists ensure that the director’s vision is clearly communicated and that the production process is streamlined, saving both time and resources.
Rough Edit / Rough Cut
Once the footage is captured, the next step is the rough edit, rough cut or the assembly cut.
This phase involves piecing together the raw footage in a sequence that follows the storyboard.
The rough edit is not concerned with fine-tuning; instead it focuses on establishing the basic structure of the video.
Editors look for the best takes, arrange them according to the script and create a preliminary version of the video.
This cut serves as the foundation for further refinement and is often reviewed by the director and other stakeholders to ensure the project is on the right track.
Rendering
Rendering is the process of combining all the elements of your video—video clips, audio tracks, visual effects, and transitions—into a single, cohesive file.
During rendering, the editing software processes the data and produces a viewable video file.
This can be a time-consuming step depending on the complexity of the project and the power of the editing system.
The rendered file is used for final reviews and adjustments before the video is exported in the desired format for distribution.
An alternative use of the term Render or Rendering is when the editor is working inside the video editing software being used.
Often when a number of effects have been applied or changes made, the computer is required to replay those sequences by recreating the changes “on the fly.”
This can place enormous stress on that computer’s resources in order to keep up.
To deal with this the software may render those sections in the background into temporary files to facilitate a smoother editing experience.
Post-Production (More than just editing)
Post-production encompasses more than just editing and includes color correction and color grading where the visual tone of the video is adjusted to convey a specific mood or style.
Sound design is also a critical component involving the addition of sound effects, music and voice overs to enhance the storytelling.
Special effects and graphics may be added to give the video a polished look.
Finally the video is reviewed for quality assurance ensuring that it meets the technical standards and creative goals of the project.
Once approved, the video is ready for distribution and consumption by the audience.
This article by no means covers every technical or creative term used in the world of video editing!
However if you have managed to get most of this under your belt you should be set up to move forward in your video editing journey.