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Top 7 Editing Shortcuts for Dodging Deadlines and Revisions at the Last Moment

As an editor, you are a storyteller! After all, there is a lot more to editing than merely trimming footage and adjusting the length. Editing is like having an opportunity to take the audience on the journey following the right path.

Whether you are putting together a business video or editing an ad film, the aim is to present the story in the best possible way.

However, when there is a deadline looming large and last-minute revisions are still pending, editing becomes one of the toughest jobs ever.

You don’t want the final copy to look rushed, and you don’t get enough time to consider each minute of the video carefully. So, what to do when you’re in such a fix?

Keeping your predicament in mind, here’s bringing to you the seven useful editing tips that will help present quality work within deadlines.

1. Choosing The Right Editing Tool

Choosing good editing software is a lot similar to selecting the right car for you. All cars will get you from point A to point B, but that doesn’t mean they all come with the same features. Based on your preferences and tastes, you might like one car over all the rest.

Choosing The Right Editing Tool

Answering the question of which is the free video editor windows is based on your choice. However, there are a couple of features that all editors look for in software.

For instance, you would want software that accommodates videos of almost all popular formats. It helps to have a tool that converts the videos from one format to another and maintains high-speed in all these features.

2. Compress/Export Videos In Batches

The adage says ‘quality before quantity.’ And, quality is indeed crucial in video editing. But, does that mean you should completely neglect quantity? Of course not!

So, whenever you can, use batch processing to perform tasks. Complete your duties in bulk, regardless of whether you are rendering sequences or importing files.

Though this will not be possible all the time, in most cases, you will be able to tackle every item on the editing list in batches, instead of individually.

Efficiency is an essential factor in editing, and even if it doesn’t sound like an advanced technique, it will make a significant difference when you’re in a time crunch.

3. Put Stock Footage To Good Use In Editing

When you are rushing to meet the deadline, stock footages and motion graphics templates can be a lifesaver. Suppose you needed the video ready yesterday, and you’re still struggling with the opening title. All you need is a customizable pre-created graphics template, and you’re sorted.

It’s always good to use such shortcuts when there isn’t enough time on your hands.

There is no reason to think that using premade templates is cheating. The finest of professionals resort to such templates. After all, the templates are there in the software to be put to use, right?

Besides, free online video creation platforms like Invideo come with multiple such templates that suit different kinds of videos and get your job done faster.

4. Making Custom Presets For The Editing Projects

Suppose you have a popular YouTube channel called Marine Life. Each week, your viewers get to understand the behavior patterns of the aquatic animals of the world. And, you use the same camera and lighting set up for this channel.

This is where the custom presets of the app promo video maker come into the picture.

You can have a color graded preset for Marine Life in most of the videos that you edit. This way, even when you are trying to produce weeks’ worth of videos, you don’t need to handle color grading time manually and again.

It is also an essential feature in editing software that can save you a lot of frustration and time.

5. Learn The Keyboard Shortcuts Of The Software

The keyboard is the prized tool of a video editor. When trimming and giving shape to raw footages, this object almost becomes an extension of the user.

Editors who have been doing this for a long time know that each second matters, making keyboard shortcuts highly important.

Keyboard shortcuts refer to a key or combination of keys that offer quick access to specific editing functions. In case of video editing, if you’re trying to tackle basic tasks, like cutting or playback, there is a chance that shortcuts exist for that.

6. Make Sure That You Have Fast Hard Drives

The speed of the hard drive is the key to having fast rendering times. When selecting the hardware, check that the rotation speed of your drive is quick enough.

It should be around 7,200 RPM at least, but these days, you can even resort to SSDs (Solid-State Drives) if they are in your budget.

You should also ensure that the interface being used isn’t limiting the transfer rate. Using USB-C/USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt is an excellent choice for this matter.

Remember, you’ll lose frames when your drive is unable to keep up with your work.

7. Include Markers In The Music Tracks

When working on a musical sequence, video editors get the waveforms displayed and try to match the beats to the edit.

You can increase the efficiency of this process by using a simple method.

You can view the audio track first and put markers to it. The markers will show up on the editing timeline. After this, line up the edits to your markers, and everything will fit right into place sooner than usual.

Wrapping Up

When you’re trying to dodge deadlines and maintain your quality of work, every second matters. Video editing is undoubtedly a complex job, but these seven tips mentioned above will make it a lot easier for you.

Implementing the adjustments suggested above increases the value and efficiency of the video editor in terms of availing of future opportunities.

So, are you ready to speed your process of video editing?

About Anirudh Singh

Anirudh Singh is a passionate blogger and the man behind Amazing India Blog. He has 5 years of experience in the newspaper industry and he founded Amazing India Blog in 2015. Apart from writing and editing articles on Travel, Business and Technology at Amazing India Blog, he also contributes to other well known newspapers and online news blogs.