UPDATE 7.2.08: Check out our new site The Final Cut Professional for the latest Final Cut Pro help.

People often get caught up in the technical aspects of editing and forget about the actual process. These are a few tips that I have learned in my 5 plus years editing video that I thought might be helpful to people just starting out and maybe the few who need to get back to the basics.

1. Detach yourself from the content.

This is especially true when you are editing your own work. You slaved away writing, directing, and shooting the film and now it is your baby that you don’t want to mess with. In order to be an effective editor, you must look at the piece from an objective angle or else you will restrict your editing choices and possibly sacrifice the quality of the final piece.

2. Experiment

Now that pretty much all editing is done on non-linear editing systems like Final Cut Pro and Avid, editors are free to try new things and they should. For example, when I edit in Final Cut I will often come up with an idea that might completely redo the whole sequence I have been working on. In this case, I will just copy the original sequence and then I have a saved version and I am free to hack up the new sequence and see where I end up.

3. Don’t Be Afraid To Cut

This ties into the first two tips. If something does not work in your sequence, get rid of it. I can think of countless examples when there was a bad take or line that made me cringe and I did not think it was possible to get rid of it. Once I took the leap of faith and cut that out, creativity took control of the rest and made the sequence work. You will feel better as an editor and the final product will be greatly improved if you cut the things that don’t work no matter how attached you may be to them (see tip #1).

4. Share Rough Cuts

It is crucial to step away from the work and allow someone else to look at it. Whether this is your producer or your buddy, either way you get a fresh perspective. Often you will work on a project for so long that you don’t know which way is up and an outsiders perspective helps you notice things you may have missed. A second opinion also gives you a better idea of where you are in the overall process.

5. Attention to Detail

Every frame counts. When you watch a sequence and something doesn’t seem right or it doesn’t quite fit, moving or cutting a clip a couple frames here and there often makes a world of difference. This also applies to the content within the clip. You should try and pay attention to everything going on in the frame because it affects the viewing experience whether or not the audience notices it at first.

Let me know what editing tips or tricks you have in the comments.

UPDATE 7.2.08: Check out our new site The Final Cut Professional for the latest Final Cut Pro help.

When I first started out using Final Cut Pro, I felt like I knew what needed to be done, but I didn’t know how to do it. Then after a while things started to flow and I could get the work done. However, I always felt that there was a more efficient way to accomplish the task. As any FCP user knows, there is an infinite number of ways to achieve a desired result. These are what I think are the most useful keyboard shortcuts to improve your workflow. (Note: I am assuming you have used the program before and understand some of the features).

• B - The B key switches to the razorblade tool which allows you to split a clip at a point that you choose. This is the essence of cutting and I use it constantly. Pressing B twice gives you the double razorblade which will slice through all the layers of your timeline.
• Command+“+” or “-” - This zooms in or out respectively.
• Shift+Z - This zooms out and allows you to see your entire timeline. Very useful, especially when you have gotten down into the nitty gritty of frame by frame editing and you need to see the big picture.
• Command+L - This links or unlinks selected clips. Used mainly to separate audio from video so you can overlap one or the other. Also useful if you want to use different audio on a given video clip.
• T - The only time I use this, I press it four times. This gives you a double arrow icon which will select all the clips after the point that you click. Great for awkward gaps.
• Control+U - Snaps you back to the default layout. Especially useful after someone else has been using your computer to quickly get you back into familiar territory.
• Command+8 - Brings up the log and capture window.
• I and O - When logging clips, press I to mark the in point and O to mark the out point.
• J-K-L- Playback keys. J plays in reverse, K stops and L plays forward. Tapping J or L multiple times will increase the speed of playback in either direction. Also holding K while you hold J or L will give you a slow scrub. These are crucial and I use them constantly.

There are many many more shortcuts that are not listed here, but these are what I use most. Leave a comment and let me know if there are some that you think are vital that I did not include here. Happy editing!