Many editors, including our own Nick LaClair, moved to Resolve after years of editing in other tools. We’ve previously examined what’s driving that shift and how Resolve compares with Premiere Pro.

Now, we’re excited to help you get started. This beginner-friendly tutorial will prepare any DaVinci Resolve newbie, whether you’re new to the software or video editing altogether.

In this episode on DaVinci Resolve, LaClair walks through the full video editing process:

• Get organized in the Media tab.
• Tell your story in the Edit tab
• Make it shine and export from Delivery. 

DaVinci Resolve is available for free, making it easy for anyone to edit videos. From footage to finish, grab your clips and follow along. 

Thank you to Redfitz Films for the footage used in this video.

10 Quick Tips for Beginners Editing in DaVinci Resolve

1. What Are The “Tabs” in DaVinci Resolve? 

DaVinci Resolve has seven primary tabs at the bottom of the screen. Left to right, they contain the entire post-production process of making a video.

• Media: Organize assets (footage, audio, graphics, etc.)
• Cut & Edit: Tell the story; add effects
• Fusion: Motion graphics
• Color: Color grading
• Fairlight: Audio and mixing
• Delivery: Export project

The Cut and Edit tabs in DaVinci Resolve are spaces for editing video.

The main difference is that the Cut tab is ideal for short projects (such as social media shorts) and rough assemblies, while the Edit tab is the traditional editing workspace that’s ideal for complex projects.

2. Avoid the “Media Offline” Problem 

A common DaVinci Resolve issue is the “Media Offline” problem. This error occurs when footage imported into Resolve is moved on your computer or external hard drive.

In other words, if the source location of your footage changes, the link in Resolve breaks. 

To prevent this error, determine the folder or drive where you will permanently store your footage before bringing it into DaVinci. 

To fix this issue, select one or more clips. Right-click the footage and hover over Clip Operations. Select Relink Selected Clips and find the footage’s new location. 

3. Sync Video and Audio with Ease

If you record audio separately from your video, DaVinci Resolve makes it quick and easy to sync the audio with the video. 

To do this, 

• Select (control on a PC or command on a Mac) the audio and video clips you want to sync. 
• Right-click and choose Auto Sync Audio, then Waveform. 

Resolve will listen to each track’s audio and use it to align the waveforms. Once done, the footage automatically plays with the synced audio, simplifying your editing process. 

4. Add Sound Effects with Resolve’s Built-in Library

In the upper-left section of the Edit tab are various primary menus: Media Pool, Effects, Index, and Sound Library. When you open the Sound Library for the first time, the software prompts you to download it. Once downloaded, you can search for countless sound effects and easily drag them into your videos.

Pro Tip: Search three asterisks—”***”— to see all effects available in the Sound Library.

5. Gain Speed with Keyboard Shortcuts

One of DaVinci Resolve’s strengths is the ability to use your keyboard almost entirely in the editing process. Like learning the piano notes in a song, it takes some practice to bring them together. But once you do, editing goes much quicker, and you rarely need to use your mouse. 

Additionally, if you’re switching from another software, like Premiere Pro, you can import your keyboard shortcuts and continue using them. For our tutorial, we’re using the default shortcuts. We also made a reference sheet (below) of all the shortcuts mentioned in the video above.

Basic Editing Keyboard Shortcuts

Use these to cut through your footage and find the parts you want. 

• J: Back; increase play speed with additional taps.
• K: Stop
• L: Forward; increase play speed with additional taps.
• Space bar: Play and pause. 
• I: Create In Point (begin a cut)
• O: Create Out Point (end a cut)
• F9: Insert cut footage into the timeline. 
• Q: Toggles between the source and timeline views.

6. Scrub All Footage with Source Tape Viewer

If your project is large, selecting each clip individually can be a pain. In that case, you can choose the source tape viewer. When selected, the source viewer displays all your video files in a single stream. Source Tape Viewer makes it easy to go through and find your in and out points, which can be especially helpful when sorting through b-roll clips repeatedly. 

7. Automate Video Parameters with Keyframes

Keyframes allow you to change a parameter over time. Want a slow punch in? Keyframe. Dramatic zoom? Keyframe. Motion graphics? You get the idea: there are keyframes for every parameter imaginable. 

Let’s walk through the basics of using keyframes. 

• Select the clip you want to edit. This opens the Inspector in the upper-right corner. 
• Place your playhead where you want the parameter change to start. 
• In the Inspector, locate the keyframes. They are the column of diamonds. 
• Click on the keyframe diamond next to the parameter change you’re making, such as the zoom effect. This action adds a keyframe at the playhead for that parameter. 
• Next, move your playhead to the place where you want the parameter change to occur. Add another keyframe by clicking the diamond again. Changing the parameters will also automatically create another keyframe. 

Watch the video for more tips on keyframing in DaVinci Resolve.

8. Mass Apply A Change Across Multiple Clips

Let’s say you change the volume of one clip and want all or multiple other clips to also apply the same change. Here’s how.

• Select the clip you changed.
• Copy it with Ctrl + C (PC) or Command + C (Mac).
• Select all the clips you want to mimic that change and hit Alt + V (PC) or Option + V (Mac).  
• A paste menu will pop up, allowing you to choose which parameters to apply across the clips. Select the parameters you wish to change.

Other attributes you can copy and paste include zoom, crop, equalizer, and many more. 

9. Normalize Audio Levels Across Clips

DaVinci Resolve makes it easy to normalize audio levels, allowing you to even out clips with varying high and low volumes.

To do this, 

• Select all clips in the Timeline, right-click, and choose Normalize Audio Levels. 
• Choose your Normalization Mode. For most people, the differences don’t matter. 
• Choose Independent, which normalizes each clip individually to create a consistent volume range throughout the video.  

10. Auto Color Correct Your Video

In later episodes of our DaVinci Resolve for Beginners, we’ll cover color grading in depth. But here’s a quick beginner hack, and you don’t need to know anything about color grading to use it.

• From the Color tab, select a clip and hit the little “A” to auto color correct. 
• Select all the other clips to apply the same color correction. 
• Then right-click and select Apply Grade.

11. Quick Export Projects in the Edit Tab

Quick Export lets you export your project without going through the delivery tab. Find the option within the upper right corner of the Edit tab. 

The pop-up window lets you quickly choose your render settings (H.264 Master is a good place to start, but there are many presets as well), add a filename, and export to your computer or hard drive. 

You’re Ready to Edit In DaVinci Resolve

Whew. That was a lot to cover! But now you’ve walked through the core process of editing in DaVinci Resolve, from organizing media to exporting the final product. As you keep practicing, these steps will become second nature.

If you have questions, tips of your own, or want to see specific topics covered in future tutorials, we’d love to hear from you. See you next time! 

The post DaVinci Resolve for Beginners: Simple Video Editing Tutorial appeared first on SproutVideo.

In a past episode of The Business Video Playbook, we featured Alex Hoff of CoverStory. A former reality TV producer, Hoff shared a winning formula for customer story videos. We followed his formula step-by-step; here’s how!

If your customer story video doesn’t hook viewers in 10 seconds, it probably won’t at all.

Drawing from binge-worthy shows that use documentary-style filmmaking, Alex Hoff of CoverStory crafts testimonial videos that ditch scripted talking points and generic benefits for emotional tension and character-led storytelling.

The result? A customer story video that holds attention and drives action.

Here’s how we used Hoff’s formula. Apply this framework to your next customer story or testimonial video and watch it transform viewer engagement.

The Results: Customer Story Video Examples

“If it feels like a press release, you’ve lost them.”

— Alex Hoff, CoverStory

Example 1: The Founder’s Story — CoverStory

During our interview, Alex Hoff shared CoverStory’s formula for testimonial videos. A longtime SproutVideo customer, he also shared his “before” story and why he chose SproutVideo over other video hosting platforms. Our Creative team turned his responses into an engaging one-minute testimonial video.

Example 2: The Production Partner — VMG Cinematic

Years ago, Creative Director Nick LaClair visited Ontario to capture a customer story video from VMG Cinematic, a high-end production company that chooses SproutVideo. Inspired by the CoverStory formula, LaClair dug into old footage and crafted a new 1-minute cut. 

New 1-Minute Testimonial Example

Original 2-Minute Testimonial Example

How to Create Compelling Customer Story Videos 

Step One: Prep

As if preparing for an exam or presentation, familiarize yourself with your customer or main users and their industry. Map out their use case and consider why they might need your product or service. 

• What features do they use most? 
• Have they already left a positive review? 
• What challenges are they addressing by way of using your product or service? 

Step Two: Draft Interview Questions

The most powerful testimonials sound like conversations, not commercials. Interview with open-ended prompts like: 

• “Take me back to the moment you realized you needed help.”
• “What would have happened if you didn’t find our product?” 

The questions should capture details about the individual, their business, and why they chose your company. Design the questions to elicit more than simple yes or no answers. 

“Don’t aim for a soundbite. Aim for a story arc.”

— Alex Hoff, CoverStory

10 Example Questions for Customer Interviews

Tailor your questions to your customer’s day-to-day and the connection to your product or offering. Here’s what we asked Alex Hoff about his background and his path to using SproutVideo: 

1. Can you think back to the first time you uploaded a video? What was your motivation, and what were the outcomes? 
2. What led you to start a business built around video testimonials and storytelling? 
3. What gap did you see in how companies used video to connect with customers? 
4. Do you have any tips for sales or marketing teams trying to capture customer stories themselves?
5. Can you walk us through your workflow—from prepping for a testimonial shoot to final delivery?
6. How have your needs for video hosting evolved, and what did you use before finding your way to SproutVideo?
7. Why did you choose SproutVideo? What boxes does it check?
8. If you were to coach someone comparison shopping for a video host, what would you encourage them to consider? 
9. What are three SproutVideo features you love and why? 
10. What role does SproutVideo play in giving your videos a ‘branded but lean’ delivery system?

Step Three: Tools to Capture the Interview

Capturing customer testimonial videos in person is ideal yet often expensive and logistically challenging. We’ve had luck thus far using Zencastr to capture and record the interviews. When the interview is captured locally on your computer, it’s relatively easy for both parties to join. Local recording also ensures pristine video quality even if your internet connection fluctuates. 

The rules of good lighting and sound still apply. To ensure a smooth process, we provide interviewees with a tip sheet before the interview.

Additionally, we test for audio quality, lighting, and composition before every interview. 

Our Remote Recording Toolkit

Here are the tools we use to capture high-quality remote video. On-camera employees have a home recording kit that includes: 

• Mac laptop
• Sony A7 camera and tripod
• Ring lights (1-2)
• Hollyland wireless lav mic kit 
• U-TAP USB 3.0 (3.2 Gen 1) Powered HDMI Capture Device by AJA (sends camera feed into your computer as a webcam)

You don’t need much equipment to get the job done right. 

Step Four: Conduct the Interview 

The best insights come from an informal conversation that feels like friends getting coffee. A documentary-style interview approach starts with the camera rolling, a relaxed conversation, and open-ended questions for reference. 

The interviewer listens and guides the conversation, using open-ended questions to help the subject expand on thoughts. Employ active listening to reveal unexpected divergences in the topic and keep notes for follow-up questions.  

Another important consideration is to think like an editor. Did the subject share a partial answer that would be gold if completed? Feel free to ask the subject to expand on a thought or repeat answers in full sentences. This ensures you’ll have a strong soundbite when editing the full interview. 

Example of Asking Follow-Up Questions During A Customer Interview

Step Five: Edit Interview

We edited the two customer testimonial video examples using Blackmagic Davinci Resolve and followed the CoverStory editing formula, which includes: 

• Emotional Hook: Start with emotion or urgency. Viewers decide in less than 10 seconds if they’ll stick around. Make them feel something.
• Introduction: Introduce us to the person and the context of their experience.
• Story & Product: Contrast “before” and “after.” Show what changed and how. The “before” tension gives meaning to the “after.”
• Final Zinger: End with a quote or insight that sticks. The ending should be as powerful as the beginning. 

We shared the first draft versions with Alex for his feedback. Here’s what he said: 

“I love it! You guys did an awesome job! You nailed all the hooks and formats. The only little thing I would say is that it starts with a graphic. If possible, I’d start with the soundbite on screen as it’s more attention-grabbing.”

— Alex Hoff, CoverStory

Step Six: Distribution and Repurposing Your Customer Story Video 

We built a video distribution plan to launch alongside this blog post:

• Publish video to SproutVideo Video Library
• Share the testimonial within this blog post
• Promote the video to email subscribers
• Share video shorts (15-30 seconds) across social media
• Share text-based carousel posts on social media

Additionally, here are a few ways we plan to repurpose the content:

• Create behind-the-scenes content or highlight blooper moments
• Upload and save the raw interview for future content
• Share the transcript with the Product team for valuable feedback and with the Marketing team for use cases, quotes, blog posts, success stories, and other promotional material.
• Embed the testimonial video on relevant pages of our website 
• Integrate the video into our free trial onboarding email sequence 

With this approach, each customer testimonial video becomes a gold mine of branded content.  

Final Thoughts:

Most customer story videos fall flat because they haven’t evolved with our attention spans. The CoverStory approach combines a modern understanding of video engagement with timeless storytelling techniques. 

Customer testimonial videos are tremendous gifts: real people sharing real stories about your product provide insights you might otherwise never discover.

When done right, testimonial videos become powerful multipurpose assets your business can use to build trust and drive sales. 

The post How’d We Do That: From Proven Formula to Compelling Customer Story Video appeared first on SproutVideo.

Yet these days, both products are neck-and-neck in the race for the “We Do Everything” award, and it’s a pretty fantastic competition. But, when comparing Premiere Pro vs. DaVinci Resolve, which software is better than the other?

Welcome to part 2 of our video series comparing Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve as all-in-one solutions for video editing, effects, and post-production. In the last episode, we covered the history of editing software. Now, we’ll take a deeper look at Premiere Pro versus Davinci Resolve specifically. 

You’ll learn about the ins and outs of Premiere and DaVinci and get a look at the differences in their user interfaces, ease of use, and workflows. Dive into the pros and cons of each software and determine which solution is better for you.

DaVinci Resolve vs Premiere Pro: Which Is Better?

Interface (Premiere)

Interface (DaVinci)

Ingesting and Prep (Premiere)

Ingesting and Prep (DaVinci)

Editing (Premiere)

Editing (DaVinci)

Post Production: Effects and Graphics, Color Sound (Premiere)

Post Production: Effects and Graphics, Color Sound (DaVinci)

Review, Output, and Delivery (Premiere)

Review, Output, and Delivery (DaVinci)

How Experts Turn Video Views Into Profit

Tired of videos that feel like a rigged carnival game? Discover expert strategies for turning video into a growth engine across any industry.

Get Real Video Results—Just Press Play

How To Choose The Right Software For You

Adobe is a 200 billion dollar company whose software has long been the backbone of the creative community. But this broad community covers photography, graphic design, web design, motion graphics, video, audio, etc. 

Blackmagic is over 60 times smaller and laser-focused on video and audio, with products ranging from cameras to software to live production hardware. 

Premiere Pro is really good. For all our talk about DaVinci, we’re still editing in Premiere because it’s what we know. Our experience highlights one of the biggest pros of Premiere: lots of video editors are accustomed to using it.

If you aren’t convinced to try Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve yet, let’s conclude with some general pros and cons on the look and feel, overall functionality, and pricing. 

Look and Feel 

Premiere Pro feels old and crowded. It functions great. But in the race to do it all, Premiere added more and more furniture to the room, so to speak, without building out the footprint. Even after working in the software for a decade, that can get confusing. 

DaVinci, on the other hand, is clean, organized, and well-thought-out. It seems like the future of editing. But it also introduces a lot of UI that video editors aren’t familiar with—namely nodes for color grading, which can be a challenge for people who aren’t used to them. 

Overall Functionality

Premiere covers everything professional video editors need, but it leaves much to be desired in the quest for a complete all-in-one solution. The necessity of Adobe’s ecosystem means that while you can do everything with Adobe, there’s a lot more importing, exporting, and general switching between applications than feels intuitive for the solo filmmaker’s workflow. 

Resolve also covers everything professionals require, including many next-gen features, like its neural engine and fantastic turnkey tracking—even the renders and analyses for smoothing footage seem to run much quicker. While both software include collaboration features, DaVinci’s feels smarter—similar to Avid. But time will tell as we use them a bit more. 

Pricing

• Premiere: $22.99/month ($263.88/year).
• DaVinci: Free (95% of features) or a one-time $236 for Studio.

At the time of this recording, Premiere is $22.99 a month or $263.88 a year, which increases to $59.99 a month for access to the full range of Adobe apps. 

DaVinci, on the other hand, is free! The free version includes 95% of its functionality. You can gain the rest for a one-time $236 purchase of Resolve Studio, which includes all the bells and whistles (like output in resolutions above 4k, GPU acceleration, noise reduction, lens correction, and more). But for most people, the free version will knock their socks off. 

Is DaVinci Resolve Better Than Premiere Pro?

Premiere Pro will likely remain a standard video editing software, alongside Avid, for many projects because it’s what people know. Plus, it’s great for editors who are exactly that: editors who can hand their timelines off to post houses for the rest. 

Switching to DaVinci will be a huge learning curve, but I’m pretty certain it’s the future of video editing. I am still learning, but it’s also becoming my new go-to editing software.

— Nick LaClair, SproutVideo Creative Director

So, which is better? Perhaps that isn’t the right question. Instead, how about “which is better for most people?” And by that, we mean small solo video production.

We’re partial to DaVinci Resolve. But, with a free version that’s hard to beat, try it out yourself and see if DaVinci Resolve fits your workflow better than Premiere Pro.

Stay tuned for more DaVinci how-to content coming soon. In the next episode, we’ll cover how to use DaVinci Resolve. Subscribe to our blog for that and many other valuable tips and tricks. 

• The History of Video Editing Software—And Why DaVinci Resolve May Be The Future
• 10 Essential Planning Documents for Video Production
• Employee Training Videos: How L&D Experts Make Engaging Content

The post Premiere Pro vs. DaVinci Resolve: Should You Switch Software? appeared first on SproutVideo.

This practice encourages brand growth by diversifying how customers connect with your content across marketing channels.

Video content repurposing also makes it easier to maximize your investment and find new audiences who connect with your offerings. 

Learn how to leverage the full value of your video content with these examples. Here are ten powerful ideas to drive ongoing growth with video content repurposing.  

What Is Content Repurposing?

Content repurposing is reformatting original content into different mediums (video, blog post, infographic, etc.) for various purposes or channels. It allows you to extend the life of video content and expand its potential reach with content distribution. 

For example, we shared a video on 2D animation for beginners in our Video Library. We also created a companion blog post optimized for search engines. We promoted the video with a social media short and clickable thumbnail in an email to our subscribers.

The Benefits of Repurposing Video Content

Video content repurposing provides exponential business benefits. Far beyond just saving marketers time, you can use content repurposing to:  

• Leverage Your Investment: Reuse high-converting videos for additional growth.
• Reach Different Audiences: Improve reach by engaging audiences where they are.
• Increase Accessibility: Share multiple formats to suit different preferences.
• Automate Growth: Extend the life of your content and increase lead generation.  

10 Powerful Ways To Repurpose Video Content

1. Advertisement

Turn longer videos into short advertisements for distribution across your ad network. This method allows you to share a consistent message and reinforce your branding with multiple audiences. 

Identify interesting soundbites, calls to action, and main selling points from your video. Then, use a video editing program to assemble these segments into an ad.

Since video ad lengths and optimization standards vary by platform, determine where you will share the video ad before you begin. Often, what works best varies by platform.

2. Live Stream

Host a live stream to share even more in-depth information about the topic you covered in your video. Live streams provide an exclusive, close-knit experience, allowing viewers to ask questions and get real-time answers. For this reason, live streams are effective for building brand trust, which can expedite your potential customer’s path to purchase. 

Live streams require a decent time investment; therefore, choose topics based on blog posts and videos that have led to new leads and successful purchases or subscriptions. 

3. Blog Post

Extend the life of your content by creating blog posts optimized for search from your videos. This method of repurposing video content is especially useful for expert interviews, current trends, and educational content. 

However, any video can become a blog post when you find the angle that hooks your audience. The post might offer behind-the-scenes insights or reflections on what could have gone better during the shoot—your imagination is the only limit!

When possible, plan ahead so you can capture behind-the-scenes images or videos. It’s also helpful to keep notes during the process or save documents used to collaborate with your team. 

For example, we wrote about producing an explainer video for less than $4k. We shared our experience to help others do the same. By providing hands-on guidance, we became a trusted source and connected with prospective customers. 

4. Email to Subscribers

Did you know that email marketing often outperforms most other channels? After all, opt-in subscribers asked to hear from you, which may be why email has one of the highest investment returns.

Promote your video’s value with an email to your subscribers. Guide subscribers to your video content or repurpose your video into newsletter form. 

When directing traffic to your video, use SproutVideo to easily embed a clickable thumbnail within the email to encourage click-throughs.

SproutVideo accounts also integrate with the email marketing platform of your choice, allowing you to automatically track the email addresses of anyone who clicks on this embed and review them in your engagement metrics.

5. Shareable Infographic

Convert one major takeaway from your video into an infographic. Infographics are especially popular on Pinterest but can be shared across many social platforms and included within your blog post, which opens up the possibility of ranking the image with search engines as well.  

Start by planning the key concepts and data points you want to use from your video. You can use stills to visualize your idea or borrow shots directly from the video. For instance, videos with motion graphics have graphic files that you can use for your infographic.

To create an infographic, you can use many online tools, including Canva, Piktochart, and Venngage. Photoshop and InDesign are also great choices.

6. Short Social Media Video

Social media shorts allow you to edit the sound bites, hooks, and key compelling information from your longer videos into highly digestible shorts. Social shorts are most effective for generating awareness with a broader audience and reaching new leads. 

To start, select the most shareable moments. Then, optimize your short video for the social media platform where your core buying audience is likely to be found. 

For example, we repurposed our video on Getting Started with Live Streaming into a social media short that we shared across our social media channels. 

Even if you only create private video content that is either monetized or reserved for your customers, consider selecting high-value clips to share publicly. This practice will provide insight into your offerings and entice viewers to want to learn more.

7. Downloadable Resource

When a video contains unique information or actionable advice, consider creating a downloadable resource to give viewers additional, free value. 

Determine what information from your video would be most helpful for viewers. Consider how you might compile this information into a format your viewers will use regularly—checklists, templates, reference sheets, and step-by-step how-to guides. 

Apply your branding style to the downloadable content so that users think of your company while appreciating the free value provided through this resource. 

For example, the companion blog for our video on The Basics of Video Editing in Premiere Pro includes a downloadable Keyboard Shortcuts cheat sheet. We turned this resource into a lead magnet, allowing us to gain new email subscribers in exchange for the resource.

8. GIFs and Images for Social Media

Capture GIFs and still images from your videos for use in promotional materials, social media posts, or supplemental images within a blog post. 

Using the SproutVideo platform, you can quickly grab any high-resolution frame from your video. To do this, select a custom thumbnail (poster frame) for the video. Choose Download at the top of the video settings page and save the Poster Frame.   

9. Podcast Episode

Podcasts can be distributed across many platforms, giving you an opportunity to reach new people while providing your current audience with an alternative way to engage.

In the U.S. alone, 47% of adults listened to a podcast in the last month. Many popular podcast formats exist, so determine which format best aligns with your content. 

When repurposing video content into a podcast, it can be challenging to convey the information without visual aids. If the visual aids are essential to the topic, you may need to restructure its presentation so it works without graphics. 

You can also include a call to action encouraging listeners to access additional resources on your website in the form of an infographic or downloadable PDF. 

10. Drip Email Campaign

Drip email campaigns are automated emails sent to subscribers who sign up to receive information about a specific topic. Think of them like mini-classes delivered by email. 

Drip emails are effective for building trust with new leads and lend to open rates that are significantly higher (up to 80%) than single-send emails.  

You can create drip campaigns from a series of videos or a longer video cut into shorter segments. Each email focuses on delivering one piece of information or a call to action. 

While newsletters come on your schedule, you can automatically send drip campaigns at a predetermined cadence (i.e., one email weekly for two months). You can also set up drip campaigns to be triggered by actions, such as signing up for a trial. 

For example, a video on video engagement techniques could offer a drip campaign that sends subscribers a weekly email for two months, each with a video example, insight into what makes it engaging, and how to apply those ideas to future video content. 

Bonus: Start a B-Roll Library

You can never have enough B-roll! B-roll footage creates smooth edits, illustrates dialogue, provides context, and adds an artistic touch to marketing or social videos.

After creating a new video, parse out any clips to add to your B-roll library. 

Keep these video clips organized and accessible so you can easily use them in the future and know what you have available when starting a project. 

Choosing The Best Methods For Your Business 

You can repurpose video content into a dozen formats. The key is to determine what aspect of your video hooks your audience and then center that value across mediums. 

When repurposing video content into other mediums, determine the content that will add the most value to your core audience’s lives. Then, focus on the marketing channels that allow you to reach that audience and build connections. 

Discover more ways to get the most out of your video content:

• Optimizing Videos for SEO — The Complete Guide
• 11 Evergreen Content Ideas with Video Examples
• Video Content Distribution: How to Maximize ROI Across Channels

The post 10 High-Impact Ways to Repurpose Video Content appeared first on SproutVideo.

But have you ever used it for video editing? 

SproutVideo Creative Director Nick LaClair recently took a deep dive to explore whether DaVinci Resolve is a suitable alternative for video editing. But to answer this question, we need to examine the history of editing and how the industry standards have changed over time. 

Welcome to our new series on DaVinci Resolve versus Premiere Pro for editing. Today, we look at the history of non-linear editing (NLE) and how Premiere Pro has become the de facto standard for video professionals across various industries.

We also determine whether or not DaVinci Resolve, known for color grading, is a suitable all-in-one post-production alternative.

Let’s start by exploring the history of video editing software. 

A Modern History of Video Editing: The Last 20 Years

Historically, there are three key user groups for video editing software: 

• Professional industry video editors for TV, film, and high-end broadcasts.
• Commercial producers, filmmakers, and prosumers 
• Content creators, learning and development or marketing specialists, and entrepreneurs

In the 1990s and beyond, Avid Media Composer and Final Cut Pro were the reigning champions of video editing software. Avid Media Composer was the number one choice for professional video editors, while prosumers and independent filmmakers used Apple’s Final Cut Pro. 

Final Cut Pro quickly became a beloved workhorse in the creative video community. Adobe Premiere, introduced in 1991, struggled to gain market share. 

Final Cut Pro was more affordable than Avid Media Composer. Still, Avid remained unrivaled for industry video editors due to one fatal flaw with Final Cut Pro: the 32-bit program started to fall apart when project files approached 100 MB. 

The creative community, especially documentarians, waited for Apple to release a more robust 64-bit version that would use Apple’s multi-core Mac Pro. 

Resolve for Beginners: Editing in DaVinci Resolve (Simple Video Tutorial)

Apple’s Final Cut Mistake Becomes Adobe Premiere Pro’s Opportunity

Finally, in 2011, Apple released Final Cut X, which reinvented the software in a way no one was asking for. It was a 64-bit native macOS app with background rendering, but it removed traditional sequences and timeline tracks (the backbone of editing software). 

With the wide adoption of iPhone, YouTube, and content democratization, Apple wanted to broaden the appeal of Final Cut Pro beyond the professional video editor market.

However, the massive change in UI required editors to suddenly do their jobs in a completely different way. Not surprisingly, this didn’t go well. 

A couple of years later, in 2013, Apple also discontinued its industry-standard tower-like Mac Pro, replacing it with what was commonly called “the trashcan.” 

Old Mac Pro vs “Trashcan” Mac Pro

Both Final Cut X and “the trashcan” backfired. Most professionals kept using Final Cut Pro 7. 

Adobe, meanwhile, seized the opportunity. It invested resources in adding new functionality, making it easy for video editors to switch. Abode allowed editors to map their Final Cut keyboard shortcuts into Premiere Pro, which essentially made Premiere Pro into Final Cut Pro 7 with a darker background color. This dramatically flattened the learning curve. 

Content creators and video professionals alike started making the switch to Premiere Pro. 

Around this time, Apple stopped supporting Final Cut 7 with the release of High Sierra in 2017, yet dedicated professionals continued to use it. In fact, the Oscar-winning film “Parasite” was cut with Final Cut Pro 7 in 2019—a full two years after Apple stopped supporting it.  

Nonetheless, Adobe Premiere Pro started to flourish, becoming fairly standard for video professionals, content creators, and everyone in between.

Despite this shifting in the marketplace, Avid Media Composer remained a popular choice for industry professionals, which we’ll discuss next. 

But coming around the corner, Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve was leveling up its software with every release and gaining a fanbase. 

What Do Professional Industry Video Editors Really Need? 

Not much has changed in the past twenty years of professional video editing. The evolution of NLE software has been relatively uneventful. 

Look at a screenshot of the original Avid Media Composer compared to now. 

Now compare Final Cut 7 to Adobe Premiere Pro.

In form and function, they’re all pretty similar: you have a source window, a program window usually to the right of it, a timeline below them, and some sort of file browser. 

Traditionally, you scrub through your footage in the source window, find your in-and-out points, and place your chosen clips in the timeline. Then, you edit that together with all your other clips. 

When it comes to professional video editing, this is the way. This is the process. And so this timeless UI makes a lot of sense.

— Nick LaClair, SproutVideo Creative Director

Professional editors don’t need a lot of innovation. Instead, they need two things: the ability to handle huge projects and to collaborate. 

Video Editors Need The Ability To Handle Huuuuge Projects

Professional video editors need software to handle and organize massive projects, such as multiple seasons of a TV series or years of footage for a documentary.

Avid does that better than any other software. It allows you to open and work on smaller parts of a project without taxing your system with the entire project. Which was Final Cut 7’s fatal flaw—crashing when projects got too big. Adobe Premiere isn’t made for massive projects, either. 

So, even today, Avid Media Composer remains a top choice for video editors working in film and TV. In contrast, video professionals working on smaller projects, like music videos and commercials, tend to favor Adobe Premiere Pro.

Video Editors Need The Ability to Collaborate

Professional video editors also need the ability to collaborate. Avid Media Composer makes this incredibly easy: everyone can work together on the same project without interrupting each other’s workflow. 

Premiere Pro is made like a sports car that can hold a couple of people, while Avid is a tour bus with as many seats as you need.

— Nick LaClair, SproutVideo Creative Director

In general, more people are involved in post-production for bigger professional projects. Each person’s job is often more specialized and segmented as well: the person color grading isn’t the same as the person editing or the same person creating graphics or mastering audio. 

Therefore, in many cases, professional video editors use different specialized software for their specific tasks. But what about everyone else—which is the majority of video professionals?

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What Do Video Professionals and Content Creators Need?

Industry video editors are a specific crowd. A much larger number of editors fall under the umbrella of video professionals, whether they’re content creators, learning and development specialists, commercial producers, or entrepreneurs. 

Video professionals require ease of use and an all-in-one solution for every element of their post-production workflow. That’s no easy task.

— Nick LaClair, SproutVideo Creative Director

But Adobe didn’t shy away from the challenge of creating an all-in-one solution that is accessible to a wide range of video professionals. They support the entire video editing process with:

• Premiere for editing
• Speed Grade for color grading
• Audition for audio
• After Effects for graphics and effects 

While most of the above functionality has always been part of Premiere in some capacity, it can be clunky. However, this workflow is also flexible, allowing some video professionals to complete projects end-to-end while others pass the project on to the next person in post-production.

This flexibility also means that many professionals, even those using an Adobe workflow, turn to DaVinci Resolve for color grading. It’s simply the best at the job.

DaVinci Resolve launched as a dedicated color grading solution, but it gradually added editing, audio, graphics, and more.

Blackmagic, the company that created DaVinci Resolve, is slowly but surely making DaVinci the true all-in-one software for video post-production. 

This strategic expansion has resulted in a UI that looks like four software packages in one, lending to a workflow that matches the modern approach to video editing.

The Future Of Video Editing & Social Media’s Influence 

Today, professional video editors, whose sole job is video editing, are a tiny share of the post-production market. Most video editing is done by content creators and small teams that need ease of use and an all-in-one solution. 

People want the TikTok model: add your footage, change the aspect ratio, remove the background, add titles, throw in some music and effects, then upload the thing!

— Nick LaClair, SproutVideo Creative Director

Many apps are broadening their scope to encompass more of the functionality of the post-production space. To this end, Adobe Premiere Pro and Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve are the two best video editing software, providing ease of use in an all-in-one solution. 

But which is suitable for your needs? In the next part of this series, we’ll take a deeper look at Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, both in terms of software functionality and marketplace positioning. Until then, check out our other video resources: 

• Color Grading Fundamentals in Adobe Premiere Pro
• Adobe After Effects: The Basics
• Filming Solo 1: Professional Results All Alone (Video)

The post The History of Video Editing Software—And Why DaVinci Resolve May Be The Future appeared first on SproutVideo.

Whether recording at home or in an office, you don’t need a large budget or significant experience to create professional voiceovers.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to record voiceovers that sound professional, from delivering an engaging performance to setting up a voiceover studio. 

Whether you want to launch a podcast, make viral TikTok videos, or convert viewers into customers, here’s how to record voiceovers from the comfort of your home. Let’s get started! 

TL;DR: How to Do Voiceovers from Home

• Create a DIY Voiceover Studio. Build a blanket fort, or use your closet. Record professional voiceovers for cheap by using low-cost materials to prevent sound from bouncing around the room.
• Choose a Software. Acquire audio or video editing software. Try out free trials of paid software before investing in a professional product. 
• Practice, Practice, Practice. Read the script internally and out loud. Internalize its message and find a natural pacing. Record once you feel ready to perform.
• Upgrade Your Sound Equipment. It doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg to improve your voiceover quality with an audio interface and XLR microphone.
• Pay Attention to the Details of Your Setup. Invest in high-quality over-ear headphones, pick up a pop filter, and stay close to the microphone when recording.
• Get Multiple Takes and Edit the Audio. When it comes time to record, get multiple takes. Review each one with headphones. Don’t be afraid to splice parts of the best takes together or re-record over small mistakes in the editing process. 

What Is a Voiceover?

A voiceover recording refers to voice narration that does not feature the narrator’s image. 

Voiceovers are common in entertainment, such as audiobooks, video games, and animated television. But they are also ideal for businesses, whether you’re creating educational content, professional screencasts, or corporate commercials. 

In marketing videos, it is common for B-roll footage to play while an off-screen voice tells the brand story, describes the benefits of a product or service, and encourages the customer to take action. 

For businesses and creators, voiceovers offer the versatility to provide additional context and create an emotional connection. They are often used to narrate animated promotions, knowledge-based content, marketing videos, and social media shorts. 

How to Record Voiceovers in 7 Steps

We’ve broken down how to create a professional voiceover into three parts: pre-production, recording, and post-production. This guide will help you level up your voiceover’s quality.

Pre-Production

1. Create a DIY Voiceover Studio

Not all voiceovers need to be of professional quality. There are millions of examples of off-the-cuff voiceovers on social media that simply use a standard earbud’s microphone. For those videos, a quiet place free from interruptions is sufficient.

But if you’re buying a microphone for quality voiceovers, it’s time to upgrade your setup. 

A wide open room is full of dense, hard surfaces for your voice to bounce off; this creates “reflections,” which negatively affects the recorded audio quality. Luckily, you can create a cheap voiceover studio.

To develop good audio, consider how to prevent sound from bouncing around the room. Here are two common, incredibly low-cost options:

• Turn a closet into a makeshift sound booth. Line the walls with thick blankets, pillows, or foam boards to create surfaces that will absorb sound. 
• Create a blanket “fort.” A thick blanket over your head works surprisingly well; however, creating a blanket “tent” is even better to avoid picking up any movements. 

Of course, you can implement far more impressive setups. If you plan to record multiple voiceovers, consider creating an at-home studio. Buy (or make) sound-absorbing foam panels for your walls, or procure a portable booth with panels and a roof. The options are endless; choose the one that matches your needs and budget. 

2. Select the Microphone & Audio Software

At a minimum, you will need an external microphone and audio or video editing software. You can purchase a USB microphone that plugs directly into your computer for under $100. 

However, upgrade to an audio interface with an XLR microphone to create professional voiceovers. An audio interface will improve sound quality and latency. You can purchase a decent audio interface for under $250 and an XLR microphone for under $150. 

Also, consider getting a pop filter to avoid picking up “pfft” sounds in your recordings.

What Is the Best Software for Recording Voiceovers? 

Voiceovers can be recorded with the audio or video editing software of your choice; although, you can also use your computer’s built-in tools, like QuickTime to record audio. 

Most video editing software provides sufficient tools for cleaning up audio, allowing creators to avoid the process of importing and exporting audio across software. Popular video editing options include Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. 

Consider using audio editing software if you need advanced audio editing or aren’t creating a video. The most popular options include Audacity and Adobe Audition.

3. Write the Script

A script illustrates your vision. It includes visual and spoken elements of the video.

Determine whether the visuals (such as a scene with a mix of dialogue and narration) or the voiceover (like a promotional product video) will set the video’s pacing. This decision will help you adequately convey the message in voiceover.

It can be tempting to skip the process of writing a script. But refining what you’re going to say and practicing your performance will go a long way in helping you craft a professional voiceover. When you’re ready to brainstorm, grab our free scriptwriting template as a jumping-off point. 

Voiceover Recording

4. Conduct a Test Recording

Everything has to work together in sync to capture a high-quality recording. Therefore, you should conduct a test each time you begin a new recording session. Skipping this step is the quickest way to get frustrated with the recording process. 

1. Set up your recording equipment and prepare the software. 
2. Press record and voice the first minute or so of the script.
3. Listen for errors in the recording with headphones. Check the audio levels. Alter your setup or audio settings as needed. Then, conduct another test. 
4. Repeat this process until you are satisfied with the initial audio quality.   

Audio Levels for Recording Voiceover

Avoid vocal distortion by watching your recording levels. An ideal recording level will average somewhere between -18dB and -10dB. The peak meter should never peak over -6dB while recording. Furthermore, a final mastered recording should never go above 0dB. 

Microphone Distance for Voiceovers

Make a fist and point your thumb and pinky in opposite directions, creating a Shaka sign. With your thumb to your mouth, your pinky should touch the pop filter of your microphone. 

You should be about 6 to 12 inches away from the microphone when recording a voiceover. This closeness helps the microphone pick up your voice instead of various noises in the room. 

The optimal distance will vary depending on the type of microphone you use and the level of sound treatment in your recording space, so determine the best-sounding distance with tests. 

5. Record Your Audio

It’s time to record! You’ve done all the necessary preparatory work. Now, it’s time to perform. Here are some tips to make recording easier and more enjoyable:

• Get in the Zone First. Find a way to loosen up. Watch a funny video, do yoga stretches, or dance to your favorite song. A great performance comes from a relaxed and centered place. Take a few minutes to get yourself in the right state of mind. 
• Don’t Stop for Mistakes. It’s good practice to complete each recording, even if you notice mistakes in your performance. You can fix some errors in editing; other errors will provide priceless feedback for future takes. 
• Record Five Takes or Less. If you need more than five takes, practice more before recording. Performing takes a lot of energy as well. If you didn’t get an acceptable take in five attempts, take a break and allow your energy to replenish. 

An effective voiceover makes it easy for the audience to absorb a video’s message. Keep the listener or viewer’s experience at the forefront of your mind when evaluating a recording. 

Post-Production

6. Edit Voiceover Audio

Before beginning the editing process, listen to your recordings with headphones.

In an ideal situation, your voiceover requires minimal editing. Using the editing software of your choice, you might rerecord a section, remove breaths and mistakes, or delete long pauses. 

Stop here if you will hand the recording off to an audio engineer; audio processing alters the recording in ways that limit the audio engineer’s ability to produce a high-quality mix. 

If you are creating the final mix, there are a couple of basic considerations that will improve the sound of your voiceover audio: equalization and compression.

This is called mastering a mix. Mastering is its own specialization and career path. So don’t fret if you feel overwhelmed during this learning process. The ultimate goal is to create a quality listening experience by making the audio as clear, crisp, and easy to hear as possible. 

Equalization

Different sounds fall into different frequencies. Equalization allows you to adjust the volume of certain frequencies without affecting others, making removing or boosting certain parts of a mix possible. Equalization removes background noise, word pops, and more. 

It’s better to capture audio with fewer background noises and high-frequency sounds. It’s generally preferred to need as little equalization as possible. For those who aren’t familiar with manually adjusting equalization, it’s common to use plug-ins and software presets.

Compression

Compression reduces the dynamic range of audio, which allows you to create a consistent volume. It prevents the highest highs from being too loud and the lowest lows from being too quiet. Compression also prevents distortion while allowing you to increase volume. 

7. Sync Audio & Complete Video 

Congratulations! You’re ready to sync your audio with the visual story of your video. 

Audio and video are recorded separately in traditional filmmaking. At the beginning of each take, the actor claps. This produces a spike that makes syncing audio and film easy.

Voiceover includes different challenges. Instead of syncing an on-screen actor’s lips with the spoken audio, you need to sync the voiceover pacing with the pacing of visual content. 

For this reason, you may decide to record voiceover first. This allows you to edit the video to match the voiceover, rather than trying to get one that matches an edited video. 

Either way, you now have all the tools to record a voiceover for your video! 

Why Are Good Voiceovers Important? 

Consumers want videos from brands. However, holding viewer engagement, even with short videos, can be challenging. After all, 20% of viewers click away in the first 10 seconds. Yet a website visitor who watches a product video is 64% more likely to make a purchase.  

It is paramount to grab and hold attention. Don’t give viewers an easy reason to click or scroll away by underestimating the importance of good sound quality and an engaging performance. 

Key Aspects of a Good Voiceover

Audio quality and vocal performance are two central aspects of a professional voiceover. As such, each has important attributes that result in a good voiceover. 

Audio Quality

Generally speaking, voice recordings should sound realistic. The goal is not to create a new sound but to fully capture the vocal performance. 

Therefore, recording hardware must be able to capture sound with a wide range of audible frequencies, the full dynamic range (the quietest and loudest sounds), and little-to-no distortion.

Errors can happen at any stage of the recording process. In a soundproof setting, use your equipment to create a test recording. Listen closely and alter your setup if you hear any of the following:

• Extraneous noises (hiss, hum, etc.)
• Background sounds
• Echos
• Vocal pops
• Audio processing errors
• Microphone bumps 

Don’t fret if this process requires trial and error. Multiple factors of your voiceover studio contribute to the sound quality, including the microphone distance, equipment, room treatment, location (city versus country), and more. 

Performance 

There are several elements to a good voiceover performance. Even if your audio quality is pristine, a monotone script recitation quickly puts viewers to sleep. To improve how your voice sounds when recorded, consider pacing, diction, tone or inflection, and emotive performance. 

Pacing and Volume

Pacing is the rate at which you recite the script. Aim for a natural, conversational pacing. Practice the script to internalize its messaging and make the words sound like your own (whether you wrote them or not). 

Diction

A voiceover must be understood. Therefore, the first task of a good performance is to say the words correctly at an audible level. 

Speak clearly and enunciate each word without letting it drop off. For example, “The boys walk down to the river and fetch a pail of water.” It would be easy for this sentence to sound like a garbled mess, “The boy wall dow to the rivah and fesh a pail of wafer.” 

Pay particular attention to words with “s,” “er,” “ch,” and “t” sounds. It will be easier to focus on delivery the more you can recite the words without needing to recall or read them. 

Tone and Inflection

Your tone is the pitch of your voice plus its resonating quality. You might speak in a higher pitch with a calming tone or have a deeper voice that naturally booms like an announcer. 

Inflection is the way you alter your tone to express the script. Your cadence (the modulation or inflection of your voice when reading) will convey context, underlying information, and emotions. 

Emotive Performance

The emotion and energy you bring to the performance will ultimately sell it and keep people engaged. The technical aspects of audio quality and performance ensure mistakes don’t cause people to tune out. But your emotive performance keeps people tuned in. 

How Do I Improve the Sound of My Voice? 

A common hurdle when you begin recording voiceovers is accepting the sound of your voice. It’s normal to feel shy or unsure about how your voice sounds. It may take some time to get used to it yourself, but you will focus on it far more than anyone else. 

Another approach is to learn from professional voice actors. Voice actors can adjust tone, inflection, and pacing to create an immersive recording with their unique voices. Consider working with a vocal coach to improve your technique and gain new skills.

Voiceover sets the mood and tone of your video. With some planning and the right equipment, it can take your video to a new level.

But bad audio can ruin good content. After spending hours or days on a video, the last thing you want to do is ruin it with an amateurish voiceover. 

Capturing professional recordings includes a learning curve, but producing an engaging, professional-quality voiceover is well worth the time and effort.

The post How to Record Voiceovers with Tips from Professional Voice Actors appeared first on SproutVideo.

Video editing can be a challenging skill to master, though it has become much more accessible in recent years. At this point, there is a broad range of apps, from basic to professional, that make it possible for anyone at any level. 

In this post, we’ll give you a general overview of apps for at every skill level, their best use cases, and our favorite picks — starting from those who want to edit right on their phone, all the way to industry-grade video editing tools.

When it comes to choosing the right type of software to edit videos, it is going to depend greatly on your own skill set. Simple apps are limited, making it easy for beginners but frustrating for the more experienced users. Professional apps have no limits, which is great for those with experience and can be confusing for beginners. Be sure to gauge your skill level before investing too heavily in a specific app.

Mobile Video Editing

The best camera is the one you have on you. These days, that’s typically your phone. Using your smartphone is cheaper than purchasing a camera and, if you’re just starting out, editing your footage right on the phone is ideal.

Mobile editing apps will provide you the bare minimum functionality, so social media content or simple straight-to-camera videos will be the easiest content to make. With a simple editing timeline, some transitions, and built-in effects you can apply to your clips, you’ll be able to stay on par with the latest trends. 

Additionally, most mobile editing apps are typically optimized to output directly to social media platforms. This makes it easy to create and post on the go, however it means you won’t have the ability to choose which file types or codecs to export. If you’re not creating for social, this lack of control might really hold you back.

Top Pick: Adobe Premiere Rush

Anyone familiar with creative tools will recognize Adobe Premiere, and Adobe Premiere Rush is like its little sibling. This mobile-first app gives you all the fundamentals you need to hit the ground running and is perfect for simple drag-and-drop video editing, making it intuitive even for the most novice users.

Available on iOS and Android, you can get started right away with a free plan, or upgrade to the paid subscription for $9.99, and gain access to more storage and the desktop version of the app. 

Runners Up: Splice, InShot, and Quik

Other useful apps are Splice, InShot, and Quik. All three work as a strong alternative to Rush; they have a robust amount of features including simple editing tools, transitions, and effects. These three applications can be downloaded for free. However, InShot will export videos with a watermark unless you upgrade to the paid version for $2.99.

Basic Editing

The next step up is to ditch your phone and edit on your computer. Desktop editing applications share a lot of functionality with mobile apps, while providing a much more robust editing experience. 

At this level, you’ll gain more tools to complete tasks more efficiently, without losing the simplicity and automation that comes with basic editing apps. These apps make it easier to create more polished social media videos, product videos, advertisements, and more, through access to more advanced features like chroma key, higher resolution file support, and even motion tracking for some applications. 

Top Pick: iMovie

If you use a Mac, Apple iMovie is ideal if you’re just getting started with video editing. This app is one of the most simple, straightforward, and popular video editing programs out there; it uses a very simple timeline approach to provide its users with everything they need to edit basic videos, and is jam-packed with a plethora of simple features like adding titles, trailer templates, image stabilization, and more. 

iMovie comes pre-installed for free on new Macs and can be used across iOS devices. Sadly for PC users, this product is exclusive to Apple.

Runner up: Filmora 

For those who don’t own a Mac or are looking for something different, Filmora is a great alternative. Boasting similar features to iMovie and other beginner software, Filmora does a great job of creating an easy experience for any user. They even provide an “easy mode” that walks you through how to edit videos with useful templates and guides. 

Filmora can be downloaded for free with a watermark, purchased outright for $59.99, or accessed with an annual subscription for $39.99 a month.  

Professional Editing 

Once you reach a certain level of proficiency, you’ll want software that can keep up with just about anything you can throw at it, and that is where professional software comes into play. These programs give you the most flexibility possible to create any level of video your heart could desire. 

This can range from in-depth how-to content and marketing videos, to blockbuster films with dazzling special effects. The sky is the limit with professional video editing software. 

Top Pick: Adobe Premiere Pro 

When it comes to professional video editing, most people think of Adobe Premiere Pro. Adobe Premiere Pro has been leading the industry for about a decade and continues to lead the pack with innovative and collaborative software. Premiere Pro has all of the features you could ever want and more, which makes it great for professionals … though potentially overwhelming for newcomers. Without proper training, even the easiest editing techniques are less intuitive with professional software.

With Premiere Pro, you’ll gain access to a huge library of effects, transitions, and advanced tools. This program supports 4K, 8K, and VR video editing and is constantly improving to stay up to date with the latest industry standards. One of the biggest reasons Premiere Pro stands out against the competition is its integration with the other Adobe applications, especially Adobe After Effects. After Effects is a motion graphics and animation application that connects seamlessly with Premiere pro which allows for amazing collaboration and speed between the programs. 

If you want to use Premiere for a team project, you can collaborate remotely using a feature called Productions. With this, you can improve project organization and synchronization so a team can work together on the same project as long as all the files are organized on a shared drive.

For a crash course on getting started with Premiere Pro, read our full guide video editing basics guide. Adobe Premiere Pro is available on Windows and macOS, with a single app subscription for $20.99 or a package with all of Adobe’s apps for $59.99.

Close Second: Final Cut Pro

The former leader of professional video editing software is Apple’s Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro has many of the same features that make Premiere Pro stand out as the favorite, but is restricted to macOS, leaving PC users out of luck. However, because it is made specifically for Macs, it can utilize and optimize the program to work faster and render clips quicker than Premiere Pro. It also features a “Magnetic Timeline” that allows you to quickly put together edits that are more or less chronological. However, more complex video edits tend to slow Final Cut Pro down, giving the advantage to Premiere Pro for those types of projects. 

Another benefit of Final Cut Pro is its fixed one-time price of $299.99 and generous 90-day trial period. This should give you plenty of time to test it out before making a full commitment.

At the end of the day, whichever program you choose will depend on your current creative needs and comfort level. Have you used any of the programs we suggested in this post or any we haven’t mentioned but are worth checking out? If so, let us know which ones and how you feel about them in the comments below.

The post Best Software for Editing Video at Every Level appeared first on SproutVideo.

1. Tutorial 

Tutorial videos and how-to content are some of the best ways to get your message across to your audience. Typically these videos consist of someone walking the audience through a number of steps that help them learn something new. 

This works as a faceless video because you can make your product the star. This will require you to film your subject in a way that puts it front and center. This works really well with physical products, food, and more. Typically, you’ll also need either a voiceover or instructions on the screen to help create a cohesive message. 

Buzzfeed’s Tasty does this incredibly well with their food series. They consistently put out a well-edited video featuring just the food and the hands that are preparing them. Check out the example below. 

2. Screencast

In the same family as tutorials, you have screencast videos. These types of videos have the same general idea of teaching or walking the audience through something but this time it will be through an all-digital format. 

This works particularly well for software companies, educational institutions, or application tutorials, but really, anything that you can show on your screen could become a screencast video. Essentially, you’ll use software to record your screen as you work your way through a program. We recommend using QuickTime, Snagit, or ScreenFlow. 

The key to making a screencast enjoyable is to treat it as a full-on video. Many think you can wing it and just record your screen as you work your way through the tutorial, but that will result in a less than enjoyable final product. For an in-depth tutorial on how to create a screencast, watch our Screencast How To Video episode for all the necessary steps.

3. Interviews

You may be thinking, how can you do an interview without showing your face? Well, similar to tutorial videos where the product is the focus, you can make your interviewee the focus of this video. This will take the pressure off of you to be on camera. 

These types of interview videos work well because bringing in experts in your field will undoubtedly bring value to you and your viewers. The best part is that interviews work for any industry. There will always be thought leaders outside of your organization that you can interview. For this, you’ll need to come up with a comprehensive list of questions, lock in experts, and possibly acquire B-roll to spice things up. 

GQ does a variation of this through topical video series with different celebrities and experts sharing their perspectives. GQ producers are never seen on camera, but having various thought leaders and excellent B-roll keeps it fresh. Check out the example below from their series ‘The Breakdown.’

4. Animation

Animation is a tried and true video method that can be used for any industry. This method certainly doesn’t require you or anyone to get on camera since everything will be created with graphics, which is equally a major benefit and a potential drawback. Unless you have someone on your team that is a trained video animator, you’ll have to hire someone, work with a studio, or use an online service to create the video for you. 

To get a result as close to your vision as possible you’ll need to provide as much detail to the animation producers as possible. In an ideal world, you would provide a creative brief, script, storyboard, and more. 

Another consideration would be the amount of time it takes to produce an animated video. Animation can be really time-consuming depending on the complexity of the project, so lead time will need to be adjusted accordingly. 

All that being said, the result should be worth the work. With animation, the sky is the limit. You can create just about anything you can think of. Check out this exceptional video from Ted-ED about understanding coronaviruses. They take a complex topic, infectious diseases, combine it with a solid voice-over and animation to make an easily digestible video for their audience.  

5. Stop Motion

An alternate form of animation is stop motion. Stop motion animation is unique in the fact that it involves shooting objects one frame at a time, then combining these shots in post-production to create a video. Typically, it is done with inanimate objects in a way that brings them to life. 

Another benefit of stop motion animation versus normal animation is that just about anyone can achieve this look if they have the tools to do so. All you’ll need is an idea, proper lighting, a camera, and a lot of patience. While it may take a fair amount of time to create, the final result is fun and captivating. 

Lego is famous for using this technique to bring their products to life, as you can see in their stop motion video below. If you can find a way to create a unique message using elements related to your business, this is a surefire way to stand out.

If this sounds like something you want to try, read our six secrets for stop motion animation for more tips. 

6. Stock Footage

If you have an important message to share, but don’t have the resources to film related scenes, stock footage is the way to go. Stock footage is video clips that folks have uploaded online that can be used for free or for a fee. There are tons of websites dedicated to providing stock footage for all kinds of niches. Pexel Video, Videvo, Shutterstock, and Storyblocks are just a few of the many options available. 

It may take some time to find clips that represent what you’re trying to show. Be sure to carve out enough time for a thorough search. Since you’re using a combination of clips from the internet, you’ll also need stellar music, a clear narrative, a strong voiceover, and text or graphical elements on screen to drive your message home.

We recently used this method for our annual Earth Day video. We workshopped a concept, found clips and music that played well together, created some on-screen graphics, and voilà, a full video. 

Bonus: Hire On-Camera Talent

While this isn’t a video format, it is something that you should consider if you’re in the market for expanding your team. With today’s boom of video content, you may be surprised how many potential candidates have on-camera experience or create content outside of their professional lives. If you’re planning on expanding your team, it won’t hurt to enquire about their willingness to be on camera. If they’re a prominent candidate that can also fill this need, it’s a win-win. 

However, if you do eventually want to take on the challenge yourself and get in front of the camera, we have resources for that as well. Be sure to explore our 27 tips for feeling like a natural on-camera post along with our How To Video on filming solo. 

Nothing should stop you from creating compelling video content for your business in this day and age. With all these options and more, you can get your video marketing efforts up and running in no time. Be sure to let us know what style of videos you plan on creating in the comments below.

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Live streaming for business is easier than you’d think. You can get up and running with live streaming in a matter of minutes on the SproutVideo platform. You can even test out these new features for free while on a 30 day trial of our platform.

If you’re unsure of how to hook up a camera for live streaming, check out our recent How To Video episode on the six steps to professional live streaming.

Separating the foreground from the background of a scene and creating virtual 3D cameras may sound impossible but that is exactly what we’ll be exploring in our final episode on Adobe After Effects. These advanced techniques are challenging to master but will set you apart from the competition. 

By the end of this post, you’ll have a good understanding of Rotoscoping, separating an element from the background, and how you can use a 3D camera to animate objects. 

In our first episode of our Adobe After Effects tutorial series, we established the basics. We looked at what After Effects is used for, created compositions, learned important functions, and how to export a project. In the second episode, we explored the power of motion tracking and the various ways you can use it in a project.

For our third episode in this series, we’re diving into advanced techniques of After Effects. We included another Example Project below you can download and a video you can watch to follow along.

Nick LaClair, Creative Director at SproutVideo, will take you through this example project. He’ll show you how rotoscoping and using a 3D camera can enhance the overall look when adding graphics to footage.  We’ve incorporated everything you need to get a good handle on the topics covered in this post. 

We recommend working through the projects in Episode 1 and Episode 2 before this episode for the most well-rounded learning experience. 

Example Project Objective

For this project, our goal is to enhance the scene by manipulating the nametags to appear as if they are objects within the original footage. This means making them appear to float right in front of our subjects but behind the laptops, tilting them at the same angle as the people, and mimicking the level of blur that occurs as the camera passes by the subjects. All of this can be accomplished with a combination of rotoscoping and 3D camera manipulation, which we’ll cover below. 

What is Rotoscoping?

Rotoscoping is the animation of masks across a selection of frames. This essentially allows you to take a 2D image and create a multi-layered space. You’ll then be able to edit the foreground object and background image separately. This allows for objects to go in between your foreground and background, or to make visual edits, or remove the background completely. 

Rotoscoping Methods

There are two ways you can go about rotoscoping in After Effects: masking with the pen tool, or using the Rotobrush tool. For this tutorial, we’re going to be focusing on using the Rotobrush tool, but we’ll quickly touch on masking.

Masking 

Masking is a technique that is found across several of Adobe’s creative programs. The first thing you need to do is duplicate the layer you want to rotoscope and rename it; we rename ours “roto laptops” in the example. 

Next, use the pen tool in After Effects to create an outline of whatever object you’re trying to isolate in the foreground. Once this is done, your roto layer will be just the foreground, and the original layer will act as the background.

The next step is where this method becomes extremely time-consuming. You’ll have to go frame by frame, and adjust that mask so it follows any movement that occurs with your object. If you’re interested in learning how to use the masking technique more in-depth, check out this tutorial from Motion Array. 

Using the Rotobrush Tool

The Rotobrush tool is a much faster way to rotoscope since it uses After Effects software to speed up the process. Essentially, it allows you to paint over the object you want to select and then After Effects’ artificial intelligence will automatically detect the edge of whatever object you’re trying to isolate. It will then propagate that selection across the timeline automatically, instead of having to do it manually with masking. 

Follow these steps below to Rotoscope objects.

• Duplicate the layer you want to Rotoscope, and rename it for clarity. 
• Double click the layer to open it in the Composition window.
• Select the Rotobrush from the top menu.
• Paint over the object(s) you want to isolate for the foreground.
• Press and hold the Option key to paint over areas of the mask that are outside of the object you’re masking. 

Your selection, or mask, will show up as a purple outline on your footage. When using the Rotobrush to add to the mask, it will show up as a green icon. When you’re holding the Option key to remove masking, it will show up as a red icon. Fine-tune this outline until you’re satisfied with your selection before moving forward. 

Unless told otherwise, your rotoscope will be applied to the entirety of your layer duration. If you just want it to be applied to a specific part, be sure to adjust the slider at the bottom of the Composition viewer window. For our example, we only need it to last as long as the nametags are visible within the frame.

Adjusting the Rotoscope Layer

At this point, you can return to your full composition to see exactly how Rotoscoping has affected your project. If you’re following along with our Example Project or applying these principles to your own project, you should see that the nametags are now positioned behind the laptops as if they are an object floating in 3D space in the video.  

When you toggle off the background layer, using the Eye icon in the far left of the Layers panel, you’ll see that just the laptops are masked out from our roto layer, which is why it appears to be over the nametag layers. 

Next, click the arrow next to effects to reveal parameters you’ll need to make fine-tune adjustments to the roto layer. There are two main adjustments you can make to help make this effect look more realistic are feather and motion blur. Feather will expand your mask in a way that will hide some of the inconsistencies associated with the edge of your mask. Motion blur adds a level of blur that makes movement seem more natural to the eye. 

Once you’re happy with the way it looks, you’re done with Rotoscoping. Since After Effects will have to render the roto mask layer every time you move the play head, you can turn this layer off for now while we move on to the next section, Animating in 3D space.

Animating in 3D

This next section will focus on adjusting objects so they better match the scene you’re trying to add them to. For our example project, that means changing the rotation and blur of our nametags to match that of the background. There are two ways to do this: manually with keyframes, or by adding a 3D Camera to move the object in 3D space. 

Manual 3D Space Movement

This is fairly similar to the adjustments we made to our objects in the first After Effects episode. We will be adjusting the transform parameters using keyframes to get the desired look we want. Where things change is when you enable the 3D option for your layer as seen below.

This allows the layers’ transform parameters to be adjusted in all three dimensions, X, Y, and Z. You can now use keyframes to adjust parameters, like Y rotation, to have it match the angle of the people in the background. Once you have the right angle, we can move on to adding the blur effect.

In our example scene, we want the Tyrion nametag to mimic the focus the camera has while it moves through the scene. We can do this by adding Camera Lens Blur to the nametag layer from the effect panel on the right side of our screen. Using keyframes we can add a keyframe for when the camera is in focus, keeping the blur parameter at 0, then add a keyframe at the beginning and end of our scene and match the blur value to what we see in the footage. This will have to be trial and error to see what looks the best.

Once this is complete, you can turn on the roto layer and you’ll be able to see your finished product in full. The adjusted nametag should slide behind laptops, blur with the footage, and be positioned at the right angle with the scene.

3D Cameras 

The second technique for achieving this look is a bit more advanced and requires the use of 3D Cameras in After Effects. Keep your roto layer off throughout this process to help with render speeds. 

The 3D Camera tool allows you to add a layer that acts like an actual camera within the program. Go to the Layer menu, New, Camera…, to add a camera to your composition. This will open a new menu that gives you complete control over your virtual camera, including sensor size, focal length, depth of field, aperture, F-stop, and more. 

For our purposes, we can leave almost all of those options alone, except focal length which we’ll keep at 50mm. The Camera 1 layer will now show up in the layer panel. 

Viewing the Camera

You may not see any differences right away once the camera is created, and for good reason. Only layers with the 3D option enabled will be affected by the camera. For this project, we’ll turn on just the Tyrion and Joffrey nametag layers. 

Furthermore, to see what the camera is doing, you’ll need to change the Composition window view from 1 View to 2 Views in the bottom right corner. This will display the active camera view on the right, and the top down of our camera’s field of view, composition, and other elements in our composition on the left.

Adjusting the Camera

The power of using 3D cameras becomes apparent when you start adjusting the transform parameters in the Layers panel. Since we want our nametags to mimic the footage, we can change various camera transform parameters to match the scene.

For starters, we’ll change the camera orientation to mimic the 45-degree angle seen in the footage. You can see with the top-down view how the camera’s viewing field is crossing the elements in your composition. 

To further match the look of the footage to your objects, open the Camera Options drop-down under the transform parameters in the Layers tab. This lets you dive into all the settings of an actual camera, which you can adjust to make the nametags really blend into the scene. 

As you can see in the image above, the number of options for manipulating the camera are vast, and very similar to how you would adjust camera settings in real life. For a refresher on camera settings, check out the Cameras section in our Video Library. 

For our example, we’ll be adjusting our focus distance parameter to have our objects come into focus when they cross the focal plane and aperture to adjust the blur when not in focus. This will take some back and forth to get just the right look, and you can monitor how this affects your objects in the Composition window. 

Once you’re satisfied with the look of your objects, you can turn your roto layer back on and see the final result. Just like with the manual method, you’ll see your nametags slide behind the laptops, go from out of focus to in focus, and also be aligned as if they were filmed in line with the rest of the footage. 

Learning Adobe After Effects is a huge undertaking that will take lots of time and practice to master. Adding rotoscoping and 3D cameras to your tool kit will certainly come in handy as you continue to explore and develop your skills in the program. Be sure to subscribe to the SproutVideo Newsletter so you don’t miss out on our next tutorial.

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This Adobe After Effects example project includes everything you need to follow along with this motion tracking article and video tutorial below.

In the first episode of our Adobe After Effects tutorial series, we covered all the basic fundamentals of motion graphics, multi-layered compositions, and visual effects. In this episode, we dive a little deeper into After Effects, exploring the power of motion tracking.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a good understanding of how to track objects in space, steady shaky footage, and replace screens on a device.

In the video below, Nick LaClair, Creative Director at SproutVideo, will take you through various applications of motion tracking in Adobe After Effects. 

For our second episode in this series, we recommend downloading our example project included in this tutorial so you can follow along. We’ve incorporated all the items you’ll need to get a better understanding of the various applications of tracking. By following along, you’ll be well on your way to implementing tracking in your own projects. Just click the link below to get the project.

What is Motion Tracking in Adobe After Effects?

Motion tracking is the process of using technology to track the movement of an object in your video. Once you have data from the tracked object, you can apply the motion data to other objects or elements and it will match that movement. 

The benefits of tracking truly shine through once you start to understand how they can be applied in your projects. We’ll be going over three popular applications: Tracking objects in space using null objects, stabilizing footage, and replacing screens. 

Tracking Objects in Space

We’ll be looking at single-point tracking first. This is, as the name suggests, uses After Effects to capture data from a single point to use for tracking purposes. You can then take that data and apply it to another layer or object in your composition. 

If you’re working with our example, you can choose a composition from the project panel. We will be using the ‘1.1 – Cafe’ to start. We are going to be using Name graphics to demonstrate how you can use motion tracking to have objects track with your videos at a certain point. This can be useful whenever you need a graphic or object to stick to a specific point in your video. 

The layers in this composition have already been formatted to include an animation to pop into the frame. Check out episode one of our After Effect series if you want to know how to create these animations from scratch or need a refresher. In our example, we’ll be creating a null object to track the footage.

What is a Null Object

A null object is an invisible layer that can hold any information you want. This makes it perfect for tracking purposes. You can attach motion data from your footage to it without having to manipulate other layers that contain the visuals of your project. You can later attach multiple layers to a null object and they will inherit its motion data without having to change their own motion parameters. This process is called parenting which we’ll cover later in the post. 

Creating a Null Object

First, we’ll create a null object by clicking on Layer in the menu bar, then New, Null Object. This will create a new layer in the layer panel. We suggest renaming it to help you stay organized. In the example, we are starting with the Daenerys layer, so we’ll rename it ‘Daenerys Null.’

Auto Tracking Motion

To track motion in your footage, you’ll need to double click the footage layer; ours is labeled “Cafe laptops.” This will open a new tab in the composition window at the top. Next is where the magic happens. On the right-hand side of the screen, you’ll see all the different editing tools you can choose from. Click on the tab that says, Tracker. If for some reason you don’t see this tab, you can access it by clicking View from the top menu, then Tracker. 

From here, follow the steps below to track a specific point.

• Click the Track Motion button in the Tracker tab.
• For this example make sure only the Position checkbox is selected, not rotation or scale.
• Click Edit Target, and select the Null Object we created in the earlier steps. This tells After Effects we want the motion were tracking applied to the null object.
• Adjust your play head to where you want the tracking to begin.
• Zoom in if needed and move Tracking Point 1 to a desirable tracking location.

Tracking Points

Tracking points are used as a way for After Effects to attach data to a specific object in the footage. The more contrast there is, the better it will be able to track it. The smaller box should be right around the object you want to track, while the larger box should be large enough so After Effects knows where to scan for the object you have in the smaller box. 

The smaller you can make these boxes, the better, since it takes a lot of time to render motion tracking. However, if there is a lot of movement in the scene, you may need larger boxes so that when the frames are being tracked, After Effects can continually find the target.

In our example, we place the tracker for Daenerys on her eye. This works well because of the contrast between her dark eyelashes and her skin. Make sure to pick a point that moves in a consistent way. Once you’ve picked a point, hit the Analyze Forward button ( )  in the tracker tab to begin analyzing the scene for motion. 

Alternatively, if you want to track backward in time, simply hit the Analyze Backwards button (), and your clip will play in reverse and add tracking points. 

One issue that may arise while tracking is if the object you’re tracking goes off-screen, but you want whatever you’re going to attach to the tracking to stay on that same path.

Adjusting Trackers

You can fix this by stopping the analysis on the last frame before it goes off-screen and switching it to a new point on the screen. To do this, hold Option on Mac or Alt on PC, and select and drag the outer box to a new track point. We chose a white square on the man’s shirt, which has plenty of contrast. After, hit the Analyze Forward button again until it reaches the end of the scene. This will take the tracking data from the new track point and extend the path of the original track point as if it were still on the screen.  

If you’re satisfied with your tracking, hit Apply in the tracker tab, select X and Y in the pop-up window, and hit OK. After Effects will switch you back to the full composition in the composition window, where you can expand your null object in the layers tab to reveal all the position keyframes that have been created from the tracking data. 

Manual Motion Tracking

In some unfortunate cases, After Effects won’t be able to track the object you need it to as cleanly as you would like. After pressing the Analyze Forward button in the Tracking tab, you may notice some crazy fluctuations or movements while it’s processing. 

If this happens, you may need to resort to manually tracking your object. You can move forward or backward frame by frame by selecting the Analyze One Frame Forward or Analyze One Frame Backward button. These are the buttons next to the Analyze Forward and Backward buttons.

For each frame, you’ll have to go to the composition window and move the tracking box to stay on your point of interest in each frame. This will be a tedious process but will result in a perfect tracked object. 

Fine-Tuning Your Trackers

If you realize you need to adjust your tracking later on in your editing process, simply go back to your footage layer, select which track point you need to adjust, either in the Layers tab or Tracker tab, and make any adjustments needed. Once you hit apply in the Tracker tab, it will update your project. 

Parenting The Layers

The last step is to attach this Null Object layer to the Name layer to which you want to apply the tracked motion. Here are a few definitions that will be helpful in explaining how this works.

• Parenting is the process of linking multiple layers so that the movement of one layer follows the movement of another layer.
• A parent layer is a layer in which those linked to it will follow its motion.
• A child layer is a layer(s) that will follow the motion of a parent layer. 

To apply this, go to the layer you want to be the ‘Child’, for our example that is the Daenerys layer, and under the Parent & Link section of the layers tab, select the Null object to make it the parent. 

Another way to create a parent-child relationship between layers is to click and drag the “swirl” icon, called a “pick whip,” from the child layer to the parent layer. Tracking motion with this method is helpful because it keeps the Name Layer’s attributes free for you to transform the way you want while still attached to the Null Object’s movement.

Repeat all these steps for the various layers in the example project to achieve the look we did in the tutorial video. Depending on the points you choose, you may need to do a combination of auto-tracking, manual tracking, and various adjustments to get it to look just right. 

Steadying Shaky Footage

Another amazing way to use the tracking functionality in After Effects is to stabilize shaky footage. This comes in handy whenever you need your shot to look super smooth as opposed to shaky or handheld. 

We’ll use the “2 – Stabilization Composition” in the Example Project to walk through this example.

• Just like before, we’ll double-click on the layer we want to track. In this case, it’s called “Handheld.mov.”  
• Choose Stabilize Motion from the Tracker tab.
• Make sure both the Position and Rotation boxes are checked, which will create two separate tracker points in the Composition window. 
• Place each tracker on high contrast points in the scene similar to how you placed tracker points in the example above.

You’ll want these points to be as far away from each other as possible. This will provide better tracking data. One point represents the position, and the other the rotation. Once in place, click Analyze Track Forward and hit apply. 

At this point, when you play your clip back, your scene will be stationary, and the edges of the frame will be moving to compensate for stabilized motion.

This will reveal black edges around your footage. To fix this, adjust the position and scale of that layer until those edges no longer appear in the frame. When you play it now, the footage will appear completely stable. 

Replacing Screens

Our last example comes in handy whenever you need to replace the contents of a screen on a mobile device, computer, TV, or a similar application. Typically, recording something on a screen can prove difficult because of glare and other factors, so it’s relatively common to replace screens in post-production. 

We’ll use the “3 – Screen Composition” in the Example Project to demonstrate how to pull this off. This composition consists of the “Monitor.mov” layer, where the monitor screen is located, and the “Footage.mp4” layer, which is what we’ll be replacing the screen with.

• Just like before, we’ll double-click on the layer you want to track. In this case, it’s called “Monitor.mov.” 
• In the Tracker tab, select Track Motion, then change the Track Type to Perspective Corner Pin.
• Four track points will appear in the composition window. Place each of them on a corner of the screen you are replacing.
• Click Edit Target in the Tracker tab to make sure that the “Footage.Mp4” is the target.
• Analyze Forward, hit apply, and your screen replacement is complete.

After Effects can compensate for any shakes, rotation, or changes in the footage, so this technique will work for just about any clips where you need to replace a screen. 

Learning to harness the power of motion tracking is an amazing tool to add to your video editing arsenal. Just like the basics, these techniques will require a lot of practice to master, but it’ll be worth it.  

Be sure to subscribe to the SproutVideo Newsletter to get the next episode of our After Effects tutorial series in your inbox.

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