In the past, video editing was the niche of a selected few who were a part of the film industry. It was a job that required skill, and the thought of video editing wouldn’t even cross a beginner’s mind. But the advancement in technology in recent years and the availability of offline and online video editing tools have made ordinary people work like professional video editors.
Professionals opt for the more sophisticated tools, and beginners use easy-to-understand ones to edit and create beautiful videos. You can attribute the overwhelming change to the numerous video-sharing platforms and growth in viewership on social media channels. That is also the main reason— for people to shift from offline to online video editing. You don’t need any knowledge other than, drag and drop ability to use an online video editor.
Also, gadgets like smartphones have inbuilt video editors that is why the niche that was once only for the skilled is today something anyone can do.
The Introduction of Motion Picture and Editing
The era of motion pictures did not need editing. They would record imagery daily. In the latter half of the 1800s, the Lumiere brothers introduced their camera, and all other filmmakers were urged to do the same. Their editing skills were a benchmark, and one can’t help but notice that it became a trademark of most films from the era. In 1908 D. W. Griffiths made a film, the first of its kind, featuring a cut, paving the way for others to follow.
The Evolution of Offline Video Editing
In the early 1980s, regressive offline video editing became a common form of video editing. They did it on a U-Matic three-fourth inch tape. It was a linear video editing process where they recorded the film from one machine to another. It was a process wherein:
- They alter two shorts of the film.
- Or some shorts were trimmed from a sequence.
It meant getting it all on film— the easy part and reorganizing the whole shoot —which seems difficult to do or not possible to do. It also means the whole editing process will be shelved because of the difficulty involved.
The reassembling of shots did not please the video editors. They believed it was a rough form of video editing that left no room for creativity.
There was a need for offline editing. The process was advantageous. It facilitated the repetition of shorts and introduced the slow-motion feature, which was otherwise expensive or hard to do. That was because adding the feature before its introduction meant a cost-effective process and the labor hard to do with the camera.
If there is an effect available, the people will use it. Most video editors followed the trends. In those days, they looked good, but the machine that produced the effect cost much. Today, if you look at those effects, you will find them outdated.
The Advent of Non-Linear Editing
Digital non-linear editing was introduced and welcomed by all film editors. The software feels like there is more of an advantage to the film than the video because it comprises bins and tracks. The film editors could try anything, any method they wanted to make a stunning film, and save each edited version for future use.
But this form of editing had a few defects. With film editing being a thing of the past, there was a cultural shift. The editing room looked cluttered with too many things scattered around. It was not a place editors could open up to their clients.
That’s when they worked for it to be electronic. The dingy rooms became lavish and comfortable lounges with bigger screens and posh leather sofas. These facilitate group viewing.
Online video editors like Weavly, InVideo, and Wevideo, to mention a few, made an entry in the video editing scene. The editing space is no longer an address somewhere. It is a desktop or laptop in your home or anywhere from where you can comfortably work.
The Freedom of Non-Linear Editing
Non-Linear editing helps editors to break free from the conventional video editing methods. The advantages are so many that no video editor will ever want to do what they did in the past.
Advanced Technology and Human Limitation
The use of technology in modern video editing methods makes it faster than the traditional tools. That is why there is also the pressure to finish the job quickly. A rushed approach can ruin the entire video.
Human beings are limited in their ability to think and work. They cannot compete with machines. They need time to plan, to think, and only then execute. When people have much to do in a limited time, there is no room for creativity. They will have a set of patterns to follow for all videos, making the end product monotonous. Take time to think, let the ideas flow that’s when you can use technology to help you advance in your career.
Professionals can Make it Better than Amateurs
Today’s versatile and powerful video editors enable one person to do all the roles required for the job. That is cost-effective, but one cannot underestimate the class in the work of professionals. If you get a professional to work in areas that can make a difference, you may not want to do that part of editing yourself. That is because they would have outdone you with their skills.
Cost-Effective Modern Age Video Editing Tools
In comparison with the video editing tools of the past, the new-age tools are convenient and inexpensive. The convenience is in working from a laptop in any comfortable space. Our smartphones have features that allow recording and editing simultaneously. Create video and use transitions to make better videos all in one sitting.
Conclusion
Well-edited videos are not only captivating but hit the mark to motivate viewers. The evolution of video editors has given users a range of inexpensive options to craft quality videos. Professionals and beginners can use online video editors to choose to insert various color schemes and effects.