Last Updated: November 21, 2025
Essential Cut Types
| Cut Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Standard Cut |
Instant transition from one clip to another - most common
|
| J-Cut |
Audio from next clip starts before video - smooth dialogue transitions
|
| L-Cut |
Audio from current clip continues into next - natural conversations
|
| Jump Cut |
Same subject, different time - popular in vlogs, removes dead space
|
| Match Cut |
Similar shapes/movements connect two different scenes
|
| Cutting on Action |
Cut during movement - hides the transition
|
| Cross-cutting |
Alternating between two simultaneous scenes
|
| Montage |
Series of short clips showing passage of time or progression
|
Common Transitions
| Transition | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Cut (none) |
90% of edits - instant, invisible
|
| Cross Dissolve |
Time passage, mood change, gentle transition
|
| Fade to Black |
End of scene, chapter breaks, dramatic pause
|
| Fade from Black |
Beginning of video or new chapter
|
| Dip to White |
Dream sequences, flashbacks, heavenly scenes
|
| Wipe |
Retro/stylistic - not for modern professional work
|
| Zoom/Whip Pan |
Energetic transitions for sports, action, vlogs
|
| Morph Cut |
Smooth jump cuts in interviews (removes ums/pauses)
|
Timeline Navigation (Universal Shortcuts)
| Action | Common Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Play/Pause |
Spacebar
|
| Step forward 1 frame |
Right Arrow or K+L
|
| Step backward 1 frame |
Left Arrow or K+J
|
| Play forward |
L (press multiple times for faster)
|
| Play backward |
J (press multiple times for faster)
|
| Mark In point |
I
|
| Mark Out point |
O
|
| Go to In point |
Shift + I
|
| Go to Out point |
Shift + O
|
| Cut/Blade tool |
C or Cmd/Ctrl + K
|
| Zoom timeline in/out |
+ / - keys
|
Color Grading Fundamentals
| Adjustment | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Exposure |
Overall brightness - adjust before anything else
|
| Contrast |
Difference between lights and darks - adds punch
|
| Highlights |
Brightest parts - pull down to recover blown-out areas
|
| Shadows |
Darkest parts - lift to reveal detail
|
| Whites |
Upper tonal range - fine-tune brightness peaks
|
| Blacks |
Lower tonal range - set black point
|
| Saturation |
Color intensity - boost carefully (over = unnatural)
|
| Vibrance |
Smart saturation - affects muted colors more
|
| Temperature |
Warm (orange) or cool (blue) - fix white balance
|
| Tint |
Green or magenta cast - complement temperature
|
Color Grading Workflow
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. White Balance |
Fix temperature/tint - make whites look white
|
| 2. Exposure |
Set overall brightness level
|
| 3. Contrast |
Add depth and dimension
|
| 4. Highlights/Shadows |
Balance dynamic range
|
| 5. Color Correction |
Make footage look natural and consistent
|
| 6. Color Grading |
Apply creative look (teal/orange, vintage, etc.)
|
| 7. Sharpening |
Add subtle sharpness (don't overdo)
|
| 8. Vignette (optional) |
Darken edges to draw eye to center
|
Audio Levels (Target dB)
| Element | Target Level |
|---|---|
| Dialogue/Voice |
-12 to -6 dB (peaks at -6)
|
| Music (background) |
-20 to -18 dB (when dialogue present)
|
| Music (featured) |
-12 to -10 dB (no dialogue)
|
| Sound effects |
-10 to -8 dB (prominent)
|
| Ambient sound |
-24 to -18 dB (subtle background)
|
| Master output |
Peak at -3 to -1 dB (never 0 or above)
|
| YouTube/Web |
-14 LUFS integrated (loudness standard)
|
| Broadcast |
-23 LUFS integrated
|
Audio Editing Techniques
| Technique | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Fade In/Out |
Gradually increase/decrease volume - smooth starts/ends
|
| Crossfade |
Overlap two audio clips with fades - seamless transition
|
| EQ (Equalization) |
Cut low frequencies (<80Hz) to remove rumble
|
| High-pass filter |
Remove everything below 80-100Hz for dialogue
|
| De-esser |
Reduce harsh "s" sounds (4-8kHz range)
|
| Compression |
Even out volume differences - ratio 3:1 to 4:1 for voice
|
| Noise reduction |
Remove constant background hum/hiss
|
| Normalization |
Automatically adjust to target peak level
|
| Ducking |
Auto-lower music when dialogue plays
|
Frame Rates & Resolution
| Setting | Use Case |
|---|---|
| 23.976 / 24 fps |
Cinematic film look - most movies
|
| 25 fps |
PAL video standard (Europe, Australia)
|
| 29.97 / 30 fps |
NTSC standard (North America) - TV, web video
|
| 50 / 60 fps |
Smooth motion - sports, video games, action
|
| 120 / 240 fps |
Slow motion footage - deliver at 24/30fps for effect
|
| 1080p (1920×1080) |
Full HD - standard for most content
|
| 4K (3840×2160) |
Ultra HD - future-proof, allows crop/zoom in post
|
| Vertical (1080×1920) |
Mobile/social media - Instagram Reels, TikTok, Stories
|
Export Settings
| Platform | Recommended Settings |
|---|---|
| YouTube |
H.264, 1080p, 30fps, 8-12 Mbps bitrate
|
| YouTube 4K |
H.264, 2160p, 30/60fps, 35-45 Mbps
|
| Instagram Feed |
H.264, 1080×1080 or 1080×1350, 30fps, 5 Mbps
|
| Instagram Stories/Reels |
H.264, 1080×1920, 30fps, 5 Mbps
|
| TikTok |
H.264, 1080×1920, 30fps, 5 Mbps
|
H.264, 1080p, 30fps, 5 Mbps
|
|
H.264, 1080p, 30fps, 5 Mbps, max 2:20 length
|
|
| Vimeo |
H.264, 1080p or 4K, 24-60fps, 10-20 Mbps
|
Common Effects
| Effect | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Speed Ramp |
Gradual slow-mo to normal speed - dynamic feel
|
| Stabilization |
Remove camera shake - smooth handheld footage
|
| Chroma Key (Green Screen) |
Replace background - set spill suppression
|
| Blur |
Gaussian blur for backgrounds, motion blur for speed
|
| Sharpen |
Enhance detail - use sparingly (10-20% max)
|
| Film Grain |
Add texture for vintage/cinematic look
|
| Vignette |
Darken corners - focus attention on center
|
| LUTs (Look Up Tables) |
One-click color grades - apply after basic correction
|
Composition & Framing Rules
| Rule | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Rule of Thirds |
Place subjects on grid intersections, not center
|
| Headroom |
Small space between head and top of frame
|
| Lead Room |
Space in direction subject is looking/moving
|
| 180° Rule |
Keep camera on one side of action - maintain spatial relationships
|
| Eye Level |
Camera at subject's eye level for neutral feel
|
| Low Angle |
Camera below subject - powerful, imposing
|
| High Angle |
Camera above subject - vulnerable, weak
|
| Dutch Angle |
Tilted horizon - tension, unease (use sparingly)
|
Editing Best Practices
| Practice | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Cut on action |
Hides cuts - viewer follows motion, not transition
|
| Use J & L cuts |
More natural than hard cuts - professional sound
|
| Match audio levels |
Consistent volume - no jarring jumps
|
| Color correct first |
Normalize footage before creative grading
|
| Less is more |
Overuse of effects looks amateur
|
| Watch without sound |
Test if story works visually
|
| Watch without picture |
Test if audio tells the story
|
| Take breaks |
Fresh eyes catch mistakes
|
| Export proxy files |
Work with 4K footage on slower computers
|
💡 Pro Tips:
- Use keyboard shortcuts - editing is 10x faster when you stop clicking
- Organize footage into bins/folders before editing (interviews, b-roll, music)
- Create a rough cut first, then refine - don't perfect as you go
- Export often and watch on different devices (phone, TV, laptop)
- Audio is 50% of the experience - good audio > good video
- Use room tone to fill gaps instead of silence
- Save multiple versions - "Save As" before major changes
- Watch the video backwards to catch visual errors you'd otherwise miss