The complete guide to Video Editing from start to finish
Ready to take your videos from basic to brilliant—without wasting hours stuck in the timeline? Whether you're editing YouTube videos, client projects, or short films, a smart workflow will save you time and improve your final product. This complete guide walks you through 18 key editing steps, along with my favorite tools, tricks, and shortcuts to speed up your process.
If you want to start editing videos like a pro—without spending forever stuck in the timeline—you’re in the right place. Whether you’re creating YouTube videos, social content, or client work, the right workflow can save hours and keep your projects on point from start to finish. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the full editing process from the planning stage to final export, plus tips, tools, and a few tricks to help you work faster and more creatively.
Planning the shoot
It all begins with planning your shoot. A good edit is made easier when the footage has purpose. That’s why storyboarding or scripting your video beforehand is so important—it helps you think ahead about how each shot will flow together. You can use platforms like Notion or StudioBinder to map out your structure before you even pick up a camera. Once planned, the next step is shooting your footage. Keep a shot list handy and capture multiple takes so you’ve got options in post. Great lighting and clean audio will go a long way too, and tools like Shot Lister and Cine Meter II help you stay technically dialed in during filming.
Organise your files
When you wrap, it’s time to import and organize your footage. Store files in clearly labeled folders—A-roll, B-roll, music, sound effects, and so on. Trust me, this makes editing so much smoother. For fast, reliable transfers (especially if you’re working with 4K footage), check out Hedge. Once everything’s imported, start building your story in sequence. Drop clips onto the timeline in narrative order so you can begin shaping the arc of the video without worrying about the polish just yet. Editors like Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve are great for this kind of timeline-based storytelling.
Reivew your footage
Before you get too deep, review all your footage and mark your best takes. This saves you from scrubbing back and forth through the same clips later. Kyno is a powerful media manager if you’re dealing with lots of raw footage. With your selects ready, trim them down into a rough cut—this is your video in its rawest form, with all the key moments strung together. Don’t worry about finesse yet. Focus on the big picture, not the fine details.
Editing shortcuts
Now’s the time to unlock major time savings: learn and use keyboard shortcuts. They’ll help you slice, ripple delete, and move clips with lightning speed. You can build your own cheat sheet or grab one from EditorKeys, or use ShortcutFoo for a custom learning deck. Once your rough cut is ready, watch it through—no editing, just watching. This gives you a clearer sense of pacing and any parts that feel off. Mark areas that need improvement or transitions that feel too abrupt.
Back up your files
Before diving into your second pass, make a backup of your project file. You don’t want to lose hours of work or be unable to undo bigger changes. Store a copy in the cloud using Dropbox or Google Drive for easy recovery. Then refine your rough cut into what’s called a fine cut. This version should feel pretty close to final—tighter cuts, smoother transitions, and the pacing locked in.
Audio mix
With the structure solid, bring in your audio elements. Sync your dialogue, voiceovers, music, and sound effects. Refine the levels so your dialogue is crisp and clear, and your music isn’t overpowering. Auphonic and Adobe Audition are both great for leveling and cleanup. Next, add in your titles, graphics, or any on-screen text. Use simple, clean design that works on both desktop and mobile. Envato Elements and Motion Array offer templates that look professional and save time.
Visual FX
Now it’s time to enhance your visuals with transitions and video effects. Keep things subtle—less is more. A tasteful cross-dissolve or swipe effect can guide the viewer’s eye without feeling distracting. For advanced visuals, Red Giant Universe is a must-have plugin suite. If you want to go even further, add a color grade. This step is optional but can elevate the mood and give your video a cohesive look. Try a LUT pack or grade manually using DaVinci Resolve or Color.io.
Export in High Quality
Once your visuals are locked, revisit your sound mix. Adjust fades, fix any peaking, and balance all audio tracks. RX Elements by iZotope is an excellent tool for cleaning up dialogue and removing noise. With everything polished, export your video using the best settings for your platform. YouTube prefers H.264 at 1080p or 4K. If your file is massive, compress it using HandBrake without losing much quality.
Quality Assurance
Before uploading, review your export on a different screen. Watching on a phone or TV can reveal issues you might have missed—like typos, out-of-sync audio, or brightness inconsistencies. Make any final tweaks, then export your final version. Once you’re happy with it, upload it to your platform of choice. Optimize your title, description, and thumbnail to boost engagement. Tools like TubeBuddy or vidIQ are perfect for YouTube SEO and performance tracking.
Bonus tips
Finally, a few bonus tips to help your computer edit faster: first, use proxy files—most editors let you edit in low resolution and render in high. Second, upgrade your hardware if you can—SSD storage, at least 16GB of RAM, and a solid GPU make a big difference. Third, shut down background apps. Chrome tabs, file syncers, and random utilities can all slow your system down. Use tools like CleanMyMac or CCleaner to keep things running lean.
That’s the full process—from planning to final export.
