I covered the macro aspects of editing in my previous post; check that out for my take on how to use subject, balance, distance & pacing to support the music. This is the micro side; zooming in on each cut to make sure it lands on the best frame. This is one of those things that makes a small difference individually, and a big difference across the whole video. When you nail your timing, the cuts flow seamlessly (sometimes invisibly) through the song, becoming another aspect that supports the performance rather than distracting from it. My cuts land on one of two cues; visual & audio.
Visual Cues
Visual cues are motions that draw the viewer’s attention, covering up the transition of a cut and maintaining the visual flow. Visual cues include:
- a performer moving, turning, waving, nodding, jumping, etc.
- a guitar strum, piano chord, drum hit, etc.
- a light flare or lighting change
- a camera pan or zoom
Continue reading “Editing Live Music Videos: Timing Your Cuts”