Do you want to know how to turn your raw action camera footage into amazing videos? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive how-to guide to action camera editing techniques. We’ll cover essential steps such as selecting and organizing your images, trimming and cutting footage, and finally adding effects and audio.
So, buckle up and get ready to become an expert action camera editor!
What is an Action Camera and What Editing Techniques Are Available?
An Action Camera is a type of digital camera specifically designed for capturing high-quality action shots and videos.
By combining recording settings and integrated video stabilization technology, action cameras are capable of capturing unique videos in extreme conditions with unequaled image quality.
Editing these videos to create a stunning montage or short film requires the right techniques and tools. Here are some of the best action camera editing techniques you can try:
- Trimming: This is probably the most basic and essential step of action camera video editing, as it involves cutting out the unnecessary footage, removing any unnecessary clips and getting rid of any unwanted segments. This eliminates any unnecessary duration in the video and ensures that the final product you get is all clean and crisp.
- Montage: If you want to create an interesting and attention-grabbing action video, it’s a great idea to go with a montage. A montage involves combining multiple clips, adding transitions and special effects, and including background music to create a captivating sequence. This is ideal for showcasing extreme sports, or for creating an adrenaline-pumping montage for your short film.
- Color Grading: One of the key aspects of action camera video editing is color grading. Unlike normal video editing, color grading also involves enhancing the color aspect of the video as opposed to just cutting and adding effects. By doing so, you can make the video look more professional and even add a cinematic feel to it.
- Motion Tracking: Motion tracking is a technique used in action camera video editing to ensure that the footage is properly synced with the environment and movement in the action video. This technique is used to make sure that all the elements in the footage move along with the action, ensuring that the shot looks natural and realistic.
- Special Effects: Special effects are a great way of adding a unique touch to your editing. You can add in special effects to create a more creative and dynamic atmosphere, or to manipulate the video in a certain way. Special effects can range from simple light effects to more complicated animations and transformations, so make sure to experiment with different effects and find the one that best fits your project.
By using these techniques and many others, you can easily edit your action camera videos to make stunning montages, movies and short films. With the right editing techniques, tools and software, there’s no limit to what you can create with your action camera footage.
Planning Your Editing Project & Preparing Your Files
Once you’ve got your storyboard ready, it’s time to plan your editing process and prepare your files for import into your chosen editing software. Here are some tips worth bearing in mind:
- Check the resolution and frame rate of your footage and adjust the settings in your editing software accordingly. This is especially important if your action camera footage differs from the footage you’ve taken from other sources.
- Organize your files on your computer in a straightforward manner. You may want to use specific folders for videos, audio, graphic assets, and titles.
- Check headroom and tailroom. The headroom is the space at the beginning of a clip that is usually left black, while the tailroom is the space in the end. You may need to add more headroom for transitions or need to expand the tailroom so that you can add a title card for the end of your video.
- Prepare sound assets before you start editing. This includes music tracks, sound effects, dialogue and additional sound recordings. Make sure the audio is properly balanced and that the sound levels of different sounds do not go over the 0dB threshold — if they do, this could lead to distortion.
- Prepare an export file. Before you start editing, decide what format you’ll export your video in and make sure that you’ve selected the right settings (resolution, frame rate, etc.) in your editing software. This will save you time once the video editing process is complete.
By following these steps, you’ll save yourself time and minimize headaches during the editing process. You’ll also ensure that you’ll get great results from your footage!
Merging Clips & Cutting Unused Parts
Once you have the footage you’re looking for, you’ll need to edit it into a final product that shows off your skills. Merging clips and cutting out unused parts are two key techniques for every action camera editor to master.
Merging Clips
The key to creating a professional and engaging product is to seamlessly merge clips. You can easily do this in your editing software. Simply add the two clips you would like to merge in sequence and overlap them by a few seconds. Then, all you have to do is adjust the opacity of each clip to blend them. To create an even smoother transition, add a fade to black and fade from black by using a single clip.
Cutting Unused Parts
The next step is to get rid of any parts that you don’t plan on using. Using the razor tool, select the parts of the clip you would like removed and then delete them. Be sure to check if the audio changes at the same time just in case you need to sync it up with the video.
These are the key techniques for editing action camera footage. With practice, you’ll get better and better at creating seamless videos each time.
Enhancing Your Footage with Audio & Visual Effects
Audio and visual effects don’t only look stunning, but they also enhance the overall footage and storytelling. The key to a great video is using the right effects in the right ways. Here are some tips on how to do it:
- Modify Audio Contrast & Levels: Adjust the audio contrast and levels to give the footage a dynamic sound. This will not only make the video more engaging but will also help it stand out from other videos.
- Apply Color Correction: Color correction is a must if you want to improve the visuals of your video. Use the color correction tools in the editing software to enhance the video’s brightness, contrast, saturation, and hue.
- Add Color Grading: Color grading adds a cinematic touch to the video. Play around with the curves and other color grading tools in the video editor to give the footage a more cinematic feel.
- Add Motion Blur: adding a motion blur to the action sequences of the video can add a lot of positive aesthetic value. This will make the action look smoother and while enhancing the overall visual effect.
- Experiment with Special Effects: Special effects are great for adding some extra “oomph” to the video. Experiment with the built-in special effects (lens flares, vignettes, etc.) in the video editor to make the footage look interesting.
These are just a few tips and tricks to help you take your action camera editing to the next level. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try out different audio and visual effects. The key is to find a balance between subtle effects and those that stand out. With a little practice, you’ll be able to create stunning action camera edits in no time.
Adding Transitions, Captions & Titles
Now that you’ve chopped up your video and uploaded all the pieces into editing software, you’re ready to add a few finishing touches. This means applying transitions, captioning, and titles for a professional look – here’s how:
- Transitions – moving from one clip to the next abruptly can be a bit jarring for viewers, so create a more seamless experience by applying fade-in/fade-out transitions to the beginning and end of each clip.
- Captions – ready-made captions are great for adding context and ensuring that viewers get every piece of your message. You can also add a layer of humor or drama by crafting your clever captions.
- Titles – captions might be small, but that doesn’t mean they can’t pack a punch. Beginning and ending titles are another great way to set the mood and set the scene for viewers.
When you’re ready to apply your transitions, captions, and titles, just drag and drop them into the timeline. Making sure all of these components are in the right place is vital to creating a captivating action movie. Enjoy your project!
Gathering & Exporting Your Final Product
Once you’ve completed your action camera editing, it’s time to get your video out to the world! You can either do this manually or by using video-sharing sites such as YouTube or Vimeo.
Gathering and Exporting:
- Load your footage into the media manager in your editor of choice.
- Select the clips that you’ve used in your project.
- Export your project as a .mov or .mp4 file.
- Select resolution settings that best fit your desired output.
Once you’ve finished exporting your project, you should now have a completed video ready to be shared with the world! Making a video from your action camera footage isn’t very difficult, but it does take some time and practice to get the hang of it. Now that you know how to edit and export your action camera footage, you’re ready for action!
Conclusion
These tips should put you well on your way to becoming a master at action camera editing. So grab your gear and get out there – the world is waiting to be captured. Happy editing!