The Step-By-Step 4 Phase Process for Editing the Next Viral Music Video

 

If you’re a music video editor, you know how important it is to have a workflow that works for your team. Editing a music video can be a complex process, but breaking it down into smaller steps can be a lot easier.

If you’re creating a music video, it can be helpful to think about your project in terms of three stages. The first stage is pre-production, where the artist and editor work together on ideas for the storyboard and shots list. The second stage is production, where the crew shoots footage that will eventually go into the final video. And finally, there’s post-production, which is when editors start assembling all this raw material into a cohesive finished product.

Each step presents its challenges and opportunities – some more challenging than others – but by following the action, you should end up with a great piece of work at the end!

This article will cover the entire workflow of a typical music video production from start to finish. We will go over all the steps of each person involved in the process and how they work together to create an excellent final product. This includes input on imagery, audio processing, and color grading before being compiled together in post-production. The whole process usually takes 1-2 months, depending on how complex the project is.

You will learn more about what goes into making your favorite artist’s videos by reading our complete guide below! Get ready to dive deep into one of today’s hottest industries! Let’s get started!

What is a music video editor?

Music video editors produce finished audio-visual entertainment pieces that promote songs and artists. The primary duties of the editor include reassembling, cutting, and condensing film shot around a song into an appropriate length. They control the final product and play an essential role in shaping how the audience perceives the music and the artist.

Music video editors are similar to movie producers, except that their focus is on music videos instead of featured films. Though the production time length tends to be much shorter than a film, the basics are the same.

Here what a rundown of a music editor’s profile:

The typical pay range for a music video editor is between $56,778 and $95,555 per year. The majority of music editors have an associate’s degree or certificate. Often, music video producers have worked their way up through the music industry ranks.

Unlike other occupations, a higher level of education does not give someone an advantage in this field. In fact, many video producers learn their skills on the job. However, it can be helpful to have a degree in film or video production and equipment and software knowledge.

What skills do you need to be a music video editor?

A good music producer must have a range of skills, including organizational skills, creative skills, and people skills.

The nature of the job requires a music editor to have good organization and planning skills. An editor needs to organize their time, set priorities tasks effectively, and coordinate with artists and other professionals. Their job can be very hectic, and there is a lot of pressure to get things done on time.

The key to success for a music video editor is confidence in their ability and strong communication skills. They need to express their ideas clearly and convincingly to artists, crew members, and consumers. Those skills must be paired with strong leadership and management skills, especially when working with a team.

Finally, producers often have to work closely with video editors. Therefore, it is also crucial for them to have a good understanding of editing. They need to make creative decisions about how to portray the song visually.

The process of creating visuals for your music

Before editing a music video, you first need to understand the overall process of creating one. You may be surprised to learn that there is more to a music video than putting together footage and adding music to it. There are four stages to creating and marketing a music video: pre-production, production, post-production, and promotion and distribution. Here is a look at the step-by-step process for creating a music video:

Pre-production of the music video

This is where the groundwork begins for the video. The storyboard is created, and the shot list is put together. This is also where the locations for the shoot are found, and the performers are assembled. They have to be able to complement the article vision of the song.

During the pre-production of a music video, there is a lot of planning that goes into it. Aside from gathering video performers, you’ll need to get equipment, wardrobe, and props together. You need to find locations, too… no small task when you’re shooting on location.

When planning the video shoot with the artist, it’s essential to discuss what they want the video to look like. What are the themes and ideas they want to express? The music editor should be on board with the artist to help create the best video possible. If this step is done correctly, it could be the start of a viral music video.

Before shooting the music video, most producers will set up rehearsal time with the cast and crew. This is to make sure that everyone is on the same page and knows their roles. This also allows the artist to see the set and get an idea of the video.

Keep in mind that the pre-production stage of creating a music video can be quite lengthy, depending on how much you have to prepare. You may want to start working on the project a few months ahead of schedule.

Before the shoot starts, you must ensure that your equipment and props are in place and working correctly. Checking everything beforehand will save time and aggravation on the shoot day.

Production of the music video

The production phase is where everything comes together and where the magic happens. Most often, the video is shot in one or two days. This is where you’ll be filming the artist performing the song and any scenes that are part of the visual story.

Aside from shooting A-roll footage, you’ll also need complementary B-roll footage that you can use to cut into the video. Note, A-roll is the primary video footage, while B-roll video is additional footage that’s used to help tell the story. B-roll footage could be anything from the artist performing to scenic shots of the location.

Plan for the best but be prepared for things to go wrong on the shoot day. Murphy’s Law is always in effect, so make sure you have a plan B and C ready to go. Little things like the talent showing up late or a missed camera cue can throw the entire day off schedule. This is where fast thinking and a cool head will come in handy.

When a music video production comes together smoothly, the results can be amazing. The key is to have a clear vision and an excellent team to help bring that vision to life. As a music video editor, it’s your job to help the director’s vision come to life. Keep that in mind as you work towards creating a fantastic video.

Post-production of the music video

This is where a video editor gets to work their magic. When cutting together a music video, it’s important to remember the goal is to show off the song and artist. You want to marry the two together in a way that will make people want to buy, download and share the music.

The goal is to merge raw A-roll and B-roll footage effectively while making edits, adding visual effects, and color correction. This will help further express the music video’s mood and make the overall production more unique. Note, Online video editor is not powerful enough to handle complex post-production tasks.

A premium video editing program is required to edit a music video. Some examples of professional video editors are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, and DaVinci Resolve. The professional editing software can handle almost any type of post-production task.

The video editor is expected to add music, transition effects, titles, and edit dialogue. You may also need to include design work that would be part of the video’s theme or style. Once the video is edited, it’s ready for distribution. You can upload it to YouTube, Vimeo, or any other site that allows music sharing.

Some video editors will also include a Tiktok or Instagram promotional snippet video as part of the post-production process. The snippet is intended to help promote the video on social media. You want to build hype before and after a music video is released. This will help drive targeted traffic to the YouTube or Vevo music video page.

Distribution And Marketing of a Music Video

Finally, you’ll need to establish a workflow for distributing and promoting the music video. A music video’s marketing plan will differ based on the strategy and target goals, but these are the steps involved.

• Create a reporting strategy and establish key metrics. Make sure you know what metrics represent success. This implies you’ll need to look back at your initial objectives and use them as the basis for a reporting system.
• Develop a strategy for distributing the music video. You’ll then go through and outline the distribution and promotion plan. Which would be social platforms like YouTube, Tiktok, and Instagram.
• Video Format. You’ll need to format the footage to meet the requirements of each platform you plan to post and promote your video. You’ll need to determine what formats you’ll need to export your videos and how many cuts/versions you’ll need to have.

In the past, videos were influenced by a standard code. But, today with the explosion of new standardization for videos have been created and reviewed. The H.264 codec wrapped in MP4 format is not the only way to produce and review videos. 

For example, Instagram content needs to be trimmed down and broken into a series of short clips with a lot of different optimizations, but YouTube content could have the entire video uploaded. You’ll want to make sure that the music video file can be quickly transcoded and rendered for various formats.

You’ll need to keep footage formatted to promote and post your music video whenever it’s time. Music video producers need to understand the 4 phase process clearly. This will help ensure that the target audience receives the video during each phase of its distribution. Think about how you can build a fanbase and increase visibility for your artist’s music video.

Music video editing FAQ

This section of the guide will answer some of the most commonly asked questions about music video editing. Hopefully, it will help to give you a better understanding of the process.

How long does the average music video take to edit?

Depending on the complexity of the video, the amount of time it takes to edit a music video can vary. The video editor’s experience is another factor that influences how long it takes to edit a music video. Professional editors will typically spend around 1 to 1.5 hours per minute of an edited music video is a good estimation.

The editing process for 30-minute footage takes between 40 and 60 hours. Remember that this does not include going through and researching the footage. This step allows the video editor to become familiar with the footage and identify what is needed and discarded.

Is GoPro good for music videos?

 

 

The portable and handy GoPro is used in all types of videos to capture high-quality footage with ease. Yes, GoPro is good for music videos because the camera can attach to just about anything. If your music video calls for crazy angles, underwater shots, or specific themes, this is the ideal camera.

The action camera is not only known for video, but it can take stills as well. This is a great camera to use if you need high-quality photos for your music video album or website. 

 

There are many different versions to select from, like The Hero5 on Amzon, the most exemplary GoPro model yet with “4K video, one-button simplicity, voice control, touch display, and waterproof design”.

You can easily edit your video with GoPro footage using the Quik app, a free GoPro app that comes with your camera. The GoPro can also be edited on Non-linear editing software like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro. 

A first-person view could be an excellent touch for your music video. The possibilities are endless.

What crew do you need for a music video?

When creating a music video, you will need crew members during your shoot. But not all members will be needed during every particular stage of the production. You should have a director, cinematographer, cameraman, actors/models, choreographer, and artist.

The two to ten-hour days will be long, but the outcome will be a music video that you and your team can be proud of. Crew members have their specific job, and each person must know their role.

For example, the makeup artist’s job is to make the talent look their best, while the art department is in charge of the set and props. These are the little things that can make or break a music video.

In my biased opinion, a video editor has the most critical off-set job. After all, it is the video editor who takes all of the footage and makes it into a cohesive music video. 

Conclusion

Successful music video production requires a lot of hard work and understanding from each team member. This includes input from the director, the editor, and final approval from the artist before being compiled in post-production. By following the simple steps in this guide, you’ll be on your way to creating a successful music video.

The best music video editor can see an idea through all four phases and produce the most polished product. Music video editing is the starting point for distribution channels like YouTube and Vimeo.

Remember, the whole process usually takes 1-2 months to complete depending on how complex the project is. As you can see, there are a lot of steps involved in producing a music video. When you break everything down, it’s easy to see why a professional music video costs between $5,000 and $50,000 plus to produce.

Stay focused on your goal. Be determined to do your best and have fun!

If you enjoyed Music video editing: Create a viral music video in 4 phases, please browse KingZoeFX.com, subscribe, share, and like if you’ve enjoyed this article. Contact me in the supplied links if you need more information or have any questions! Also, follow me, KingZoe_FX, on Instagram and Tiktok for a more interactive experience.

Thank you for reading!