Tutorial Part Four

Unit Goal: Once you have shot a wedding or event, what do you do with it exactly and how do you edit it?

This lesson does assume some knowledge of basic editing. While you can incorporate advanced editing techniques, the style of post-production we are teaching here requires a basic knowledge of the process and terminology.

We use Adobe Premiere Pro for the video editing, Adobe Audition for sound editing, Adobe Media Encoder for media exporting, and Vegas DVD Architect (formerly Sony) for physical delivery of DVDs and BluRays.  Many clients prefer digital delivery. Vimeo Pro is an affordable solution to offer online viewing, downloading and storage for client digital files. There are other software options but they are industry standards for what we do and teach.

Most of these and other software can be downloaded with “trial” versions to test out during the course of this unit as to become familiar with editing software and make a decision about which might be best for you.

The editing process is where you assemble all of the pieces together. For many events, such as weddings, you might be recording the event from two, three or four cameras. During production, the use of multiple cameras allows for a variety of angles to be used to create a more creative, dramatic and professional final product.

In the “editing bay” it is your responsibility to bring all of those pieces together and create a cohesive movie for your client.

Now, the difference here from “live production” or “live to tape” is that you are assembling the product together. “Live production” and “live to tape” use a video switcher to edit in real time as an event happens. However, this is a considerably more costly solution and requires a team. We do discuss this as an option in this course, as well as offer courses specifically in live productions, but we will give you an overview here as well.

POST-PRODUCTION VOCABULARY

The following is a list of tools and techniques we frequently use and reference when editing with Adobe Premiere Pro.

• Workspace: The entire work area for your project.
• Program Monitor: The viewing monitor to view the edited production.
• Timeline: This is the work area where you manipulate your clips.
• Sequence: A sequence stores a single timeline. Sequences can be added to timelines as well.
• Clip: A video and/or audio file.
• Project Files: This is a library of files used in the project stored in the workspace.
• Cut: A common transition from one shot to another. A hard cut jumps to the next shot.
• Trim: Trimming a file is adjusting the length of the file on the timeline.
• Dissolve: A dissolve is a transition where one shot fades into another.
• Selection Tool: This is the pointer tool that allows you to select and move elements on the timeline.
• Rate Stretch Tool: With the rate stretch tool, the user can speed up and/or slow down clips.
• Razor Tool: The razor tool allows or easy cuts and trims while editing.

 

LEARNING THE WORKSPACE
In this video we will introduce you to the Adobe Premiere workspace. Most editing programs follow a similar workspace. Key elements in this video:

• Gaining familiarity with the Premiere Pro workspace
• Introduction to tools and vocabulary

The following are completed videos. The wedding in the first set of videos demonstrates a multi-camera shoot with three videographers. We went for a slight, cinema style quality and used a DSLR camera for the shots with a shallow depth of field (blurred background).  A drone was also used for exposition, but not during the actual events.  Watch the videos in their entirety focusing on the use of multiple cameras. This will also help you to become more familiar with the wedding event itself.

Example of a finished wedding montage 01:

 

Example of a finished wedding ceremony 01:

 

Example of a finished wedding reception 01:

 

Example of a finished wedding montage 02:

 

Example of a finished wedding ceremony 02:
This ceremony is a three camera setup with some drone footage. The sound is a combination of the wireless mic and the DJ’s mixer output. The DJ for the ceremony and reception were different so we couldn’t use the output during the reception. There was a acoustic guitar that did not have a connection to the speakers so we directed our shotgun mic toward it and incorporated this sound as well, ultimately combining three different audio sources.

 

Example of a finished wedding reception 02:
This reception is an example of an event where we had to rely on the shotgun microphone primarily throughout the reception since we couldn’t use the DJ’s mixer. We did use the wireless mic for some of the table interviews.

 

In this section you can view a variety of different events as they are being edited. The best way to learn how to edit is to watch, practice and learn. We will provide you with plenty of examples to follow along with as you become familiar with the process.

The following videos show examples of the editing process.

 

USING SYNCHRONIZE TO ALIGN MULTIPLE CAMERA SOURCES
Before we begin piecing together multiple video sources, we have to align the sources so they are in time with one another.  If the audio sources are good, the “synchronize” tool withing Premiere is the most efficient way to do ths. Key Elements in this post-production example:

• 4-Cameras
• Digital Audio Recorder
• How to use the “Synrchonize” function to align multiple source files
• Use of Digital Audio Recorder as primary audio source

This is a 4-camera recording where we have four different audio sources, all with good, clean audio.  in an instance such as this, we are able to easily line up source files with the “Synchronize” function to properly edit a multi-camera shoot with the four different sources of video timed properly.  The synchronize function matches audio sources and lines up multiple clips.  Being able to line up and time multiple angles of the same shot is critical not only to the final product but to smooth editing as well.

 

STANDARD WEDDING WITH THREE CAMERAS
This is a standard, 3-camera setup with a digital recorder, shotgun mic, and a wireless mic. Key Elements in this post-production example: 

• 3-Cameras (standard setup)
• One 4K Camera
• Quality sound
• Use of wireless mic as primary audio source

This is a 3-camera shoot in a standard setup. However, only one camera is on an edge (the left side) due to the minimal amount of space. There are two cameras down center; one remains wide and one is in a tighter, medium shot throughout.

 

WEDDING WITH REMOTE CAMERA AND COMPLEX AUDIO
This is a three part edit. First, we line up the audio by wavform files, then we edit the processional, then we edit the rest of the ceremony. Key Elements in this post-production example: 

• 3-Cameras (standard setup)
• One remote camera with remote pan unit
• Complex Video/Audio sync example
• Use of Digital Audio Recorder as primary audio source

This is a 3-camera shoot. One camera was down the aisle, one camera was down the aisle and the other camera was off to the right (stage right).  This is a unique wedding to see, not just because it shows the editing process from start to finish but because you can also see the use of the remote camera. We used the Canon CT-V1 which allows from remote panning (right to left movement) and the Canon iPhone app which allows for zoom and record controls.  This wedding had a very tight squeeze so use of a remote camera was critical to get the shot while remaining unobtrusive.  This video also shows you how we like to line up the audio by manually moving .wav files when the synchronize function will not suffice.

1. LINING UP THE SOURCE FILES BY WAVEFORMS
This is a complicated wedding for synchronizing the files. We have four different audio sources from different locations and the “synchronize” function did not work effectively so we chose to manually line these files up. This video takes you through the process of syncing up the files to edit multiple camera angles together. Key Concepts in this example:

• How to effectively line up sources by matching audio
• Increased familiarity with editing

 

2.  EDITING THE CEREMONY THROUGH THE PROCESSOINAL: 
The processional is the entrance of the bridal party. This wedding is typical of many weddings where the groom, officiant and groomsmen enter together.  After, the bridesmaids enter one at a time, followed by the flower girl and finally the bride.

 

3. EDITING THE REMAINDER OF THE CEREMONY:

In this video, we edit the remainder of the ceremony.

 

 

The following videos will walk you through the “exporting” process which is what you need to do to finalize your edited video. We show you how to prep them for digital delivery (hard drive, Vimeo, Youtube), DVD, and BluRay.

The following video walks you through the process of exporting videos for digital delivery, DVD delivery and BluRay delivery.

 

This next video reinforces the exporting process by focusing on BluRay delivery.

 

This final video reviews the process of creating BluRays and DVDs using DVD Architect.

 

This is really another class in and of itself. We will give you a brief overview of what to do here.

• Website: It is highly advised to have a website. Your website should focus on your services and samples. A business website should be easy to navigate as well.
• Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube and other social media websites can be very valuable for finding clients, increasing brand awareness, and increasing search engine rankings. Keep in mind that social media can be very time consuming, but valuable if used effectively.
• Marketing: Prime wedding websites include The Knot, WeddingWire and Thumbtack.  The latter is actually a site that allows you to bid for service while the other two or more in line with traditional advertising to brides.

 

Complete the following tasks and enter them into your journal:

• Create a Vimeo Account.
• Create a YouTube Account.
• Upload a video to each account and make sure it is set to “private” and able to be  viewed with a password. For the most part, when working with clients you do not want to make the videos publicly available on Youtube or Vimeo unless the client specifically requests it.

 

Complete the following tasks:

• Download the following ZIP file which contains three different video files with a portion of a wedding procession. [Note: these are copyrighted files and should not be shared publicly].
• Edit this portion of the wedding procession, lining up the audio using the “synchronize” tool.
• Choose only one audio source to use.
• Export as a digital file.