10 Secret Editing Tricks Pro Editors Use

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn ten secret editing tricks that professional editors use in Adobe Premiere Pro. These tips are designed to help you edit videos more efficiently and effectively, enabling you to enhance your editing skills and speed up your workflow.

Step 1: Change Project Settings

• Before starting your project, make sure to adjust your project settings to suit your needs.
• Go to File > Project Settings > General.
• Set your Renderer to Mercury Playback Engine GPU Acceleration for better performance.

Step 2: Crossfade Audio

• To create smoother audio transitions, use the crossfade effect.
• Select your audio clips on the timeline.
• Right-click and choose Apply Default Transitions or use the shortcut Cmd + D (Mac) or Ctrl + D (Windows).
• Adjust the duration of the crossfade in the effects control panel for optimal results.

Step 3: Use Motion Tween

• Motion Tween allows you to smoothly animate the position, scale, and rotation of clips.
• Select a clip on the timeline.
• In the Effects Controls panel, click on the stopwatch icon next to the property you want to animate (e.g., Position).
• Move the playhead to another point in time, adjust the property, and Premiere Pro will automatically create a smooth transition.

Step 4: Apply Ultra Key Preset

• For effective green screen editing, use the Ultra Key effect.
• Find Ultra Key in the Effects panel and drag it onto your clip.
• Use the Eyedropper tool to select the green color to remove.
• Adjust the settings in the Effect Controls panel for optimal keying results.

Step 5: Use Color Grade Templates

• Speed up your color grading process by using presets.
• Import your desired color grading presets from the Lumetri Color panel.
• Apply them to your footage and make adjustments as needed.

Step 6: Implement Alpha FX

• Alpha FX allows you to create transparency effects.
• Add the Alpha effect by searching for it in the Effects panel and dragging it onto your clip.
• Adjust the parameters in the Effects Controls panel to achieve the desired transparency level.

Step 7: Create Custom Shortcuts

• Streamline your editing process by setting custom keyboard shortcuts.
• Go to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts and search for the commands you use frequently.
• Assign new shortcuts that are easy for you to remember.

Step 8: Use Render and Replace

• To improve playback performance, use the Render and Replace feature.
• Right-click on your clip or sequence and select Render and Replace.
• This will create a rendered version of your clip, reducing playback lag.

Step 9: Normalize Audio

• Ensure consistent audio levels by normalizing your audio clips.
• Select your audio clip, then navigate to Audio Gain (right-click or use the shortcut).
• Click on Normalize Max Peak and set the desired level.

Step 10: Create Proxies

• For smoother editing of high-resolution footage, create proxies.
• Select your clips in the project panel and right-click to choose Proxy > Create Proxies.
• Follow the prompts to set up your proxy workflow, which allows for easier editing of large files.

Conclusion

By implementing these ten editing tricks, you can enhance your efficiency and effectiveness in Adobe Premiere Pro. From adjusting project settings to creating proxies, these tips will help you streamline your workflow and improve your editing skills. Start experimenting with these techniques in your next project to see the difference!