AI-Powered Editing Techniques

The Editing Mindset

In the previous lesson, we filmed efficiently with planned workflows. Now let’s build on that foundation with the step that transforms raw footage into a polished video: editing.

Beginners add things during editing—effects, music, transitions. Professionals remove things. The best edit is one the viewer doesn’t notice because every second earns its place.

The Editing Workflow

A structured approach saves hours:

Pass 1: Assembly Cut

Import all footage and arrange clips in script order. Don’t worry about polish—just get everything in the timeline.

Pass 2: Rough Cut

Remove obvious problems: bad takes, dead air, mistakes, tangents. Cut anything that doesn’t serve the video’s purpose.

Pass 3: Fine Cut

Refine timing, adjust pacing, tighten transitions. This is where the video finds its rhythm.

Pass 4: Polish

Add music, sound effects, captions, graphics, and color correction. Only polish what’s already working structurally.

AI: I have [X] minutes of raw footage for a [X]-minute final video.
The video is about [topic] for [audience].

Help me create an editing checklist for each pass:
1. Assembly: What to focus on
2. Rough cut: What to cut and why
3. Fine cut: Pacing and timing guidelines
4. Polish: Effects and enhancements to add

Cutting for Pacing

Pacing is the rhythm of your edits. Too slow and viewers leave. Too fast and they can’t follow.

Pacing Guidelines by Content Type:

The L-Cut and J-Cut:

L-Cut: Audio from the current clip continues while video cuts to the next shot. Creates smooth transitions.

J-Cut: Audio from the next clip starts before the video cuts. Builds anticipation.

Both prevent the “talking head, talking head, talking head” monotony.

Quick Check

You’re editing a 10-minute tutorial. The first draft is 18 minutes. A friend suggests adding more B-roll to make it more interesting. Is this the right approach?

AI-Assisted Caption Generation

Captions are no longer optional. They’re essential for reach.

Auto-Generated Captions:

Most editing tools (CapCut, Premiere, DaVinci) now auto-generate captions. Use them as a starting point, then:

1. Proofread every line—AI transcription makes errors
2. Fix timing so words appear in sync with speech
3. Style captions for readability (font size, contrast, position)
4. Break lines at natural speaking pauses, not mid-sentence

Caption Styling Tips:

• Font: Bold, sans-serif, high contrast
• Position: Bottom third or center (depending on platform)
• Size: Readable on mobile without squinting
• Background: Semi-transparent box or text shadow for readability

Audio Enhancement

The Audio Editing Checklist:

1. Remove background noise (most editors have noise reduction)
2. Normalize volume so levels are consistent throughout
3. Add music at 10-15% of speaking volume (subtle, not competing)
4. Add sound effects sparingly for emphasis or transitions
5. Check on different devices (laptop speakers, earbuds, phone)

Music Selection:

AI: My video is about [topic]. The tone is [tone].
Length: [duration]. Audience: [who].

Suggest:
1. What genre of background music would fit
2. When to bring music in and out (specific moments)
3. What tempo matches the pacing
4. Where to find royalty-free options
5. Moments where silence would be more effective than music

Color Correction Basics

You don’t need to be a colorist. Just fix these three things:

1. White balance: Ensure whites look white, not blue or orange
2. Exposure: Not too bright, not too dark
3. Consistency: All clips in a sequence should look similar

Most editors have “auto color correct” that handles 80% of the work.

Exporting for Different Platforms

Each platform has optimal settings:

Pro tip: Edit in the highest quality, then export multiple versions for different platforms.

Exercise: Edit a 60-Second Video

Take footage from your Lesson 4 filming:

1. Assembly: Arrange clips in order
2. Rough cut: Remove dead air and mistakes (aim for 60 seconds)
3. Fine cut: Adjust pacing, add B-roll
4. Add captions and background music
5. Export for your primary platform

Key Takeaways

• Great editing is great cutting—remove everything that doesn’t serve the video’s purpose
• Follow the four-pass workflow: assembly, rough cut, fine cut, polish
• Pacing varies by content type—match your cut frequency to your format
• Captions are essential: 85% of social media video is watched without sound
• Audio quality matters more than video quality—clean it up in every edit
• Export different versions for different platforms to maximize reach

Up next: In the next lesson, we’ll dive into Thumbnails, Titles, and Discovery.