The Video Editing Guru

In this episode of "The Video Editing Guru," host Dustin delved into the intriguing world of visual effects using the Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro software. The episode provided an easy-to-follow guide on creating visual effects, highlighting key techniques like motion tracking and particle effects. Dustin demonstrated how to set up a workspace in After Effects, apply effects to text or graphics, and animate them to integrate seamlessly into your video. The podcast also touched on the dynamic link feature to integrate After Effects with a Premiere Pro project, offered useful tips on how to optimize the use of these sophisticated tools, and emphasized the importance of using visual effects wisely to enhance your story and stay organized. Dustin encouraged listeners to continue experimenting and using visuals to bring their edits to life. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / Home

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru, host Dustin explores the indispensable role music plays in video editing. Emphasizing its power to evoke emotions and drive narratives, Dustin explains that the choice of music can make or break a video production. Music influences the pacing of cuts, transitions, and effects and integrally enhances the mood of every scene. A key technique is syncing video cuts to the beat of the music, providing a visually harmonious experience. With intriguing examples, Dustin also outlines how music can boost production value, promoting a polished, professional result. He provides pointers on sourcing licensed music and concludes that music is an essential tool that transforms a good edit into a great one. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / Home

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru, host Dustin discusses the importance of media storage and backup solutions for video editors. He outlines the merits of using SSDs for fast editing, HDDs for long-term, cost-effective storage, and RAID systems for professionals requiring redundancy. He also discusses cloud storage options, underscoring the benefits of Google Drive for small projects and sharing, Dropbox for file syncing, and Backblaze for unlimited backup storage. Dustin concludes by recommending a combination of SSD drives, HDD drives, and Backblaze for a comprehensive storage system capable of addressing a range of needs. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video EditorBackblazeGoogle Drive

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru, host Dustin explores the transformative potential of AI-enabled tools in the prolific field of video editing. He reviews a variety of both free and paid tools that enhance productivity and elevate content quality. Featured tools include Runway ML, with its capability to create professional-grade effects and Descript, known for its automated transcription and voice cloning. Go down a notch to paid tools like Adobe Sensei for scene detection and color correction, and Topaz Video Enhance AI for revitalizing old footage. The episode emphasizes the essential benefits of time-saving and precision these AI tools provide. Dustin encourages listeners to experiment with the free tools and invest in paid options with a prerequisite of professional requirements. Runway MLDescriptChatGPTAdobe SenseiTopaz Labs``Jasper AI

In the latest episode of The Video Editing Guru, host Dustin tackles the complex topic of selecting the ideal video editing software. He highlights the importance of considering factors such as workflow needs, budget, learning curve, and collaboration needs. Comparing three of the leading platforms—Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and DaVinci Resolve—he delineates their strengths and weaknesses. Adobe is popular for multi-media projects, Avid for large-scale TV and film editing, while DaVinci is preferred for comprehensive solutions with impressive color grading. Dustin sensitizes listeners that their choice should reflect their unique requirements, and the key to impressive editing lies in the art of storytelling. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / HomeAdobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerDaVinci Resolve

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru, Dustin delves into the difference between editing long-form and short-form videos, providing insights and tips suitable for both newcomers to the scene or those needing a content style adjustment. Understanding that long-form videos focus on in-depth exploration and storytelling, Dustin highlights the importance of efficient structure, flow, and sound design to maintain audience engagement. Conversely, he emphasizes capturing the audience's attention within the initial seconds for short-form content, such as TikTok or YouTube Shorts, advising on instantaneous hooks, quick pacing, and effective use of visual aids. The episode also covers the nuances of editing specifically for different social media platforms with specific techniques to optimize viewer engagement. It concludes with the shared key to mastering both formats: understanding the audience and the chosen platform. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / Home

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru, Dustin explores the underestimated power of stock footage and images in video editing. He discusses their significance in filling gaps in narratives, saving time and budget, and enhancing production quality. He also outlines his top platforms for sourcing stock resources, including Shutterstock, Pexels, Artgrid.io, Envato Elements, and Adobe Stock, each catering to different project needs and budgets. Dustin emphasizes the strategic use of stock footage to ensure it complements the original content's tone and style. Finally, he shares an anecdote that highlights how stock footage saved him during a project with a tight deadline, further underscoring its importance for any video editor. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / HomeShutterstockPexelsArtgridEnvatoAdobe Stock

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru, Dustin delves into the world of visual effects (VFX), discussing their relevance in video editing. Explaining the concept of VFX as digitally created elements incorporated in live-action shots, Dustin elaborates on their potential to boost the visual appeal of a project. He points out that VFX can help create budget/boundary-defying scenes, evoke emotions, ensure seamless transitions, and increase production value. Recounting his personal experience with VFX in a commercial feature, he stresses that even small tweaks can substantially impact the viewer. Dustin then guides beginners on starting with budget-friendly, easy-to-learn tools like Adobe After Effects, Blender, and use of Red Giant Universe plugin in Adobe Premiere Pro. He advices starting small, practicing consistently and ensuring seamless blending of VFX with real footage. He wraps up encouraging listeners to push their creative boundaries through the use of VFX. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / Home

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru podcast, Dustin highlights the importance and impact of sound design in video editing. He describes sound design as the process of creating and manipulating audio elements, including dialogue, music, ambient sounds, and foley effects, to enhance the visual content. Utilizing sound effectively promotes audience engagement, enhances storytelling and can supplement visuals by conveying emotions and setting the mood. Dustin encourages listeners to experiment with layered sound and shares tips for improving sound design, such as directing audience attention with sound cues and investing in quality sound libraries. He also recommends utilizing tools like Adobe Audition for audio cleanup and mixing, and iZotope RX for noise reduction. Finally, Dustin shares his personal experiences to emphasize the substantial role of sound design in storytelling. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / HomeAdobe Podcast

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru, host Dustin introduces a game-changing Adobe Premiere Pro plugin called FireCut. This AI-driven tool is designed to streamline the video editing process by automating tasks such as scene detection, cutting, and clip organization, making it ideal for various video projects ranging from social media clips to documentaries. FireCut helps users save significant time while also promoting productivity and creativity. Dustin emphasizes the value this tool offers, particularly for those dealing with extensive footage such as interviews or documentaries. He also provides listeners with an exclusive link for a discount on FireCut, underscoring the dramatic improvements it can make to an editing workflow. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / HomeFireCut

In this episode of "The Video Editing Guru" podcast, host Dustin delves into the importance of storytelling in video editing. He stresses that storytelling takes precedent over slick transitions or effects since it leaves a lasting impression on the audience, making it crucial for video editors to leverage every available tool—cuts, music, pacing—to bring a compelling narrative to life. Dustin shares practical tips, including building the story in your edit, letting the emotion of the scene guide your cuts, showing rather than telling through visuals and sound, and experimenting with nonlinear storytelling. He wraps the episode by encouraging listeners to focus on the narrative they’re shaping, as storytelling is what truly connects the audience to the content. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / Home

In the latest episode of "The Video Editing Guru," host Dustin focuses on tips and tricks that video editors can utilize to make their post-production process more efficient. He emphasizes the importance of having an organized workflow and advocates for proper use of keyboard shortcuts to trim, cut, and navigate the editing timeline. The episode highlights the use of proxies for dealing with high-resolution files, the concept of multicam editing for syncing multiple angles, batch processing for color correction and effects, and leveraging AI and automation tools for handling repetitive tasks. By employing these strategies, Dustin assures listeners that they can elevate their editing efficiency without compromising on creativity or quality. Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / Home

In this episode of "The Video Editing Guru" podcast, Dustin delves into the concept of narrative editing. He emphasizes that narrative editing transcends simple chronological arrangement of clips, it involves weaving an emotional story that engages and resonates with the audience. Dustin discusses the primacy of storytelling elements - the setup, conflict, and resolution, and the necessity of making these elements effective regardless of the raw footage quality. He underscores the importance of footage choice, rhythm, and pacing, recommending prioritization of emotion-evoking elements and effective use of music and sound effects to enhance pace. Dustin also points out the need to adapt storytelling approaches based on content type, whether it's documentaries, social media videos, or commercials. In wrapping up the episode, he encourages listeners to keep honing their storytelling skills to captivate their audience effectively.

In this episode of "The Video Editing Guru" podcast, Dustin delves into the realm of color grading in video editing. He begins by differentiating it from color correction, highlighting that while color correction aims to achieve natural, balanced footage, color grading is a more creative process of tweaking colors to evoke certain moods or tones. Dustin then reveals some industry-favorite tools for color grading like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve. Furthermore, Dustin shares key insights for beginners, emphasizing the importance of referencing, understanding color wheels, and maintaining natural skin tones. He wraps up the episode stressing how color grading can enhance storytelling through strategic color choices, contributing significantly to the overall narrative without using words. Dustin encourages listeners to experiment and be playful with their color grading.

In this behind-the-scenes episode of "The Video Editing Guru," Dustin, the host and a seasoned video editing professional, takes listeners on a journey through his 15-year career in the industry. Taking a trip down memory lane, Dustin shares his experiences in various video content areas - from corporate videos and social media reels to educational content and short films. He emphasizes how teamwork has played a vital role in his work while highlighting the versatility his career path has demanded. The podcast episode also sheds light on Dustin's love for the technical aspects of video editing, including keeping up with innovative AI tools. Above all, Dustin discusses his love for visual storytelling, and how crafting narratives that resonate with the audience lies at the core of video editing.

In this episode of "The Video Editing Guru" podcast, Dustin delves into storytelling techniques in video editing, emphasizing the importance of pacing and narrative structure. He shares workflow tips like organizing files and using Adobe Premiere's Proxy Workflow to speed up editing. The episode also explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in video editing, spotlighting tools like Descript, which transcribes videos for easy editing, and Runway ML, which can isolate objects, making them appear as if filmed with a green screen. Additionally, Dustin provides quick editing tips, including J-Cuts and L-Cuts for dialogue scenes, color grading, and sound design for an immersive viewer experience. He concludes with a call to embrace AI tools for streamlined and innovative video editing.