Ingest and backup
Copy cards to two locations before you erase anything. Verify files open. Create proxies for 4K or RAW if your machine struggles with full-resolution timelines.
Rename and bin footage on ingest, project name, date, camera angle. Assembly edits stall when every clip is IMG_0001.
Note timecode or sync points if audio was recorded separately. Fix sync once at ingest, not clip by clip during polish.
Assembly edit
Lay story order without effects. Lock structure with stakeholders before color and sound design. Changing sequence after polish wastes hours.
Build a string-out of all usable takes first, then trim to best lines. Editors who cut perfection into each clip too early move slower.
Mark timeline chapters or scene colors so long projects stay navigable.
Polish passes
Pass one: audio. Pass two: picture, color and crop. Pass three: graphics and captions. Pass four: legal and fact check. One pass per layer keeps focus sharp.
Do not mix passes. Fixing a line of dialogue during a color session breaks focus and invites missed spots.
Save a version before each major pass. V01 assembly, V02 audio, V03 picture, rollback is instant when a client changes direction.
Review and delivery
Export a review copy with timecode burn-in for team notes. After approval, export masters and platform cuts. Archive project files with a readme listing versions delivered.
Deliver with a naming convention: Client_Project_v03_1080p_master.mov. Version numbers prevent “final_FINAL2” chaos.
Include caption files and thumbnail stills in the delivery folder when the client or platform needs them.
Solo creator shortcut
Solo projects can merge assembly and rough cut in one session, but still separate audio polish from color. The pass order matters even without a team.
Batch similar tasks: caption three videos in one sitting, export all platform cuts in one queue. Context switching between creative and technical work slows output.
Workflow mistakes
Color grading before the story is locked.
No project backup before a major restructure.
Exporting platform cuts from an unapproved timeline.
Archiving only the export, not the project file and assets.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a proxy workflow?
- Proxies are smaller copies of footage for smooth editing. The editor links back to full-resolution files for final export.
- How long should an assembly edit take?
- Roughly a quarter of total edit time for narrative work. If assembly drags, the shot list or script may need tightening before more polish.
- What folder structure works for video projects?
- Separate folders for footage, audio, graphics, exports, and project files. Keep naming consistent across every project.
- Should I edit before backing up footage?
- No. Verify backup first. Drive failure mid-edit without a second copy is catastrophic.
- How many review rounds are normal?
- Two to three for client work: assembly approval, fine cut, final QC. More rounds usually mean unclear briefs upstream.
