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Where to Start - First Steps for New Users

This information is from the Adobe Premiere forum. I have reformatted the paragraph, but otherwise left the text intact.

This is a general approach that works for many projects, particularly long format programs.

Before you capture, log your footage on paper, noting which segments are of possible use and the in and out point of each. Then decide which segments you will use. Often, the best way to do this is to create a "paper edit" whereby you can visualize your video project by rearranging the segments in the order you will edit them.

At this point, be ruthless and remember: Less is More. Try to get a sense of the pacing of your video and make it consistent. Once you've decided which segments you're going to use, name them (short but not cryptic) and then capture, using your names to identify each clip. If you have a lot of clips, consider placing them in multiple Premiere project bins by dividing your project into logical chunks. This could be as simple as Beginning, Middle and End, or more complex if required. It'll be less confusing when you're searching for clips and Premiere will be more responsive too.

At this point, it's a simple matter of placing the clips on your time line in order using your paper edit as a guide, and you'll soon have a rough cut of your project. As tempting as it may be at this point to start adding transitions and all the other bells and whistles, don't. It'll distract you from looking at the overall project. Play your rough cut though and make some notes. If necessary, rearrange or delete clips that don't fit with the flow. Once you've finalized the order and duration of the clips, you're ready to get into detailed trimming, tweaking and lastly, transitions, titles and filters.

There are two big advantages to this method. First off, you won't be digitizing a lot of footage that won't ever make it into the final project, which saves both time and disk storage space. Secondly, your project will go together much faster as you won't be spending hours scrubbing through lengthy clips while you make edit decisions. Admitedly, logging video footage and working on a paper edit are decidedly less glamorous and fun than playing with Premiere. But I guarantee that for each minute you spend on these tasks, you'll save at least ten when editing and your finished video will be much tighter and cohesive.

And NLE is way more satisfying when you can already visualize what it is you want to create.

Thanks to John Carswell (Nov 10, 2000) 

 

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