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What should a new editor be up to date on???
Hi I am a recent college grad. looking to get into editing world. Just wanted to know what are some fundamental basics every editor should be fluent with. I found alot of similar requirements in job ads such as:
Possess a working knowledge of NTSC, PAL, and HD video formats, audio formats, file types and resolutions, file rendering, and video frame rates
Knowledge in NTSC, PAL, and HD audio/video formats
Understand conversion for SD and HD
Knowledge in file types, frame rates, and transcodesAre all of these found in final cut pro and compressor???
Any help would be good for me to brush up on certain skills. Thanks!!
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1 Reply
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Heather,
The requirements you mention are background engineering concepts and standards important to editing in almost all professional settings.
Learning the practical implications of those standards and concepts for an editing career is like acquiring grammar skills and a decent vocabulary for a professional writer.
If you don’t have a formal background you must acquire the knowledge by accretion and determination.
Start with wikipedia and the forums here on the Cow – read and read and ask specific questions.
Get yourself in an edit chair and start working and learning anyway you can. Search out edit pros who live and work near you and offer to work for free to learn. Enthusiasm and the ability to remember what you have been told go a long way.
Know that all of those topics are very deep – you won’t need to learn and know everything, but it will take some time before you know how much you need. Don’t get intimidated by the technical stuff. Keep asking questions and finding ways to get work and you will gradually acquire the chops you will need.
Best of luck.
Tom Meegan
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