Video Editing

Edit documentaries, social media content, and awareness videos for local and international audiences.

Level: Beginner–Advanced Beginner: 1 month • Intermediate: 2 months • Advanced: 3 months Contact for pricing

Prerequisites

No prior experience required — open to beginners.

Certificate

Awarded by Rescue Academy on successful completion of the program's assessments and final project.

Learn Online — Live Classes

Register, receive your schedule, and join live instructor-led Video Editing classes on Zoom. Assignments, instructor feedback, and a certificate on completion.

Learn In Person

Attend Video Editing classes in person in Juba with hands-on labs, instructor mentorship, and a certificate on completion.

What You'll Learn

  • Editing workflow: timeline, cuts, and storytelling
  • Audio cleanup and adding background music safely
  • Titles, captions, and lower-thirds (high readability)
  • Color correction basics for consistent look
  • Export settings for WhatsApp, YouTube, and Facebook

Curriculum

Beginner

Full lessons available below

Module 1: Introduction to Non-Linear Editing (NLE)

Learning objectives

  • Understand bins, timelines, and project organization

Lessons

  • Non-Linear Editing Concepts
  • Project Setup & Organization

Module 2: Timeline Management & Cutting Techniques

Learning objectives

  • Apply J-Cuts, L-Cuts, and jump cuts

Lessons

  • Cutting Techniques
  • Timeline Management

Module 3: Audio Syncing & Sound Design

Learning objectives

  • Sync external audio and mix a clean dialogue track

Lessons

  • Audio Syncing
  • Sound Design & Mixing

Module 4: Color Grading & Motion Graphics

Learning objectives

  • Apply primary color correction and basic motion graphics

Lessons

  • Color Correction Basics
  • Motion Graphics & Titles

Module 5: Video Storyboarding, Scripting & Multi-Format Exporting

Learning objectives

  • Plan a shoot and export for multiple platforms

Lessons

  • Storyboarding & Scripting
  • Export Settings for Delivery

Intermediate

Outline — full lessons coming soon

Module 1: Advanced Editing Techniques

Learning objectives

  • Edit multi-camera footage with advanced transitions

Lessons

  • Multi-cam Editing
  • Advanced Transitions

Module 2: Motion Graphics & Titles

Learning objectives

  • Create animated lower-thirds and kinetic typography

Lessons

  • Animated Lower Thirds
  • Kinetic Typography Basics

Module 3: Advanced Color Grading

Learning objectives

  • Apply LUTs and match shots across cameras

Lessons

  • Color Grading with LUTs
  • Matching Shots Across Cameras

Module 4: Documentary & Interview Editing

Learning objectives

  • Structure interview footage with supporting B-roll

Lessons

  • Structuring Interview Footage
  • B-roll Techniques

Module 5: Client Delivery Workflows

Learning objectives

  • Manage review rounds and deliver in standard formats

Lessons

  • Client Review Rounds
  • Delivery Format Standards

Advanced

Outline — full lessons coming soon

Module 1: Cinematic Storytelling

Learning objectives

  • Apply advanced narrative structure and pacing

Lessons

  • Advanced Narrative Structure
  • Pacing & Rhythm

Module 2: Advanced Audio Post-Production

Learning objectives

  • Mix and master audio with basic sound design

Lessons

  • Audio Mixing & Mastering
  • Sound Design Basics

Module 3: Multi-Platform Content Strategy

Learning objectives

  • Repurpose long-form content for short-form platforms

Lessons

  • Repurposing Long-form to Short-form
  • Platform-Specific Editing

Module 4: Freelance Video Production

Learning objectives

  • Price projects and manage client briefs and contracts

Lessons

  • Pricing Video Projects
  • Client Briefs & Contracts

Module 5: Capstone Project

Learning objectives

  • Produce a professional promotional video end to end

Lessons

  • Produce a Professional Promotional Video
  • Final Client Presentation

Full Lessons — Beginner Level

1. Introduction to Non-Linear Editing (NLE)

Non-Linear Editing means you can access any frame in any clip at any time — there is no fixed playback order like old tape-to-tape systems. Your raw assets (video clips, audio files, images, graphics) are stored in bins (folders), and you drag them onto a timeline in whatever sequence you choose. This gives you total creative freedom to rearrange, trim, and layer without damaging your original files.

  • Bins keep your project organised — create folders for "Footage," "Audio," "Graphics," and "Exports." Name every clip before you start editing.
  • Source Monitor lets you preview and mark In/Out points on a clip before adding it to the timeline. This saves time and keeps your timeline clean.
  • Sequence (Timeline) is where you build your story. A sequence has its own resolution, frame rate, and audio settings — set these correctly before you add any clips.
  • Popular NLEs: Adobe Premiere Pro (industry standard for documentaries/YouTube), DaVinci Resolve (excellent free version with pro colour tools), and CapCut (great for short-form mobile content).

Practical Skill: When starting a new project for an NGO documentary, create a bin structure: "01_Raw_Footage," "02_Captured_Audio," "03_Music_Bed," "04_Graphics," "05_Exports." Import all assets into their bins before touching the timeline. This habit alone saves hours of searching later.

Try it Yourself — Project Startup Checklist & Sequence Settings

==== NEW PROJECT STARTUP CHECKLIST (Adobe Premiere / DaVinci Resolve / CapCut) ====

[ ] Create project folder on your hard drive (e.g., "NGO_Water_Project_Doc")
[ ] Inside, create subfolders:
      /01_Raw_Footage      — original camera files (never move these!)
      /02_Captured_Audio   — external mic recordings (WAV, 48kHz)
      /03_Music_Bed        — royalty-free or licensed background tracks
      /04_Graphics         — lower-thirds, logos, title cards (PNG, PSD)
      /05_Exports          — final rendered videos

[ ] Open your NLE and create a NEW SEQUENCE with these settings:

      Resolution:    1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
      Aspect Ratio:  16:9 (standard widescreen)
      Frame Rate:    29.97 fps (NTSC) or 25.00 fps (PAL — common in Africa/Europe)
                     Use 25 fps for NGO docs shot locally; 29.97 for mixed-source content
      Pixel Aspect:  Square Pixels (1.0)
      Field Order:   Progressive (no interlacing — this is 2026!)
      Audio Sample:  48,000 Hz (48 kHz) — professional standard
      Audio Channels: Stereo (2 channels) for most projects; 5.1 only if required

[ ] Import all assets into bins inside your NLE
[ ] Name your sequence: "SEQ_Main_Story_v01" (use version numbers!)
[ ] Save the project file before adding a single clip
[ ] Set Auto-Save to every 5 minutes (File → Project Settings → Auto-Save)

==== WHY THESE SETTINGS? ====
  • 1920 x 1080 at 25 fps is the sweet spot for sharp visuals without huge file sizes.
  • Progressive scan means every frame is a full image — no motion combing.
  • 48 kHz audio matches professional field recorders (Zoom H1n, Tascam).
  • Naming your sequence with a version number lets you experiment without losing work.

2. Timeline Management & Cutting Techniques

The timeline is where your story comes together. It is divided into video tracks (V1, V2, V3...) and audio tracks (A1, A2, A3...). Video tracks stack vertically — clips on higher tracks cover those below. Audio tracks mix horizontally. Mastering the three essential cut types — Jump Cut, J-Cut, and L-Cut — gives you complete control over pacing, rhythm, and emotional flow.

  • Jump Cut: Two sequential shots of the same subject with no change in camera angle. Used in vlogs and interviews to remove pauses. Creates a fast, energetic feel.
  • J-Cut: The audio from the next scene begins playing BEFORE the video cuts to it. The audio "leads" the visual — like hearing someone speak before seeing them. Great for smooth transitions.
  • L-Cut: The video cuts to the next scene while the audio from the previous scene continues playing. The audio "trails" behind — like showing a reaction shot while the narrator keeps talking.
  • Use track toggles: the eye icon (visibility) hides a video track without deleting it; the lock icon prevents accidental edits.

Practical Skill: In an interview documentary, use J-Cuts to transition between the speaker and B-roll footage. The audience hears the speaker continue while watching related visuals — this feels natural and keeps engagement high. In short-form marketing videos (CapCut), use jump cuts to tighten pauses between sentences and keep the pace snappy.

Try it Yourself — J-Cut / L-Cut Layout Blueprint

==== J-CUT & L-CUT TIMELINE BLUEPRINT ====
(A = Audio track, V = Video track, frames indicated in brackets)

--- J-CUT: Audio leads, Video follows ---
  Timeline (in frames, 25 fps = 1 second):

       0         12        24        36        48        60
       |---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
  V1:  [  Scene A Video  ] [      Scene B Video      ]
  A1:  [  Scene A Audio  ] [     Scene B Audio       ]
       |---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
                            ^
            Audio of Scene B starts HERE (frame 12)
            Video of Scene B cuts HERE (frame 24)
            Overlap = 12 frames (about half a second)

  Net effect: Audience hears Scene B before seeing it.
  Use for: Interview → B-roll transition. Speaker continues
           talking while viewer sees related footage.

--- L-CUT: Video leads, Audio trails ---
  Timeline (in frames, 25 fps = 1 second):

       0         12        24        36        48        60
       |---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
  V1:  [  Scene A Video  ] [      Scene B Video       ]
  A1:  [     Scene A Audio      ] [  Scene B Audio     ]
       |---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
                             ^
            Video cuts to Scene B HERE (frame 24)
            Audio of Scene A continues until (frame 36)
            Overlap = 12 frames (about half a second)

  Net effect: Viewer sees the new scene but still hears the old one.
  Use for: Reaction shots. Cut to listener's face while narrator
           finishes their sentence from the previous clip.

--- QUICK REFERENCE: CUT TYPE vs MOOD ---
  Jump Cut     → Urgent, energetic, time-compressed (vlogs, tutorials)
  J-Cut        → Smooth, natural, flowing (interview to B-roll)
  L-Cut        → Reflective, dramatic, layered (reaction shots)
  Straight Cut → Neutral, invisible (standard dialogue coverage)

  Pro tip: In Adobe Premiere, press "Ctrl + D" (Cmd + D) to apply
  a 12-frame audio transition. In DaVinci Resolve, use Shift + T
  to extend the audio across the cut. In CapCut, simply overlap
  the clips on separate tracks.

3. Audio Syncing & Sound Design

Great video is 50% audio — bad sound ruins even the most beautiful footage. When filming with a camera's built-in microphone, the audio quality is often poor. Professionals record external audio with a field recorder (like a Zoom H1n or Tascam) and sync it to the camera's scratch audio (the low-quality internal track used as a reference). Balancing dialogue, ambient sound, sound effects (SFX), and music creates a rich, immersive experience.

  • Syncing: In Adobe Premiere, select both the external audio clip and the camera clip → right-click → "Merge Clips" → "Sync by Audio." DaVinci Resolve and CapCut have similar auto-sync features using waveform matching.
  • Dialogue: Always the most important track. Keep it clear, centred in the stereo field, and free from background noise. Use a High-Pass Filter (HPF) at 80 Hz to remove rumble.
  • Ambient Sound (Room Tone): Record 30 seconds of silence in every location. Lay this under dialogue to smooth out edits — it masks the "cut" between different takes.
  • Music Bed: Background music should support the mood, not fight the dialogue. Keep it low in the mix during speaking sections and raise it during transitions or montages.

Practical Skill: When editing an NGO field documentary, always sync the external lavalier mic audio with the camera scratch track using waveform matching (Premiere's "Merge Clips" or DaVinci's "Auto Sync Audio"). After syncing, mute the scratch audio track so only the clean external audio plays. Add a subtle room tone layer at −24 dB to smooth out background cuts.

Try it Yourself — Audio Mixing & Gain Configuration Blueprint

==== AUDIO MIXING & GAIN SETTINGS ====
(Dialogue-first approach for documentaries & interviews)

Target levels for clean, professional audio (never exceed 0 dB):

  Track Type               Target Level (dB)     Peak Limit (dB)
  − (dash continued)
  Dialogue (Main Speaker)     −12 dB to −6 dB        −3 dB
  Room Tone / Ambience        −24 dB to −20 dB       −12 dB
  Sound Effects (SFX)         −15 dB to −10 dB       −3 dB
  Music Bed (Background)      −22 dB to −18 dB       −8 dB
  Music (Foreground/Sting)    −12 dB to −8 dB        −3 dB
  Narration / Voiceover       −10 dB to −6 dB        −3 dB

  Rule of thumb: Dialogue should be the LOUDEST element.
  Music should sit 8-12 dB BELOW dialogue during speaking sections.

==== AUDIO PROCESSING CHAIN (apply in this order) ====

  1. HIGH-PASS FILTER (HPF)
       Dialogue: 80 Hz (removes mic rumble, air conditioning)
       Music:    40 Hz (preserves bass, removes subsonic noise)
       SFX:      Varies by sound — 100 Hz for footsteps, 20 Hz for explosions

  2. COMPRESSION (optional, evens out volume)
       Ratio: 2:1 to 3:1 (gentle compression for natural sound)
       Threshold: −18 dB (only affects peaks)
       Make-up Gain: +3 dB to +6 dB (restore overall level)

  3. LIMITER (prevents distortion)
       Ceiling: −2 dB (hard limit — never exceed this!)
       Release: 100 ms (smooth, natural return)

==== SYNCING WORKFLOW (Adobe Premiere Pro) ====

  1. Import camera clip (internal scratch audio)
  2. Import external audio file (WAV, 48kHz, 24-bit)
  3. Select BOTH clips in the Project panel
  4. Right-click → "Merge Clips"
  5. Sync Method: "Audio" → "OK"
  6. A new merged clip appears with 2 audio channels:
       Channel 1: External (clean mic)
       Channel 2: Camera scratch (mute or delete this track)
  7. Drag merged clip to timeline — audio is perfectly synced!

==== PEAK METER RULES ====
  • Green (-30 dB to -12 dB): Safe, clean signal
  • Yellow (-12 dB to -3 dB): Good, approaching peak
  • Red (-3 dB to 0 dB): DANGER — distortion possible
  • Red clipped (0 dB+): DISTORTED — lower gain immediately!
  • Your mix should live mostly in the GREEN and YELLOW zones.

  Never let any track hit the red 0 dB ceiling — once digital audio
  clips, the distortion cannot be removed. Lower track gain or use
  a limiter set to −2 dB as a safety net.

4. Color Grading & Motion Graphics

Color Correction is the technical step of fixing white balance, exposure, and contrast so the footage looks natural and consistent across all shots. Color Grading is the creative step of applying a look or mood — warm tones for a hopeful story, desaturated blues for a serious documentary. Motion Graphics (lower-thirds, title cards, logo animations) add professional polish and help communicate information visually.

  • Color Correction first, grading second. Fix the technical issues before adding a creative look. Use the waveform monitor and vectorscope in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere to check exposure and skin tones scientifically.
  • Primary correction: Adjust Exposure (Lift/Gamma/Gain) to balance shadows, midtones, and highlights. Set White Balance using the eyedropper on a neutral grey area.
  • Lower-thirds are text overlays identifying a speaker or location. Keep them simple — clean sans-serif font, semi-transparent background bar, 3-4 seconds minimum on screen. Adobe Premiere's Essential Graphics panel makes this quick; DaVinci Resolve's Fusion tab gives more control.
  • In CapCut Desktop, use the Colour Adjustment panel for quick corrections and the Text overlay for simple lower-thirds. For pro-level grading, DaVinci Resolve (free version) is the best choice.

Practical Skill: For an NGO awareness video shot on a smartphone in mixed lighting, start with the Scopes panel. If the waveform shows the image is concentrated in the lower third (underexposed), raise the Gamma (midtones) first. Grade with a subtle warm tint (+300K to +500K) for a hopeful, human-centric feel. Add a simple lower-third bar (80% opacity black bar, white sans-serif text) to identify speakers.

Try it Yourself — Primary Color Correction Sequence Checklist

==== PRIMARY COLOR CORRECTION WORKFLOW (DaVinci Resolve / Premiere) ====

  Step 1: ANALYSE THE FOOTAGE
  [ ] Load the clip into the Colour workspace (Resolve) or Lumetri panel (Premiere)
  [ ] Enable the Waveform Scope → check if exposure is balanced
        • Well-exposed: waveform spread evenly from 0 to 100
        • Underexposed: waveform clustered in lower third (0-40)
        • Overexposed: waveform clustered in upper third (60-100)
  [ ] Check Vectorscope → skin tones should fall along the
      diagonal line between Yellow and Red (the "skin tone line")

  Step 2: FIX WHITE BALANCE
  [ ] Use the White Balance eyedropper on a neutral white/grey area
      (white shirt, grey wall, paper)
  [ ] If no neutral area exists, adjust Temperature (Tint) sliders manually:
        • Too warm (orange):  Lower Temperature slider
        • Too cool (blue):     Raise Temperature slider
        • Skin looks green:    Raise Tint toward Magenta
        • Skin looks pink:     Lower Tint toward Green
  [ ] Target: Skin tones look natural; white objects look white.

  Step 3: ADJUST EXPOSURE & CONTRAST
  [ ] Lift (Shadows):     Set to 0-10 range  (deep blacks, no crush)
  [ ] Gamma (Midtones):   Adjust so waveform centre is around 40-50
  [ ] Gain (Highlights):  Set to 85-95 range (bright whites, no clip)
  [ ] Contrast:  Slight "S-curve" — raise highs by +5, lower lows by −5
  [ ] Saturation: Start at 50-60% for natural look; adjust to taste

  Step 4: MATCH SHOTS (for consistency across a scene)
  [ ] Select the reference clip (best-exposed shot) → click the
      "Still" icon to save a grade snapshot
  [ ] Select a clip to match → right-click viewer →
      "Match to Reference Frame" (Resolve) or Auto-Match (Premiere)
  [ ] Fine-tune manually if the match is not perfect

  Step 5: ADD A CREATIVE GRADE (optional, after correction)
  [ ] Lift (Shadows):         −2 to −5 for a filmic look
  [ ] Midtone Detail:          +5 for sharper perception
  [ ] Highlight Warmth:       +300K to +500K (add amber to highlights)
  [ ] Shadow Coolness:        −200K to −400K (add blue to shadows)
  [ ] Overall Saturation:     45-55% (documentary/natural)
                              60-80% (vibrant social media)

==== LOWER-THIRD TEMPLATE BLUEPRINT ====
  (Create in Premiere Essential Graphics or DaVinci Fusion)

  Duration on screen:       4 seconds minimum (6 seconds if long name/title)
  Font:                     Sans-serif (Inter, Montserrat, Roboto)
  Font Size:                36px (Name), 24px (Title)
  Font Colour:              White (#FFFFFF)
  Background Bar:           Dark blue (#1D448A) at 80% opacity
  Bar Height:               60px (Name), 44px (Title)
  Animation:                Slide in from left over 8 frames
                            Hold for 3.5s, slide out over 8 frames
  Safe Zone:                Keep text inside the "Title Safe" guides
                            (20% margin from screen edges)

5. Video Storyboarding, Scripting & Multi-Format Exporting

A script and storyboard are your blueprint. The script defines what is said; the storyboard sketches what is shown. Together they ensure every shot serves the story, reducing wasted footage and editing time. Exporting is the final step where you choose the right codec, resolution, and bitrate so the video looks great and plays smoothly on the target platform — whether that is WhatsApp, YouTube, or a TV broadcast.

  • Script first: Write a simple 2-column script: left column = "Visual" (what the viewer sees), right column = "Audio" (dialogue, narration, music). This clarifies timing before you start editing.
  • Storyboard: Draw rough thumbnail sketches of each key shot. Even stick figures work. The goal is to plan camera angles and transitions before you film — this is especially important for NGO field shoots with limited time.
  • Export codecs: H.264 is the universal standard for web & social media — great quality with manageable file sizes. H.265 (HEVC) gives the same quality at roughly half the file size but requires newer devices to playback. H.264 is safer for mobile sharing in low-bandwidth areas.
  • Platform presets: YouTube: H.264, 1920x1080, 15 Mbps. WhatsApp: H.264, 1280x720, 4-6 Mbps (compressed for mobile data). Facebook/Instagram: H.264, 1080x1080 (square), 6-8 Mbps.

Practical Skill: When exporting an NGO impact video for sharing via WhatsApp in South Sudan, use H.264 with a target bitrate of 4-6 Mbps at 1280x720 resolution. This keeps the file under 50 MB for a 3-minute video — easy to download on mobile data. For YouTube uploads, export at 1920x1080 with 15 Mbps VBR (Variable Bitrate) for crisp quality. Always use VBR 2-Pass for the best quality-to-size ratio.

Try it Yourself — Optimised Export Preset Blueprint

==== EXPORT PRESETS FOR COMMON PLATFORMS (Adobe Premiere / DaVinci Resolve / CapCut) ====

--- PRESET A: WhatsApp Mobile Share (Optimised for Low-Bandwidth) ---
  Best for: NGO field reports, short updates, advocacy clips

  Video Settings:
    Format:           H.264 (MP4 container)
    Resolution:       1280 x 720 (720p — sharp enough for phones)
    Frame Rate:       25 fps or 29.97 fps (match source)
    Bitrate (Target): 4 Mbps (4000 kbps)
    Bitrate (Max):    6 Mbps (6000 kbps)
    Bitrate Encoding: VBR, 2-Pass (best quality for file size)
    Profile:          High
    Level:            4.0 or 4.1

  Audio Settings:
    Codec:            AAC
    Sample Rate:      48,000 Hz (48 kHz)
    Channels:         Stereo
    Bitrate:          128 kbps (clear dialogue, small file)

  Estimated file size: ~30-45 MB for a 3-minute video
  Notes:             This preset keeps the file small enough to
                     download on mobile data networks (3G/4G).
                     Test play it on a phone before distributing.

--- PRESET B: YouTube Upload (Crisp Quality) ---
  Best for: Full documentaries, training videos, public campaigns

  Video Settings:
    Format:           H.264 (MP4 container)
    Resolution:       1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
    Frame Rate:       25 fps or 29.97 fps (match source)
    Bitrate (Target): 15 Mbps (15,000 kbps)
    Bitrate (Max):    20 Mbps (20,000 kbps)
    Bitrate Encoding: VBR, 2-Pass
    Profile:          High
    Level:            4.2 or 5.0

  Audio Settings:
    Codec:            AAC
    Sample Rate:      48,000 Hz
    Channels:         Stereo
    Bitrate:          320 kbps (rich, broadcast-quality audio)

  Estimated file size: ~120-180 MB for a 5-minute video
  Notes:             YouTube will recompress your video anyway, so
                     exporting at 15 Mbps gives YouTube's encoder
                     plenty of quality to work with.

--- PRESET C: High-Quality Archival Master ---
  Best for: Long-term storage, broadcast delivery, future re-edits

  Video Settings:
    Format:           H.265 (HEVC) or ProRes 422 (if storage allows)
    Resolution:       1920 x 1080 or source-native
    Bitrate:          50 Mbps (H.265) or ProRes (~220 Mbps for HD)
    Encoding:         Constant Bitrate (CBR) for maximum quality

  Audio Settings:
    Codec:            PCM (uncompressed WAV) or FLAC
    Sample Rate:      48,000 Hz
    Bit Depth:        24-bit
    Channels:         Stereo or dual-mono

  Notes:             Keep this master on an external drive. Export
                     smaller H.264 copies from it for sharing.

==== QUICK BITRATE GUIDELINE ====
  Resolution    Standard Bitrate    Low-Bandwidth Bitrate
  − (dash continued)
  1080p (Full HD)   10-15 Mbps            4-6 Mbps
   720p              6-8 Mbps            2-4 Mbps
   480p (SD)         3-4 Mbps            1-2 Mbps

  Rule: Lower bitrate = smaller file = lower quality.
  Find the sweet spot for your audience and platform.

Quick Quiz — Video Editing Basics

What is the key difference between a J-Cut and an L-Cut?
What is the recommended decibel (dB) range for clean dialogue in a documentary mix?

Quick Tip: You are reading the free online version of this lesson. To get a certificate, attend in-person training and complete all assessments. Practice daily with DaVinci Resolve (free, full-featured), Adobe Premiere Pro (industry standard), or CapCut Desktop (great for short-form content). Start by recreating the timeline blueprints above — then experiment with your own footage!

Tools & Technologies

  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • DaVinci Resolve
  • CapCut

Career Opportunities

  • Freelance video editor
  • Communications/media role at an NGO or media house
  • Small video production or media studio ownership

Practical Projects

  • Produce a 60-90 second professional promotional video for a local business or NGO, from raw footage to final export
  • Edit a short documentary segment using proper interview and B-roll structure

Ready to register for Video Editing?

WhatsApp: +211926196668 Email: rescueacademy26@gmail.com