This is something I was thinking about earlier while watching one of Andy's videos... It occurred to me that he probably goes about editing a music video a lot differently than I do, and that interested me. There have to be a million different way to edit the same video, but each person (presumably) does it a little different than other people.

So how do YOU edit videos? Beginning to end. What's your process?

For me, I start by clipping the match. I try to make sure there are some filler clips in case I need them (poses, selling, etc.), and I also make sure that all of the clips are plenty long so that nothing's getting cut out at this stage. I cut that all down, then see how long all of the clips are together. Then, in order to pick a song, I assume that I'll need a song that's slightly over half as long as the clips are. 8 minutes of clips is probably about a 4 to 4 and a half minute video for me.

Then, I go into iTunes and sort the songs by time, and I just kinda start listening to all the songs that fit my time constraints. I try to pick songs that either people won't recognize, or that people will find interesting. I try to use local bands or unsigned bands as much as possible, not only because I hate seeing videos set to Breaking Benjamin, but I also know that it'll be safer for YouTube the more obscure it is. When picking a song, I also consider how much introductory video I have, how the match ends, how much post-match video I have, and things of that nature to make sure the song will fit nicely with the video.

Then I kinda just start cutting and lining things up. I just line up the clips how I want them at first, then go back and do effects and stuff later. Synching clips is always really important to me. I try to make sure people are bumping on the beat and that the clips switch on beat too. I always feel like this makes the video look better, so I try to pay close attention to it. Once all the clips are lined up and fit with the music, I go back and put in titles, effects, color, etc. And that's pretty much it for me.

I don't like to be restricted by a song so i like to figure out a song first that inspires me and really helps me be able to envision what I want to portray in the video. When i cut things then select a video I am then trapped by how long the video is and rhythmically i feel. I go through about 3 or 4 rough cuts before I'm able to get in there and start to throw on effects, movement, titles, etc.

I think editing action like wrestling has been amazingly different than editing anything professional i have ever done, every bit of the process really.

First off, I start editing as the show is going on. I see how many matches there are and about roughly how much content I can extract out of each match and how much time that may take up in a video. I do all of this sub consciously by the way.

Next I pick a song that fits the mood I am trying to set. I know people sometimes dislike songs I use because I dont use what is popular at the moment but I go for storytelling above and beyond anything else. A lot of times it may be a genre or a band I never listen to but it just creates the tone I want from it. Big shows/pivotal shows for a fed etc generally get the epica genre to create the powerful mood. Smaller, silly shows may get a silly song or hip hop to show that it was "fun". Deathmatches, what a shock, usually get death metal or something in that ballpark.

After I lay the track down I take note if I want to use more than one, an intro etc beforehand, each project is different, then I clip all the matches which is a grueling process. Before I even select a song I usually know if Im doing match order or random order. I typically choose match order because I like the show to be presented as a progressing show like it was in person, just condensed. Also I like to show progression of a match which is hard to do in random order, ESPECIALLY if its the kind of random order that mixes clips all over and isnt simply back and forth between progressing matches. In film cutting between scenes is the norm and is easy to follow but doing that many times within 3 minutes or less can be very hard to follow especially if you are juggling many matches.

I usually create my opening logo next or have a set Idea, sometimes I will do it last but save space for it. I lay down my clips and I'll time them with the points that must be done and do effects that are needed to be applied as I lay them down. Then once I get the clips all in place I'll review it many times and make timing adjustments, etc to make it work better and lay on some effects that still may need to be done.

So my videos may seem basic and all of that because i dont overload it with effects(which I optionally do NOT use except for intros or "filler" clips) because it takes away from the WRESTLING, thats what everyone here wants to see, not the crazy 3d effect garbage. It looks cool but there is no substance to it. I really try hard to tell a story with each individual match and the whole show as well and besides the video effects and stuff i do use I usually try and use the song to express it with the beats, the lyric, etc.

If you are making an MV you better let the song control the video, not the other way around. The song may limit what you can do or show but a good editor can make it work. After all it is a MUSIC VIDEO so i hate to say it but, the music comes first. (For the most part)

So there it is, I'd really like some fellow MV makers to watch some of my more "important" videos and see what I was talking about in them.

I dunno you guys, I've never really felt restricted by anything. I mean, I go through something like 100 songs before I choose one. Picking a song is the part that takes the longest for me. I don't pick the song based exclusively on the length I'm looking for, which is something I should have elaborated on. I usually use more serious music for my pro MVs, and sillier music for my yarding MVs. I like the video to reflect the way I felt at the show or about the match. I kinda try to think to myself "If this song was in a video I was watching, would I be able to watch the whole thing?"

Another thing I take into consideration when picking a song is what kind of songs I've used in the past. I normally don't like to use the same band more than once. On top of that, though, I also don't like to edit to the same style of music every time. I try to pick a song that's different from anything else I've done. I've yet to edit to something real heavy, but it's on my to do list. I'm currently working on a video set to Dub Pistol's "Cyclone," which is TOTALLY different from anything I've done before. I think doing this kinda keeps my editing style fresh.

I like to use covers, too. LOVE to use cover songs for some reason.

Editing Matches - In order, from beginning to end. I clip it as I go and add effects at the same time and somehow make everything fit in the song.
Editing Tributes/AMVs/etc. - I do it in parts.

Tributes/compilations are a lot more fun to do when you have the lcips but its a bitch in the clipping process.

I clip up the match first, then I find a song. Once I add the song, I fit the clips to it and add effects/transitions/nameplates last.

Just flows like honey from my sweet editing fingertips.

i am in a constant state of editing so there really is no start or end to the process. not only do i make mv's but i make tv shows.

I literally pick which song I want to use and then just take the clips right from the full match, add transitions, effects, ect as I go and it always works out for me. Never takes more than half an hour to make one.