Editing Habits and Operations Improvement

OakesonPics wrote on 9/5/2012, 1:02 PM

I'm conducting research for the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University in Logan, UT. The research is about improving operations processes in the field of video editing.

I thought I would post on here asking for some specific tips that you have used to improve your editing efficiency or make your work environment safer (less prone to chronic illness). I'm basically looking for real world examples that I can further research and include in my thesis.

Just as an example, since film editing requires long periods in front of a computer screen, I've already looked into proper workstation positioning to prevent carpal tunnel and tennis elbow.

Thanks for your help!

Comments

vtxrocketeer wrote on 9/5/2012, 1:14 PM

My editing bay is in an area with controlled (dim) lighting, and my monitors are calibrated accordingly, especially as to ambient luminance. Hence, the strain on my eyes is minimized, i.e., I'm not looking at very bright monitors in a darker environment.

Along the same lines, I've tailored the color schemes of all of my regular applications to be dark, i.e., charcoal grey. Vegas is the lightest in color. Again, I find the color schemes to be easy on the eyes by minimizing eye strain. (It also helps me to adjudge color of my video, but that wasn't the point of your inquiry.)

Baron Oz wrote on 9/5/2012, 7:03 PM

I found that using a Contour Shuttle controller helped enormously with reducing hand fatigue and increasing efficiency. I also use dual computer monitors to spread out the windows and an overhead monitor for reviewing footage on an actual TV. A comfy chair goes a long way to allow extended work periods as well.

ushere wrote on 9/5/2012, 7:14 PM

use wacom instead of mouse

dual monitors

good sound

comfortable / clean working environment

REGULAR breaks AWAY from the screen - no longer than 2 hours at one stretch and break for at least 10 mins

8 hour working day!!!! (obviously not applicable to shooting days)

most important of all - the knowledge that my health and mental well-being FAR exceeds the importance of whatever project i'm working on.

xberk wrote on 9/5/2012, 9:33 PM

By far the most specific tip on how I improved my "editing efficiency" was when I switched to using Vegas 6. I've bought every upgrade since and still love using Vegas.

Another tip is to "save your work" frequently.. What ever editor you may use, things can happen and you wind up losing hours of time to some computer crash or just a slip up on your part. Saving your work frequently is really a biggie.

Another tip is that often the long way is the short way. Many editors are not really organized and pay a big price later. All your source material should be in one place, backed up and labeled so things can be found quickly.

One more thing which may not apply to everyone but has worked for me is to limit your edits to shorter sections, like 5 minutes or so, then piece those sections together to form the longer project. It's simply easier to work on shorter sections or to make changes in a shorter section than loading and working and saving longer sections. But I know some people find it easier to use long timelines.

Ergonomics is important, of course. But it's also a personal matter. I use to be in the office furn business and sold "ergonomic workstations" from the time that word started to have some currency. Believe me, ergonomics is very different for different people. One guy loves the "sit-stand" desk and another guy has to have a "knee chair" to be comfortable. Naturally, everyone should have a decent chair with good support for arms, wrist and back .. but many people get along very well with a workstation that would give me a headache. One size does not fit all. It's rarely a factor for the young. Give a young ambitious guy an editing job that pays real money and he will sit on a straight back wooden chair and not complain and be ready to party after work. The best ergonomic advice I can give has already been given above, Take breaks --- GET UP AND WALK around. It's good advice for the editing job and for the body!

Most of this stuff is common sense.

Editguy43 wrote on 9/5/2012, 9:59 PM

I second all that is said and use and love the shuttle pro 2 I do not know what I would do without it.
I use 2 keyboards, one Microsoft Natural for long typying sections, and another regular with key caps for vegas for editing.
I would also like to have and recomend to those with back problems a desk that can raise up so you can stand while working.
They are kinda expensive (for the power ones) but I have seen crank ones that are under $500 with no top.
Seems like a bunch of money but when your (my) back and legs start hurting it would be nice to be able to stand up and still get some work done.

http://heightadjustableworktable.com/

Paul B

Zeitgeist wrote on 9/5/2012, 11:03 PM

Take a 5 minute break every 20 to 30 minutes. Do hand, shoulder, neck yoga. I do a corpse pose every break. After a full day of editing I go for a hour walk to bring the blood back to my legs from sitting most of the day. Shoulder stand is a great way to freshen the circulatory system and is my favorite pose for the end of the day to loosen my neck & shoulders. There is even eye yoga that strengthens eye muscles & ligaments. Simply put yoga is the best for editors. Yoga works wonders.

vtxrocketeer wrote on 9/6/2012, 7:10 AM

I do a corpse pose every break.

I have to ask...

TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/6/2012, 7:24 AM

A Vegas editor I know never uses anything but a nice, quality trackball.

Zeitgeist wrote on 9/7/2012, 5:03 PM

Corpse pose is a yoga move where you lie on your back on a hard surface (floor) relaxing & deep breathing. It has the most bizarre name but is very revitalizing.