Ep15: The Power of Music: Elevating Your Edits Through Soundtracks

In this episode of The Video Editing Guru, host Dustin explores the indispensable role music plays in video editing. Emphasizing its power to evoke emotions and drive narratives, Dustin explains that the choice of music can make or break a video production. Music influences the pacing of cuts, transitions, and effects and integrally enhances the mood of every scene. A key technique is syncing video cuts to the beat of the music, providing a visually harmonious experience. With intriguing examples, Dustin also outlines how music can boost production value, promoting a polished, professional result. He provides pointers on sourcing licensed music and concludes that music is an essential tool that transforms a good edit into a great one.

• Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / Home

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey, what's up, Fellow creators? Welcome back to another episode
of the The Video Editing Guru, the podcast where I dive
into all things video editing to help you become a
master in the art of post production. I'm your host Dustin.
Today we're going to explore the power of music in
video production, its role, importantness, and how it enhances your content.

(00:24):
Let's dive right in music and video editing is no
mere background noise. It is a potent tool in the
arsenal of video editing that drives emotions, tells stories, and
shapes the audience's experience. Whether you're setting up a high
energy action sequence, a compelling documentary, or a quick social

(00:46):
media clip, the music you select has the capacity to
drastically transform your videos perception. So why does music hold
such a pivotal role in video editing? Picture this. You
have stunning visuals, stand out performances, and an engrossing narrative,
But absent is the right music, and the video falls flat.

(01:09):
Music is the adhesive that binds all elements together. It's
the additional layer that enhances mood, pacing, emotion, and creates
a deeper connection with your story for your audience. Now
let's dissect this a little further. First off, music helps
drive your story. As you're cutting your video, the music
should lead the viewer through the narrative, whether it's building

(01:32):
suspense in a tense scene or enhancing the joyfulness of
a moment. Music impacts the scene and the pacing of
your cuts, transitions, and effects. Secondly, music has the unique
ability to evoke emotion. Imagine a dramatic scene without an
intense or somber track, or an inspiring moment without uplifting music,

(01:53):
it just won't hit the same right. Music enhances the
mood of the scene, making every moment more impactful. Now,
let's look at an example. Picture the final battle in
your favorite superhero movie. The visuals are intense, the stakes
are high, But what makes your heart pound the swell

(02:13):
of the music reaching its peak as the scene's intensity rises,
pulling you right into the battle. Absent is the music,
and it's just not as exhilarating. And how about syncing
your cuts to the beat of the music. As editors,
this is a technique that we can employ to create
a visually harmonious and engaging experience. It's like your video

(02:36):
is dancing to the music. Last but not least, music
boosts the production value of your project, providing a polished,
professional look. Irrespective of your budget, even a simple feature
can be transformed into a cinematic piece with the right music.
So how do we find just the right track? There
are numerous platforms like art list, Epidemic Sound, and audio

(02:59):
Jungle where you can source both free and paid tracks,
But remember it's crucial to use properly licensed music, especially
when disseminating your content on platforms like YouTube or in
commercial spaces. In summary, music and video editing is indisputably
a vital component that amplifies your story, stirs deep emotions,

(03:20):
and leaves a profound impression on your audience. That's a
wrap for today's episode. Folks, Always remember the enormous impact
music can make on your final cut the next time
you sit down to edit. It's the emotional lifeline of
your video that lifts your edit from good to great.
If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe and
leave a review. For more guidance and resources to bolster

(03:42):
your video editing workflow, check the show notes for a
link to my website. I'm Dustin, your host of the
video Editing Guru until our next episode. Keep creating, and
keep those soundtracks epic.