2014

E-mails:

osman.mahmud@aljazeera.net

osmanm76@yahoo.com

AJAM - NYC

1/11/2014

The journey to superb Video-editing

guidelines & tips – by Osman

Mahmud!

Crucial Video-editing guidelines & tips – by Osman Mahmud!

My work over the last 20 years in the television industry has been a remarkable journey. While I have been with world-class organizations in the past, I find it especially inspiring to be part of Al Jazeera America. I have always respected Al Jazeera for its unbiased and well-researched news coverage. I am presently a manager of video-editing and production department at AJAM, working on news and feature stories. It gives me great pleasure to be able to present this proposed video editing guidelines for the company. This manual also includes tips that will help our editors greatly enhance the quality of our visual output. This proposal is an effort to create a solid standard for the video that is seen on Al Jazeera. Adhering to a unified set of guidelines will ensure that our video will have a consistent look across all our various networks. This will enhance the power of the images seen on Al Jazeera, and help set us apart from our peers in a very competitive industry. As an editor, I feel it is my responsibility to make our video as visually compelling as possible. When done right, this can greatly expand the ways we tell stories - by adding an intensity and a sense of urgency that will motivate our viewers to continually keep an eye on our network. I believe all Al Jazeera editors should strive to make that kind of an impact on our coverage, and edit their projects accordingly. Along with working according to our existing network standards, our editors need to also be familiar with the story they are trying to tell. That means knowing the details of the story, being aware of all available footage that is at our disposal, and having a creative mindset. Editing is more than punching buttons; it is passion, creativity and storytelling combined. Being well prepared allows the editor to match the emotion of the story with what goes into the video. This is a standard all our video editors should be striving for. Passion and hard work are keys to success in this area.

Getting started with a project Before starting to edit, a professional needs to get to know what the story is about. The editor should be talking with the reporter and/or producer about what they need to accomplish through this edit. Other requirements include a familiarity with the available footage, and the capabilities of the editing equipment at hand also are equally as important. Video editing is an “Art” when storytelling meets science Video editing is an “Art” when passion and creativity are part of the storytelling process. This requires both sides of the brain to be engaged. One half covers the technical aspects; the second half is for creativity. Cool effects and color manipulation alone will not result in a great story. That is why editors must understand the message of the story before they begin their work.

S.O.P (Standard Operating Procedure) for starting with projects.

Starting time code of sequence.

We have often come across situations where the starting time codes of projects differ from one to another. While editing techniques may vary due to the multiple systems used in our business, this should never be the case when it comes to the starting time code. We should always adhere to a consistent starting time code of 00:00:00:00. This is how we should be making it on AJMN channels.

S.O.P (Standard Operating Procedure) for Audio

NAT sound or narration audio levels and dedicated audio tracks. Very often we will come across reports edited in other parts of the world that arrive with unusually loud or inaudibly quiet Nat sound tracks. Sometimes there is no Nat at all. Other packages come in with all the audio mixed onto one track, which can limit editing options across all AJMN channels. This is because of a failure to split up the tracks and set correct audio levels on the mixers. This will be noticeable in the resulting package. Such mistakes can result in over modulation due to the lack of well-balanced audio levels and compression during the original editing process. These kinds of mistakes should be considered unacceptable under any circumstances. To prevent this from happening; The NAT sounds, music and sound effect tracks should be set around -35dB, unless there is no narration. Then the level should be brought up to a full -12dB level to replace VO track. But if voiceover/narration is to be used, then the VO track should be around -12dB level, as shown on the sound mixer illustration below. I should point out here that the optimal level setting can vary from one system to another. Those variances should be corrected here as part of our normal production process.

S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedure) for Audio Track Allocation

Track 1: VO/Narration – 12dB level Track 2: NAT Sound – 35dB – unless no narration needed, then bring up to full -12dB level Track 3: Sound effect (if needed) 135dB level Track 4: Music (if needed) -35dB unless no narration needed and bring up full -12dB level ALWAYS: Split the Audio tracks

S.O.P (Standard Operating Procedure) for sound levels.

Audio channels

We must always be aware of our audio levels and sound quality. Our editors need to make sure the audio is

allocated correctly to the proper track. It is important to ensure there is always a dominant audio channel for each

audio track. Editors should always split audio tracks for whatever element/report they work on. Under no

circumstances should the audio tracks be mixed,

This is to gives us the ability to access each individual track in order to modify it, delete it, or replace with an alternative audio in the future, without affecting any other tracks in the project; as illustrated in the graphic below.

(Mix Audio (Avoid) (Split Audio (Always)

S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedure) of levels and Allocations of Audio Tracks.

Track 1: VO/Narration 12dB level

Track 2: NAT sound 35dB unless no narration needed and bring up full -12dB level

Track 3: Sound effect - 35dB if needed

Track 4: Music (if needed) - 35dB unless no narration needed and bring up full -12dB level

Always: Split the Audio tracks

Always: Remember to cross dissolve all audio tracks with the exception of VO/Narration.

S.O.P (Standard Operating procedure) for fixing small/odd looking videos/photos

Small video/photos: With technology and social media platforms evolving on a daily basis, Al Jazeera often receives video in all types of formats that come in odd sizes and colors that cannot be broadcast as received. Because of this, we need to be able to resolve these visual issues by modifying them to the best of our creative abilities. Here is an example: Editors must avoid oddly sized/colored video as seen in the picture below, which leaves black across much of the screen.

We must avoid airing this What needs be done to fix it? 1. Place the Network's standard graphic background under the video and crop the black off the video on both sides so that instead of the black as shown above; the graphic background will appear as seen below.

BG. GFX Compose it

2. If there is not a graphic background in place, then double up the image or video on two video tracks, the lower track video should be scaled to fit the full screen and BLURRED. Then place the 2nd video on top of it and crop off the black as shown on the screen and timeline below.

BLUR It Compose it

S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedure) of color correction

It is always important to treat the final edited report with color correction to give our product a stylish look that is

visually appealing. This is usually the final part of the editing process. After that the final edited copy is rendered.

We expect that all of our editors already understand the fundamental principles of colour correction. It begins

with balance, to determine the various colour temperatures. Editors can adjust RGB colourcasts and the black

and white contrast ratio for video on the waveform and vectorscope monitors. (The vectorscope is used to

measure the colour information in a video image; while the waveform displays the luminance, or

brightness of a Video.) The process begins with balance, to determine different colour temperatures. An editor

has options including adjusting RGB colour casts, the black and white, and contrast ratio for video to achieve

colour correction. The final result will depend on the editor having a good eye for colour. A basic example of this

can be seen below.

Example 1; Before colour correction after colour correction!

Example 2; Before colour correction after colour correction!

Colour Effects

S.OP. (Standard Operating Procedure) of crucial steps in how to edit packages.

PKG/SOT; Not leaving enough “pad at the top” and “end of the reports and SOTs” is also a problem. It can result in a tight in/out, freeze frame or black on air. To avoid this, we should always start 3 seconds at the TOP and leave 4 to 5 seconds of pad at the end of all these projects. Useful - SOPs: (Standard Operating Procedures steps)

1. START report at: 00:00:00:00 or at whatever agreed time code – but keep contestant. 2. Begin report with: minimum of 2 seconds for pad in - with nats up and start smoothly followed the V/O. 3. End report with: minimum of 04 seconds of pad out for smpoth out. 4. Minimum shot long in the report/timeline: 2” seconds to ease it on the eyes of viewrs. 5. ALWAYS: apply color corrections/effects - to enhance the quality of final contents to air 6. Track 1: VO/narration -12dB with an audio level 7. Track 2: NAT sound -35dB unless no narration is needed, then bring it up to a full -12dB level 8. Track 3: sound effect (if needed) -35dB audio level 9. Track 4: Music (if needed) -35dB unless no narration is needed, then it up to a full -12dB level 10. Always: allocate dominant Audio track for each spesificse nature of an audio channel 11. Always : apply cross fade effects on all Music tracks, NAT sounds and sound effect tracks (except vo) 12. Always : mantaing spliting an Audio tracks on prpject (Never ever mix) unless for specific reasons. 13. Always; Apply BG. GFX under the small sized videos/pics and crop off black as stated above. 14. Always; avoid cutting from one shot to another without reason. Base cuts on narration. 15. Always; edit with a sense of creativity and passion to visualize the story effectively. 16. Always: Add creative transitions between 2 SOTs (if they are back to back) 17. Always: treat the final edited report with final abolishing for a strong visual appeal 18. Always; ensure your report is inspiring visually and tells the story in a powerful fashion. 19. Always; preview all edited reports before clearing them for air.

Once the final project is as polished as possible... Then you are good to go, and clear it for broadcast.

Bon voyage and best of luck with your efforts to reach the high standards we are all striving to achieve!

Crucial Video-editing guidelines & tips – by Osman Mahmud

1. Record the narration track on bin/timeline of the project and lay it in channel 1 of timeline.

2. Start editing the Narration/VO audio on channel 1 using the script as a reference point. Leave gaps on the

timeline for sound bites and reporter bridges as well as NATs pops that you may want to feature.

3. Insert sound bites in the gaps left on the timeline.

4. You have built the skeleton of the report on your timeline. You will now have a good idea of how long the piece will be when complete. At this point you are almost done with the basic structure of the pkg.

5. Now the true editing session begins. This is the point where the editor needs to bring creativity and passion to visualizing the story effectively. Follow the script and start filling out the pkg with appropriate video and Nat sound on channel/track 2. If any additional Nat sound is needed, place it on channel/track 3.

6. Should there be any music in the piece, place it on channel/track 4

7. No report should be edited without providing a minimum of 3 or 4 seconds of pad at the top and end.

8. Don’t cut from one moving shot to another moving shot. This must be avoided whenever possible. It can be jarring to the viewer. If you must, add a cross-dissolve.

9. Always ensure that your audio is normalized and placed on the proper track when editing.

10. Don’t repeat the same video effects within a report. Try using a variety of transitions and effects.

11. Always be patient and remain calm with colleagues especially during the high-pressure situations that may

arise. This business requires strong cooperation between all our team members.

12. Continue striving to improve your editing skills by viewing other people’s work and keeping up online with

the various editing forums.

13. While editing, try to use instrumental music. Only use vocals for parts of your video where there is no dialogue. Try to edit to the beat of the music. By this I mean, change your shots on each beat or every other one. The same principle applies to VO sounds as well.

14. Remain passionate and motivated while editing; especially when cutting from one shot to another and in

timing out the shots. Every cut must have a strong reason for switching from one shot/camera angle to

another. You should be working to advance the story you are trying to tell with the video.

15. Never store footage from your editing station on the local computers. This can slow down the editing

machine, which is on your local computer. Therefore always store the video in the network drive or in an

external drive.

16. Ask your camera operator to shoot events from as many angles as possible to provide options to

effectively visualize the story during the editing process.

17. It is absolutely essential to avoid choppy editing that results from shots being too short. This is because

sometimes editors have to slow motion or still-frame a short shot to make it usable.

18. Editors need to put passion into their projects to make sure the final video comes out as professional

looking as possible. This can be done with editing tricks such as appealing transitions; fades and continuity

editing that make the video look its best in storytelling and inspiring to watch.

The importance of having right attitude, collaboration and integration towards all team members!

One must realize that in the test of time, attitude wins over skills. And therefore attitude vitally important

lasting significant success alongside possessing the strong skills to perform the job in hand well – (by

showing reliability on turning around pieces quickly under high-pressure situations)

It is not a secret that our field is indeed an extremely nerve-racking and competitive. Therefore one must

realize needs not only technical skills to doing job in hand well but also human management skills; such

as the will power for communicating effectively, cooperating and coordinating well. This is what helps one

to integrate with members of the team and meet the demands. From my over 22 years of experience

attained of globally well-known TV companies; all producers, writer and reported working in this fast-

paced, 24-hours news environment wish to work with an editors who absolutely possess;

A good interpersonal conducts, greetings with a smiles, excellent ability to

collaborate, an eagerness to assist, calm demeanor, attentions to details in

our current competitive industry, Great editing skills with speeds, an eye for

content, an ear for details and attention to production quality etc.…………

So I suggest peering always these characteristics in mind. This is what helps the final work stands out

and ensures people would count on you for valuable asset to the news team.

Produced By Osman Mahmud – manager, Video-Editing and production at AJAM (Aljazeera America)