Create the Perfect Screencast Every Time: 9 of the Best Video Editing Tips

Want to create the perfect screencast? Here are the best video editing tips to ensure that they never fail to be perfect.

Screencasting is an art. Sure, anyone can record their computer screen, but that doesn’t mean it’ll always go over well. Screencasts can be painful to watch if the creator doesn’t know what he or she is doing. So it’s important to make sure your videos don’t fall into that category. Here are 9 best video editing tips that are sure to improve your screencast videos.

1. Choose An Easy-to-Use Screen Recorder

The screen recorder you use to create your screencasts can really make a difference in how your video turns out. You want something that’s high quality and easy-to-use.

Choosing a screen recorder with multiple features is also key in creating a perfect screencast. It should give you the ability to record your webcam for those times when you want to show your face. Drawing features are also a plus so that you can use arrows, shapes and text to emphasize points throughout your recording.

You can also use video editing software to enhance your screen captures. ScreenPal not only offers a free screen recorder but it also has a video editor to make quick edits. You can add images, video clips, animate arrows, and more!

2. YouTube-Friendly Program

Consider choosing a program that makes it easy to upload your video to social platforms like YouTube.

What’s so important about YouTube? Nearly 2 million people use it. That’s a huge audience for your videos. If you don’t have your screencasts posted to YouTube, you could really be missing out.

YouTube is used for making money, sharing home videos, watching live broadcasts, and more. You never know who’ll love your content, so get out and share it. Even if you don’t want to broadcast your video to the world, you can upload it for easy private sharing via links.

3. Allow the Process to Happen

Editing isn’t a one-and-done type of thing. It takes time if you want it to be done right. So let it take its course!

First, plan out your video. The better you plan the less you’ll have to edit later. Writing an effective script or outline will keep you on point.

Once you’ve recorded, start making your edits. Whether you need to cut portions of your video or add transitions and other recordings, make sure you turn to an intuitive video editor to get it done. Since you planned your video out before you began, you’ll have less throw-away material to sort through.

4. Keep all Footage Until You’re Done

You may decide you don’t need a certain clip or part of a certain clip. So you delete it.

While it may seem like a good idea to cut the video out early, you may regret it later. You may just decide you actually wanted part of that clip, but it might be irretrievable now.

To save yourself the headache of suddenly not having what you need, keep a master copy of all your video files until you’re certain you’re finished with your video.

5. Eliminate Pauses

If you don’t keep things going you’re going to lose your audience. One tip is if you’re not speaking or showing something on the screen, cut it out.

Be careful making these cuts during the editing process, though. Before you eliminate a clip, make sure you weren’t illustrating something that you missed the first time.

6. Get to the Point

Your audience likely won’t be engaged if you take forever to make your point. You only have seconds to get them interested and keep them in your video.

With viewers more willing to skip to something else, you have to engage your audience from the get-go. And while you’re doing that, make sure your screencast only covers the essentials.

Only show them the basics. The shorter your video, the better. You can still be thorough and quick at the same time. Just show what you need to show, then be done.

If you do want to give more in-depth guidance, consider having multiple series of videos. Categorize them so your viewers know which videos are quick how-tos and which ones are more in-depth.

7. Remove Mistakes

Errors are basically inevitable. Everyone makes them. So don’t assume your first capture was perfect.

While you’re viewing your recorded content, make sure everything you do or say is perfect and something your audience will be engaged in. Does your mouth mention the same thing that your mouse is pointing to when you’re illustrating a point? Do you ever have to correct yourself? If these things happen in your video, be sure to edit them out.

8. Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Editing video can take a while, so use shortcuts wherever you can. One great way to do this is through keyboard shortcuts.

Keyboard shortcuts make it so you don’t have to move your mouse around so much. And it means you don’t have to transition your hand between your keyboard and mouse as often.

While these may be cutting milliseconds, every single one counts.

9. Cut Background Noise

Since you’re making a screencast, you’re likely trying to demonstrate something. Your efforts will be hampered if you have any unrelated sounds in the background.

From TV shows to kids, to dogs barking, extra sounds are distracting. So make sure they’re eliminated from your screencast.

Listen carefully as you go through your edits. Hopefully, you’ll be able to simply eliminate the extra noises that are present. If not, you may need to re-record parts of your screencast.

This sounds like a pain, but trust us, it’s worth it to your viewers.

Enhance Your Screencasts With These Best Video Editing Tips

Great screencasts are well edited. Distractions are removed, errors are cut, and the focus is appropriately kept. If you don’t do these things, you run the risk of losing viewers.