How a music video comes together
Most music video shoots give an editor the same raw material: several full takes of the performance, each filmed against playback of the track, plus scenes, b-roll and close-ups. The first job is lining every take up to the master so the lips and hands match the music. After that we build a performance pass that holds up on its own, then weave in the story footage and the detail shots.
Lip sync and playback
If the song was played on set while you filmed, each take can be synced to the master by its audio. Takes filmed without playback, or with the song played at a different speed for a slow-motion shot, need lining up by eye. Tell us which shots were filmed that way and at what frame rate, and we'll handle them separately.
Cutting on the song
A music video follows the song's shape. Verses tend to stay with one setup longer, choruses open up with more cuts and wider shots, and the bridge is often where the story footage takes over. We mark the sections on the master before cutting, so changes to the structure are easy to talk about: "more story in verse two" or "hold the wide shot through the last chorus."
Color and finish
Send two or three videos whose look you like. We grade the footage toward that mood, keep skin natural under strong colored lights, and match shots from different cameras so the video reads as one shoot. Lyric text, titles and an end card with your release details can go in at this stage.
Versions
- The full video in widescreen for YouTube and your website
- Vertical teasers cut from the video for release week
- A short loop for streaming profiles that support video, sized to the spec the platform lists
- A version without lyric text or titles, if a distributor or channel asks for one
If a distributor handles your video, ask them for their delivery spec early, and we'll export to it.
Questions
Can you work with footage from a crew we hired?
Yes. Ask the crew for the camera originals, the playback track they used and any notes on the best takes.
Do you write treatments or direct shoots?
No. We edit what was filmed. If you're still planning the shoot, we're happy to say what coverage makes the edit easier.
Got a show on a hard drive? Send the setlist, say what was filmed and what you want back, and we'll reply with a written quote.
Request a quote