Learning to Edit — Day 1
Using ChatGPT, VSDC, Dropbox, Premiere Pro, and Canva
Introduction
I know how to edit conceptually, but not practically and at scale. Whether it is producing a reel, a short, or a YouTube video, the tools available today are massively more accessible and user-friendly than they were even five years ago. Sometimes, the abundance of options can be overwhelming, along with the numerous features. This post documents my learning curve as I start to create videos.
My Background
For the past three years, I have been editing audio with VSDC. Between 2022 and 2023, I consistently used TikTok until I realized their community guidelines varied significantly across countries. I received strikes for content that was perfectly acceptable in other countries, just not the U.S., so I eventually gave up. All my TikTok content used photos and short video clips with their in-app editing tools for music, stickers, and text. I also did some unedited live interviews on YouTube. It became clear that to get value from my efforts, I needed to learn how to edit.
Tools and Subscriptions
As a full-time graduate student, I get an Adobe Creative Suite discount. I pay for an annual Canva subscription (around $200) and an annual VSDC subscription (around $20). I also paid for Streamyard, where I recorded the video, and for ChatGPT, where I did some planning, asked questions, and reviewed the transcript. Today, I learned for the first time that Dropbox could provide a transcript of an audio file. Streamyard also offers transcription with an upgraded subscription. For this video, I used the Premiere Pro transcript feature for captions.
Podcast Production
I produce a weekly podcast and am comfortable scheduling guests using Calendly. I provide a pre-interview document via Google Drive and meet guests in the Streamyard studio. I typically record for 70–80 minutes to allow for editing down to a 60-minute deliverable. I have 5-second intro and outro music from Envato Elements, purchased with a full broadcast license since the show airs on an online radio station. However, be cautious with Envato Elements subscriptions, as they automatically enrolled me in a monthly plan, which I had to cancel and refund.
Editing Journey
I have always used VSDC for audio editing, but I have limited skills in video editing. My workaround is to use features I know on each platform while incrementally adding to my learning curve through the creation process. My ultimate goal is a streamlined workflow for a multi-channel adventure, but today, I’ll share my first video editing experience.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1:
I had two audio files: the raw one from Streamyard and the edited one from VSDC, both labeled as MP3 files. I imported the raw file into Premiere Pro and ran the voice-to-text transcription. Meanwhile, I shared the edited MP3 with my 360 Talk Radio for Women producer and tried Dropbox’s transcription feature.
Step 2:
I imported both transcripts as .txt files into ChatGPT and asked for a comparison. ChatGPT noted that the Premiere Pro transcript was more detailed, including time stamps and every voice tick, while the Dropbox version was cleaner but lacked time stamps. Premiere Pro worked with a raw file, and Dropbox with a clean file, highlighting their respective strengths.
Step 3:
Using ChatGPT, I identified key moments in the script to pull for short video clips. I downloaded the full video file from Streamyard, which took time due to its length.
Step 4:
I imported the video into VSDC, clipped files easily, expanded the view to include only my guest, and created a 2-minute clip. I saved it as a Master file and then as Clip1, deleting additional material and exporting it.
Step 5:
I imported the clip into Premiere Pro to experiment with the background remover and Ultra Key but realized I needed more skills and time. I used the transcribe function, edited the generated paragraphs, and added a graphic with my guest’s name. I decided against it to avoid conflicts with captions and explored Canva for further editing.
Step 6:
In Canva, I used a blank YouTube landscape template, added the video, stretched it to full layout, and cropped it around my guest’s face. I added a partially transparent background, the Women Techmakers logo, text with my podcast title, and a title graphic with her name. I downloaded the video as an MP4 file after resolving upload issues.
Step 7:
I imported the new MP4 into Premiere Pro, ran the transcription feature, and made edits. I set the captions and chose a readable color combination, then previewed the video and made final text adjustments.
Step 8:
I noticed a few extra seconds of unwanted content. Using the Razor tool, I trimmed the video, downloaded it as an MP4, and uploaded it to YouTube. I considered scheduling it but decided to publish immediately after confirming with my guest.
Step 9:
Adding music did not happen this time. I have a subscription to Epidemic Sound and plan to learn how to add music to my videos.
Future Plans
Next, I will revisit the original video master and create more clips, rough cutting and fine-tuning them. The multi-tool workflow is time-consuming due to uploading and downloading files, which can quickly use up hard drive space. Proper file, folder, and pathway management is crucial, especially for data science, GIS, and machine learning projects. My goal is to repeat this cycle with my past and future interviews and explore other video ideas.
Update: I got an edit note back to remove a word in the dialogue. Fortunately, as I learned how to use Premiere Pro and its razor, delete, and ripple delete functions, it was pretty simple to deliver. It did, however, warn me of the dangers of using multiple platforms to edit. I had considered if I had needed to go back earlier in the process on VSDC or Canva and bring it back into Premiere Pro if I would have had to re-edit the entire text transcript. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case and the final polish was really easy. I am now really excited to get on with the task of making more videos.
Conclusion
I hope this post helps someone starting or evolving their content journey. If you have questions, please let me know, and I will continue to share what I learn along the way, aiming to make better videos and use my time more effectively.
Podcast
My podcast “Muse and Metrics” airs weekly on 360 Talk Radio for Women. You can download the 360 Talk Radio app on the PlayStore or AppStore. Listen at 360 Talk Radio for Women or enable Alexa Skill 3–6-Zero Talk Radio for Women. Replays of Season 5 and Season 6 episodes are available on the Muse and Metrics YouTube channel.
