Intro to Video Editing:
Adobe Rush
Adopting the Mindset of a Video Editor
There are lots of different software choices for editing videos, including something simple like iMovie! While learning software is necessary, learning how to think like a video editor/maker is probably the most important skill you can develop. Being a good video editor is to be a good storyteller. Videos have structure, narrative arcs, storytelling devices, etc. If you can tell a friend a good story, then you can learn to be a good video editor. The following short video talks about some of the skills and mindsets you can develop to be a good video editor,
Learning Technical Editing Skills
While there are tons of different programs out there, most the skills are transferable between software. You can learn in one program, and transfer a good portion of what you know to other programs, so there is no wrong place to start. The Brown University community has access to Adobe Creative Suite, so in general, we recommend programs like Adobe Rush and Adobe Premiere.
Adobe Rush: Perfect for Video Essays!
Adobe Rush is simple, easy to use video editor. It can create really good clean videos and can be used both as a mobile app and a desktop app. It is similar to imovie in function and ease. Its a great choice if you are just starting out with video editing or want to learn how to make content quickly. Adobe Rush is our top recommendation for students wanting to create video essays for courses.
To learn how to use Adobe Rush for your video essay, scroll down below for some tutorials on how to get started.
Want a Challenge? Try Adobe Premiere
Adobe Premiere is a professional video editing software used by both content creators and industry. While it is a bit more complex and has a steeper learning curve, it has much more flexibility and capability. Premiere is a great step up if you already have some editing experience in iMovie or Rush already, OR if you are interested in developing marketable skills that will make you more competitive in any job market. Click on the button below to get started
Install Adobe Rush Desktop App
While you can use Rush on a phone or ipad, we highly recommend working on a desktop. To access the program, you will have to:
Once you have it installed, you will see all the available apps.
Locate "Premiere Rush" and click install.
Getting Started with Adobe Rush
Adobe provides great tutorials on their website. We will be highlighting a few of them below, but feel free to view their entire catalog for even more!
Getting to know Adobe Rush (3 mins)
Review: "Getting to know Adobe Rush"
Premiere Rush is Adobe’s first all-in-one, cross-device online video editing app
Premiere Rush includes the power of Adobe’s Pro Tools: you can capture video, edit, color-correct, record and clean up audio, customize animated titles, and publish to social media all in one tool
Premiere Rush projects are saved in the cloud, so your changes are reflected across all your devices through automatic project syncing
The Premiere Rush mobile app includes all the same features as the desktop version of Premiere Rush
Select media, trim elements, and easily rearrange clips in your project timeline
Switch your video’s orientation to portrait, square, or landscape with a click of a button
Export and publish your videos directly to multiple social media platforms at once
Understanding the Interface
Review: "Understanding the Interface"
To start a new project, simply click on the blue “Create a New Project” button
Use the Media Browser to locate and select the media you are going to use in your project. The media can be video, images, or audio
Media is added in the order that you select it. You can preview what your timeline will look like at the bottom of the Media Browser
After your project is set up, within your editing workspace, click the blue “+” icon on the upper left of the window to add more titles or media or to create a voiceover
Below the “+” button is the project panel, where you can see all your project media and organize it
Click the house icon at the very top to return to the project browser and then select another project, or continue editing your current project
Use the playback controls to move within your video and click the full screen icon to view a video in full screen
Switch the video’s orientation to landscape, vertical, or square
Learning the Editing Tools
Review: "Learning the Editing Tools"
Editing tools are located at the bottom left of the Premiere Rush editing workspace
Move the playhead to the location you want to cut, then click the scissors icon to split the clip into two separate clips
Select a clip and duplicate it using the Duplicate button. If you want to delete it, click on the Trash icon in the lower left
To move clips around in the timeline, click and drag them to a new location. Other clips will automatically respond and adjust to the new placement
Click on the Expand Audio icon in the lower left to reveal the audio associated with your video clip. This enables you to shorten or lengthen the audio separately from the video clip
Premiere Rush automatically identifies the type of audio in your timeline and displays icons for voice, music, and other formats
Premiere Rush supports up to four video tracks and three audio tracks. You can move your clips within those track limits in your timeline
Use the bottom scroll bar to zoom in and out of the timeline. Select and drag the circle on each end to enlarge or shrink the size of your timeline
Refinement tools include built-in title templates and Adobe Stock templates, transitions, and color presets
Update audio settings to control a clip’s volume level and auto-duck music to voice clips
Transform tools make it easy to control the position, rotation, and scale of a clip
Customizing Titles
Review: "Customizing Titles"
Use a default title:
Double-click on the Title button and a default title will appear in the center of the monitor. You can customize the font, style, size, character spacing, line spacing, and baseline shift, and also adjust the color fill, outline, and shadow from the Edit tab
Trim or lengthen the duration of the title by dragging the orange handles in the timeline
Scale, rotate, and change the title’s position directly in the preview monitor using the transform box
Use animated title designs:
Search for title styles and motion graphics by keyword from the Title panel on the right
You can edit the text and choose a new font, style, or color from the Edit tab
In addition to title templates, you will also find free transition and element templates from the panel, all of which you can customize for your video
You can also choose to search Adobe Stock for thousands of additional motion graphic templates to use in your video
Applying Transitions: Practice Module
You can follow along with this tutorial by downloading the raw media files below
Review "Applying Transitions
Apply a transition
Available transitions include the Cross Dissolve, Dip to Black, and Dip to White.
To apply a transition to both the start and end of a clip, position the playhead over the clip in the sequence to select it. Open the Transitions panel and, under Presets, choose a transition preset.
To apply a transition to the start or the end of a clip, rather than to both edit points, drag a preset from the Transitions panel and drop it at the start or end of the clip.
To apply a transition at every cut point between all clips, select all the clips in the sequence, and then choose a transition preset from the Transitions panel.
Change transition duration
You can change the duration of a transition in the Edit tab of the Transitions panel or in the sequence.
With a transition selected in your sequence, go to the Edit tab of the Transitions panel and move the Duration slider or enter a numeric value for the duration.
Alternatively, in the Timeline, move a transition’s handles to adjust the duration.
Change transition placement
In the sequence, drag a transition left or right to begin the effect earlier or later.
Delete a transition
Select the transition in the Timeline, and press Delete on the keyboard.
Tip: If you want to change an existing transition’s type, select the transition in the sequence and choose a different type in the Transitions panel. The location and duration of the effect are unchanged.
Exporting your Project!
This video reviews multiple ways you can export or share your project! For the purposes of making videos for courses we recommend that you:
Export locally (saving to your computer)
Use the Youtube 1080 Preset for best combination of quality and file size.
Review " Exporting your Project!"
In the first release of Premiere Rush, your social sharing destinations include YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Behance. More destinations will be added over time.
Publish to any social destination by turning the switch to blue
Log in to your social media channel
For YouTube, follow these steps:
Select a playlist you would like your new video to be added to
Add a title, description, and tags, choose a privacy setting, upload a custom thumbnail, and schedule (optional)
Premiere Rush will automatically choose optimal export settings for the platform, but you can go to advanced settings to select a YouTube preset you prefer
Click Export. You will get one more chance to review your video before it is shared with the world
Congratulations! You are on Your Way to Being A Video Editor!
And remember there is alot more Adobe Rush can do, so check out the other tutorials they have online!