Simplicity vs. Frills: What makes good editing?

[BishounenStalker]

What makes better editing in your opinion? Good timing or use of special effects?

I personally prefer good timing/beat-matching over effects. Sure, effects can look really good and they're difficult as all hell to edit, but to me they tend to be distracting (especially lens flares and borders).

Anyone else?

[ErMaC]

That's like asking which is better, chocolate or vanilla?

The best combination is them together, both done well.

Anyone can do decent timing, and anyone can do decent sfx, but a great video is when you get just the right mix of both, done well.

[BMXRIDERSI]

Nowadays people are coming out with new fancy effects that draw their attention. In most cases an effect can be very persuading, so much that the viewer ends up focusing on the effect rather than whats going on. Some times i see videos that are so technical i have to watch it over like 5 times to understand why this and that is moving. Effects are kewl to have, just bad when used to much, because i think the feeling when anime and music are put together with a perfect sync and feeling it makes the viewer want to watch it again to experience the same mood. Same goes for effects only they might wanna watch it again to see how the effect was done, or so more than they did the first time. You'll know what to do, just look for that feeling and you'll know how much effects to put. Just try not to rush or over do anything

[trythil]

That's like asking which is better, chocolate or vanilla?

That is a hard question...both are aphrodisiacs

Back on topic:

Frills are neat, but what's really neat, to me, is when an editor can make a complex effect look simple. For example -- and at the risk of sounding arrogant -- I've been told that this animation sequence doesn't look like it was retouched, but it was actually the result of a lot of airbrushing and compositing.

Of course, even complex effects and compositing can't hide bad timing. If the editing sucks, then the video will suck.

In conclusion, I think I just wrote a longer, more conceited version of what ErMaC opined. It's the combination of both that really make a good video.

[ShonenDizzyCow]

Hmmm. Aren't we forgetting one more critial ingredient that is so often neglected in favor of atomic precision timing or hyper flashy effects.

Footage selection.

Choosing the best footage there is for each edit I feel is even more critical in making a video better and is the core of good editing. Of couse this is not to say timing and effects aren't important, but they seem secondary to being able to choose the best scenes there is during editing.

[mexicanjunior]

Hmmm. Aren't we forgetting one more critial ingredient that is so often neglected in favor of atomic precision timing or hyper flashy effects.

Footage selection.

Choosing the best footage there is for each edit I feel is even more critical in making a video better and is the core of good editing. Of couse this is not to say timing and effects aren't important, but they seem secondary to being able to choose the best scenes there is during editing.

And don't forget the shameless lyric synch.

[Vlad G Pohnert]

Both can be just as important (no preference for either way) as long as they are used right and it all depends on the porject!

timing/beat-matching can be screwed up and done badly just like a special effect.

Why only use a wrench when you have a whole tool box to choose from!

Vlad

[jbone]

Hmmm. Aren't we forgetting one more critial ingredient that is so often neglected in favor of atomic precision timing or hyper flashy effects.

Footage selection.

Choosing the best footage there is for each edit I feel is even more critical in making a video better and is the core of good editing. Of couse this is not to say timing and effects aren't important, but they seem secondary to being able to choose the best scenes there is during editing.

And don't forget the shameless lyric synch.

Who needs lyric synch when you've got a solid concept?

[Fluxmeister]

And don't forget the shameless lyric synch.

Who needs lyrics? (been a while since one of my videos has even
had lyrics...)

If special effects aren't timed at all... well then what's the point? So
overall, timing wins.

Lens Flares are funny... just funny... kind of like radial blur/zoom... or
other drag and drop effects (invert being my #1 fav x 5000). If an
effect seems to fit naturally with the video... it's a good thing... if it looks
forced or is excessively used... it's worthless.

[NME]

Vanilla owns. Period.