What is the Fastest Way to Learn Video Editing?

Sometimes, you need to learn a new skill quickly. This might be because you need to learn a specific aspect of that skill for a project that you are currently working on or you want to start on a new career path as soon as possible. If this sounds like you, this article will explain all of the fastest ways to learn video editing at all of the important levels of proficiency, since when you are judging the fastest way to learn a new skill, you want to consider your end goal.

Free Resources: The Very Basics

If you are looking to learn very basic video editing skills or learn a specific skill for a project you are working on, the fastest way to learn is likely to be one of the many free training resources available online. For the extreme basics, for example, how to utilize the basic interface of Premiere Pro, most companies produce free walkthroughs that will explain how to navigate the program and use the basic features of the program. These tools are helpful for absolute novices who want to quickly learn how to start experimenting with the program. Tech training companies, like Noble Desktop, often offer free samples of their courses in order to give students an understanding of the kinds of things they will learn and these resources can be a good way to learn some basics of the applications. Additionally, many training providers put short videos on YouTube or other platforms to cover small subjects (such as how to use specific tools in Premiere Pro).

These resources are also a good way to learn the basics of film editing theory and the art behind the process of film editing. There are a lot of free books, resources and even online classes that you can enroll in to learn why it is that editors make the choices they make and what distinguishes a successful editing job from an unsuccessful one. This can be helpful for aspiring editors who have focused most of their attention on learning the technical side of video editing.

Introductory Classes: For Students Looking to Become Comfortable with Video Editing

Students who are looking for a slightly more immersive training program, while still learning the essentials quickly may want to consider enrolling in an introductory course from a training provider, like those offered by Noble Desktop. These classes, which can focus on individual applications (like Premiere Pro) or the basics of video editing in general often only last a few hours to a few days, meaning that you can easily knock out all of the basic training within a weekend, making these classes ideal for busy professionals who need to get a grasp on video editing but don’t want to invest the time in larger courses. These classes also provide students with flexibility in terms of scheduling and enrollment. Since they are relatively short courses, they are offered frequently and you’ll only need a day or so blocked out of your schedule to enroll in one. 

These classes tend to focus on the rudimentary skills that all video editors will need to know, regardless of the kinds of projects that they are working on. As such, they tend to be more technically focused, teaching students how to use applications and make common, simple edits rather than more complex and specialized editing decisions. Students looking to learn editing techniques and the theories behind those techniques may wish to consider enrolling in an introductory class (or an on-demand course) focusing on stylistic, film editing rather than technical video editing skills (though likely, you’ll want to do both).

Certificate Granting Programs: For Aspiring Professionals

While not the fastest way to learn video editing on the whole, if you want to build a career in video editing after you finish your training, a certificate-granting program, like those offered at Noble Desktop, is almost certainly going to be your fastest option. These programs aim to condense an entire video editing curriculum into a few short weeks (or a few short months for part-time students) and their career-focused structure makes them ideal for students who are looking to get professional development assistance alongside their technical training. These programs also tend to provide students with the skills they need in order to become certified in one or more video editing and design applications, which can greatly improve their chances of being hired.

These programs sit in a comfortable middle ground between introductory/intermediate courses and enrollment in a full-on film studies program (with a focus in film editing). The content covered will focus more on professional skills rather than introductory material or advanced theory, which is a good middle ground for anyone hoping to quickly develop the skill set they need to start editing professionally. You won’t get the immersive theoretical background that a film studies program would give you, but you also won’t spend 2 to 6 years working on a degree, nor will you be left to fend for yourself once you’ve completed an introductory course. These kinds of programs are the fastest options available for students’ whose goal is immediate professional development and employment.

On-Demand Courses: It's Hard to Tell

Video editing is, unsurprisingly, a common subject for on-demand classes, given that if you know how to edit videos, you know how to edit a on-demand video editing course. These courses are appealing for a number of reasons and students may want to consider them if they are interested in quickly learning the art of video editing. However, unlike other classes, the time that it takes to complete and learn from an on-demand class is harder to gauge and students will need to take stock of their own needs and study habits if they want to take advantage of these courses.

As a general rule, on-demand classes are best suited for students who need to learn a specific, beginner or intermediate skill as soon as possible, since once you enroll in an on-demand class, you are immediately able to start working on the material and consuming the lessons. This is especially useful if you have a background in video editing but need to learn how to make very specific edits on the fly, like going to Coursera or MasterClass to learn about the art of montage and how to build a montage in Premiere Pro. These courses are going to be slightly slower for most students looking to learn the basics of an application (since they won’t have feedback or support on early subjects) and slower for students looking to become career-ready (unless you have a ton of time to dedicate to the process and are a good self-learner). On-demand classes are an excellent way to pick up necessary skills and to help you overcome specific difficulties you are having in your projects or training very quickly, but they are likely to be significantly slower than video editing classes taught by live instructors if you are looking to get a more complete education.

Learn Video Editing Skills with Noble Desktop

Regardless of how much time you want to spend learning video editing, Noble Desktop has a course that is built to fit your needs. Students looking for a detailed, professional training program can spend 126 classroom hours learning video editing skills in the Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate program. In this course, students with no background in video editing can prepare themselves for a career in the industry in full-time or part-time sessions. Students will learn how to edit complex video content using Premiere Pro, After Effects and Audition, and since this is a career-focused course, students will build an application-quality demo reel to demonstrate their skills as aspiring Video Editors.

Students seeking a more accelerated training program should consider enrolling in a course like the Premiere Pro Bootcamp. Over three days, students will get hands-on experience working with Premiere Pro, and they will learn everything from basic to advanced skills and get a handle on working with Premiere Pro at a professional level. Students will learn how to navigate the user interface and make simple cuts in one or more video files. They will also learn the basics of maintaining continuity, aligning audio and keeping their video project moving smoothly. Then, students will learn how to work with multiple video files, multi-step edits and adding, removing and cleaning audio files.

Finally, students looking for a quick introduction to video editing can enroll in the Premiere Pro in a Day course. This course will give students six hours of hands-on Premiere Pro training to help them become familiar with the interface and the basic process of uploading video files and working with them in the Premiere Pro interface. Students will learn how to clip and merge video files, and they will learn the basic philosophies that go into creating edited video content. This course is a quick introduction to the application for students looking to learn more about the tools and begin experimenting with Premiere Pro.