How do you line up your edit to music?

JAlps

JAlps

Member
I've always been curious what other filmmakers thoughts are on this, usually when I'm making an edit I like to line up take offs and landings, or any other point of action with the rhythm of the music (usually the bass or some other harder sound). For me it feels like it adds sort of an auditory after bang feeling to the shot. I've been watching a lot of ski movies and edits lately and noticed that most people have a different style/approach to this technique. What do you guys do when editing to music?
 
yeah most people do this. lining up important musical movements to big tricks absolutely contributes to the intensity of an edit.

your title sort of sounds like you are asking how people do this well, and I think a lot of people do it differently.

personally, I make a rough cut of the edit without music, just shots layed out in the general order I think will work best.

Then, I lay the track over it, and line up the most important parts (bass drop with big trick landing or something).

Last, I will extend or trim in and out runs of tricks to try to get landings slow mo or cuts to line up with the rhythm of the music.

for me this is the best mix of time efficiency and clean music/shot cohesion.

interested to hear what others do!
 
13914562:Johngreenacre said:
yeah most people do this. lining up important musical movements to big tricks absolutely contributes to the intensity of an edit.

your title sort of sounds like you are asking how people do this well, and I think a lot of people do it differently.

personally, I make a rough cut of the edit without music, just shots layed out in the general order I think will work best.

Then, I lay the track over it, and line up the most important parts (bass drop with big trick landing or something).

Last, I will extend or trim in and out runs of tricks to try to get landings slow mo or cuts to line up with the rhythm of the music.

for me this is the best mix of time efficiency and clean music/shot cohesion.

interested to hear what others do!
Click to expand...

Yo I do the same process haha. I wasn't asking how to, more just curious what other peoples process is to maybe expand my horizons a bit and get a fresh perspective.

Watching some level1 films recently I saw a total different style, it seems like they only like to line up hits to music more occasionally than other guys like TGR etc.
 
for me I line up a song and listen to it dozens of times running the edit visually through my head lining up different parts of the song, a lot of times before I've even shot a single clip. As I shoot I continue to listen to the song a bunch and then when it comes time to edit I'm good to go and I have most of it mapped out. I tried editing before I picked out a song and it just didn't work, I stared at the screen until I finally settled on a song. Everyones got their different style but for me personally I need to know the music beforehand
 
Oh man, a few years ago there was this crazy awesome thread where hkn went off on editing ski footage, had the most crazy insight I've seen on here. If I can track that down you'd have some great reading material
 
I think the music has a very important influence on the feel of an edit....

Lately i've been changing how I edit to music....I used to try to match tricks with every beat or drop but there alot of different ways music can compliment at shot
 
Overly trying to align the landings/takeoffs with the song often makes the flow of the edit worse. Picking a track which fits the vibe and pace of the edit is usually way more important. Used to also overdo this.
 
13921103:Whiteout_ said:
Overly trying to align the landings/takeoffs with the song often makes the flow of the edit worse. Picking a track which fits the vibe and pace of the edit is usually way more important. Used to also overdo this.
Click to expand...

For sure, I frequently hear songs I'd like to use in edits but end up tossing almost all of them out for this reason. Depends on what footage you have too. Lots of quick park shots = faster tempo/hard bass, long pow lines= vibey riffs and less vocals IMO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top