Essential Skills for Content Creation

Software

• Adobe Premiere
• Adobe Audition
• Adobe Rush
• iMovie
• Garage Band For Mac
• Audacity for Windows
• Creative Cloud

Entry Level Positions

• On the job training is limited by available in some markets.
• Specialization in one field.
• Earning certifications in specific.

Advanced Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in film, broadcasting or similar field
• Five to 10 years Experience
• Must be creative as the field is very competitive.

Specific Skills

• Communication
• Computer Literate
• Creativity
• Attention to Detail
• Ability to Multitask

Editing Video

Adding Video to Timeline by Importing Clips

You can import clips directly from the home screen, which automatically adds them to the timeline in sequence. This method is convenient if you're certain you want to use all the clips. However, I prefer to preview clips first before adding them to the timeline. This gives me greater control from the start and ensures I only include the footage I actually need. I go over this in the next video.

Adding Video to Timeline using In and Out Points

The Media Browser on the left-hand side of the screen displays your folder structure and stored files. Navigate to the desired folder to view your clips. Double-click a clip to load it into the preview/sequence viewer. From there, set an In point and Out point to trim the clip to the exact segment you want. Once satisfied with your selection, insert the trimmed clip directly into the timeline.

Gavin Herman YouTube Videos

Content Creator Gavin Herman's free course Premiere Pro Tutorial for Beginners on YouTube is a basic beginners course in using Premiere Pro. Gavin offers sample files to work along side his videos. This is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn how to use Premiere Pro.

Cutting

Cutting clips effectively requires a good eye for timing, knowing exactly when to cut, how long to hold a shot, and plenty of patience. During editing, it's easy to accidentally remove too much or overwrite something important, so attention to detail is critical.

Cut too early, and your audience will sense something is missing. Leave a shot too long, and it can feel disconnected from the story. Even minor inconsistencies can stand out to experienced viewers.

You'll likely grow tired of watching the same clips repeatedly, but staying diligent through the process ensures a polished final product that truly pays off.

Transitions

Transitions are essential for avoiding harsh cuts in your video. When combining clips from different angles, smooth transitions help tie everything together into a cohesive story.

Subtle options like fade and cross dissolve maintain the natural flow without drawing attention away from the content. Avoid overusing flashy effects — just because they're available doesn't mean they belong in your project.

Use transitions purposefully: less is often more.

Adding Audio

Learning Audition

For a quick beginners tutorial, Mike Russell does a great job of introducing Audition for Beginners. This is a basic introduction that hightlights important processes to make help make your audio sound professional. Although, you can't learn this program in eight minutes it is a gateway to introduce the capabilites. He also has other great videos on his channel.

Other Resources

There are many videos on YouTube to help you learn how to edit video and sound. If you don't mind paying for a subscription, LinkedIn Learning has several classes on Adobe Premiere and Learning Adobe Audition. I believe you can access these for free if you are enrolled in classes at MSU. You may have to reach out to the marketing department but they were able to set me up quickly.