Best Video Editing Exercise: Contrast (In-Depth)

You've probably heard that the best edits are the ones you don't notice. But that's not always true—especially when you're trying to evoke an emotion. I'm Austen Menges, a professional editor with over 20 years of experience specializing in broadcast TV commercials with budgets of $100,000 and higher, and today I want to share a powerful editing exercise you can start using right away.

Editing isn't just about seamlessly connecting shots. It's about creating contrast between them. Here, I’ll break down different ways to add contrast to your edits—and the final lesson ties them all together in an important way. Watch the video above for the full lesson.

Concept I

One common mistake I see is editors finishing their visual edit and then simply laying a single ambient track and a basic effect underneath the whole piece. In my example, for instance, they might add a general forest ambiance and a dirt bike sound and call it done. But there’s a better way.

The next time you’re working on sound design, find a unique sound for each shot. When you cut between visuals, hard cut between sounds too. New shot, new sound. This instantly builds dynamic contrast.

In my sequence, I used sounds like footsteps, a bird cooing, and the motorcycle starting—sometimes even introducing the sound before the visual cut (a technique called a sound advanced cut). Other moments feature dramatic hard cuts between motorbike sounds, debris flying, and changes in loudness. These sharp transitions enhance the viewer's emotional experience.

Concept 2

Early in my career, I would pick one music track that matched the visuals, lay it under the whole edit, and call it a day. Eventually, I realized music offers one of the biggest opportunities for emotional contrast.

One of the most powerful techniques is cutting from music to no music—or no music to music—within a few frames. That sudden silence or sudden burst of sound grabs the viewer emotionally. In my sequence, the music drop-out creates a quiet tension, and when the music kicks back in as the motorcycle lands, it injects an energetic, triumphant feeling.

Additionally, instead of letting music simply fade out, I chose a part of the track that felt like a real ending, syncing it with the end of the video (a small change that makes a huge difference).

Concept 3

Another way to create contrast is through rhythm—how quickly or slowly you cut between shots. Think of it as changing the tempo of the edit.

At the start of my sequence, I established a steady rhythm with four similarly timed shots. Then I dramatically slowed things down, holding on shots longer. Suddenly, I doubled the pace, cutting twice as fast before easing back into longer shots again. Even if you make smaller changes, shifting tempo creates subtle emotional shifts. Push it even further and you can create intense emotional spikes.

Concept 4

Beyond simply hard cutting between sounds, you can make the sounds themselves wildly different. Loud mechanical noises like a revving bike can smash into the quiet serenity of a forest. Shifting between completely different sonic textures—not just cutting sounds but changing the type of sound—adds powerful contrast.

Another technique I used is called perspective shift. Sound changes dramatically depending on whether it feels up close or far away. By using different recordings and mixing techniques like reverb and speed adjustments, I created subtle shifts in where the sound feels like it's coming from. Even small perspective changes make the world of your edit feel deeper and richer.

Concept 5

Contrast can also come from how you move through visual space. Film language usually moves from wide shots to medium shots to close-ups. But intentionally skipping that middle step—jumping from a wide shot straight into a close-up—creates a punch of visual contrast. I used that technique in my sequence, moving sharply between different framings for extra impact.

I also played with speed, cutting between slow-motion shots and full-speed shots. The shift between the two adds energy and tension. Another layer came from mixing handheld shots with static frames, switching between movement and stillness to keep the visuals feeling fresh and unpredictable.

Final Lesson

At the start of this lesson, I mentioned that many people believe great edits should be invisible. That’s true—sometimes. But there’s also a time and place for creating contrast, friction, and surprise when you want to make a powerful emotional impact.

The key is to edit with intention. Don’t just sprinkle in these techniques randomly. Think about the emotion you want to evoke in the first five seconds of your piece—and throughout—and choose the tools that will help you get there.

If contrast helps serve that emotion, use it. Whether it’s through sound, music, rhythm, or visuals, contrast can be one of your strongest editing tools. Master it intentionally, and you’ll find yourself in the top 1% of editors.

Happy editing!

Austen is an ADDY award-winning film & commercial editor with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with global brands like Meta, KPMG, SAP, and Christianity Today. His PSA work has championed causes like school safety (with Matthew McConaughey), driving safety, and anti-tobacco. A thought leader in the editing field, his online lessons quickly amassed over 100K views after launch.