I typically find that there is a lack of understanding when it comes to the importance of the editor's role in a video’s audio design, specifically in selecting and working the music track.

I once had a producer tell me that he usually just picked some tracks and told the editor to work with those:  CRINGE!  To me the heart and soul of "pace and flow" rest in the music selection and the arrangement of it (not just the track selection but the nuance and build of it.)  Not being able to influence the music is a very difficult pill for me to swallow.

Josh Bodnar, the emmy-award winning editor of the title sequence for the bloody and delicious "Dexter" was recently interviewed by Deyson Ortiz of DeysonOrtiz.com, and he had this to say about the topic:

"Audio is a huge portion of what I do. I personally like to work with the track before I start editing. I try to play it over in my head and visualize the edit and sequence of events. However, typically I’m working with a composer or an audio house that I collaborate with. We go back and forth like a teeter-totter. I edit a rough cut to a demo track – the composer comes back with more instrumentation – I enhance the edit and fine-tune it to the music. We go back and forth til we find our best work".

It's awesome to hear how that workflow goes; and, to all Producers and Clients out there:  You want your editor involved in the music selections!

Check out the rest of the awesome interview and the hour-long video chat with Josh on Design Chat.

Watch the “Dexter” 2007 Emmy Winning Main Title Sequence 

Bloom On!

Hans
Senior Editor / Producer