The better the editor, the better he/she is at sex?

[godix]

Most editors seem to focus on the rythem and music sync, but I can think of at least two other ways of doing things offhand.

Otohiko has always seemed to be a more textural editor. He has internal sync and all that, but that's rarely his focus. Instead, his primary focus seems to be building up and supporting a mood rather than simplistic syncing to the beat. For example, most people who edit to Eva use the action scenes and are tightly synced, Oto made the viewer stare at that boring ass beach scene for a minute or two. It works for him, enough so that I can remember Wasteland far better than almost any other Eva vid, but it's clear he doesn't focus on the same things other editors do. Bakadeshi's earlier works also seem to have this textural editing thing going on, but he quickly became just another sync editor.

Almost all of my videos have a message or idea that dictates my scene choice and cuts more than the rhythm does. The idea doesn't have to be complex or deep, usually it isn't, but there's almost always some core theme. For example, in any of my Dedicated to ... vids, the bits I edit are directly related to whoever I was mocking. Some other editors in those MEPS made mostly random stuff that had no real tie to the subject, which is fine and I ain't complaining, but I can't do that. I get totally lost when I don't have some sort of theme to guide me. DokiDoki would be a better and more known example of this than me though. He almost always have a tight focus on a theme that is more important to the vid than musical syncs.

So while almost all editors do pay attention to the music, that doesn't mean that is always the important part. There are other ways of doing things. However, in general, the org has always focused on sync and little else. Almost all our guides and advice to noobs is about syncing, which may be why AMVs tend to be far far more synced than 'real' music videos are. It's actually one of my semi-frequent complaints about the org.

[Megamom]

I think the rhythm is essential for an AMV ... and yes... an editor has better musical sense than the average human... this means that we are not human

[8bit_samurai]

So while almost all editors do pay attention to the music, that doesn't mean that is always the important part. There are other ways of doing things. However, in general, the org has always focused on sync and little else. Almost all our guides and advice to noobs is about syncing, which may be why AMVs tend to be far far more synced than 'real' music videos are. It's actually one of my semi-frequent complaints about the org.

I don't think the problem is that the Org focuses too much on sync, it's that editors tend to use the wrong type of sync and/or sync too much or too little. Like you said Oto's Eva vid is memorable because it syncs correctly (or perhaps differently, at least). The most common editor should be able to at least lyric sync and beat sync, and that should be all it takes to make a decent video (aside from quality of the sources). Most mistakes is when the editor doesn't sync enough (i.e. use one episode (or sometimes just one scene) and just slap it on the timeline with some music and call it done), syncs too much (i.e. use a lot of cuts that disrupts the flow of the video), or uses the wrong type of syncs or doesn't use enough of a certain sync in a certain category (i.e. mainly using beat sync and not enough lyric sync in a romance video).

When it comes to music, I think all it takes is to understand the song, the lyrics (if there are any), and its mood. Once an editor does (if they don't already), they should be able to determine how to sync it with the source(s) they have have available.

[PaperIsland]

No, you can only be good at one.

Choose wisely.

[Kariudo]

So while almost all editors do pay attention to the music, that doesn't mean that is always the important part. There are other ways of doing things. However, in general, the org has always focused on sync and little else. Almost all our guides and advice to noobs is about syncing, which may be why AMVs tend to be far far more synced than 'real' music videos are. It's actually one of my semi-frequent complaints about the org.

Strange, a near complete lack of sync is why I can't watch normal music videos anymore...that and the story and mood told by the music video (if it's not just a random bunch of clips) is either completely wrong or just meh.

Perhaps the reason the guides focus on sync more is because basic sync is both easier to grasp and explain than trying to explain one person's interpretation of a given song (and how to edit to suit that interpretation.) A lack of sync will almost always stick out in a person's mind more than the story conveyed by the video (people like patterns, and if they can't find a pattern...it bugs them.)

Storytelling is more of an enlighten thyself deal. You might be able to coach someone up to a point, but in the end the editor must define their style on their own. So as far as that goes, I do believe someone who can feel the music will probably be a better editor than someone who can't.

[EvaFan]

The thread title would of been a more interesting topic IMO...

I don't think editing has any effect on anything like this. It has more to do with personality.

[Beowulf]

does an editor needs to have a sense of rhythm and a sort of feeling for music (or any sort of feeling in particular) in order to be a good editor?

Stupid question. Gratuitous thread.

The answer is yes.

[seasons]

I'd like to believe that this hobby attracts the sort of people who see (and hear) the world just a little differently than everyone else, but the tracks that most editors choose definitely suggests otherwise. I know I need to just get over it already but I'm continually let down at the lack of variety and surprises in the kind of music that I find both here and on the 'tube. I don't get the sense -- at least not as often as I'd like to -- that the editor is "feeling" the music or has chosen it for any reason other than a surface-level thematic connection to the video source. That's not to say that I haven't enjoyed videos employing traditional or mainstream rock and pop songs: I'm still surprised at how some truly gifted editors here are able to breathe new life into music that I otherwise would never have given the time of day to on its own. Maybe a lot of AMV makers have an honest and deep appreciation of music but I haven't seen a lot of evidence that most have any kind of superior sense of rhythm, at least no more than the average person. I'd love to be proved wrong, though.

Likewise, one of my criteria for good music is "you can't have sex to it". Music that is well-suited to sex is as sophisticated as a brick. That kind of music is usually aimed at lower parts of people, and is not meant for listening, i.e. is trash.

What a rockist post this is. People can have experiences every bit as emotional, cerebral, and genuine while listening to beat-oriented music as they can while listening to progressive rock, classical music, or whatever genres or sounds you have a personal affiliation for. I don't know if you're referring to most people's ideas of "techno" here (i.e. progressive trance, diva house, Cascada, etc.) or all sequenced electronic music but I just think that's a disturbingly dismissive statement to make.

Now downloading "The Wasteland" and looking forward to it, btw.

[Otohiko]

Just for the record: I occasionally like being a pretentious ass, especially about music. I have my own hang-ups on that, so don't take me too too seriously, it only increases my ego

[BasharOfTheAges]

I'd like to believe that this hobby attracts the sort of people who see (and hear) the world just a little differently than everyone else, but the tracks that most editors choose definitely suggests otherwise. I know I need to just get over it already but I'm continually let down at the lack of variety and surprises in the kind of music that I find both here and on the 'tube. I don't get the sense -- at least not as often as I'd like to -- that the editor is "feeling" the music or has chosen it for any reason other than a surface-level thematic connection to the video source. That's not to say that I haven't enjoyed videos employing traditional or mainstream rock and pop songs: I'm still surprised at how some truly gifted editors here are able to breathe new life into music that I otherwise would never have given the time of day to on its own. Maybe a lot of AMV makers have an honest and deep appreciation of music but I haven't seen a lot of evidence that most have any kind of superior sense of rhythm, at least no more than the average person. I'd love to be proved wrong, though.

I think the caveat of 'good editors' specified in the OP is missing in your analysis. Of course, taken to it's correct conclusion, that's a bit like saying "hobbyist painters are pretty good at choosing colors" and "stunt drivers are pretty good at avoiding or surviving crashes" in the level of "no shit" responses that should immediately spring to mind.