The WHOLE song

[u_queen]

If the song is long, of course you have to cut it. Editing music is as important as editing the video, that'll give you a more personal trait to you creation

[Castor Troy]

I used to be against it and said "the whole song or nothing", but started realizing that certain parts of songs either don't fit or go on for too long.

[Knowname]

many amvs are ruined with long songs
then again many amvs are ruined cuz the rhythm of the song was killed in the process of remixing. basically you better know what your doing before you edit a song passed just cutting it short. Now if you re MAKE the thing and don't ruin it by singing off-tune lol than it's much easier to follow the beat aka remix.

But it's kind of fun just to see what can be made from the entire song (some Internet-AMV Chef events demand you to use the entire song). There are no rules (unless your talking to a legal expert) only good or bad amvs.

[Pwolf]

Don't forget cutting a song so it's shorter isn't the only way to edit the song... you can make it longer

[Ileia]

Most of the time I cut the song, but not always. Sometimes the song is a good enough match on its own. But if you do edit it, later you can be amused at other AMVs with the same song that used your cut. (Especially if you look on youtube, as in the case of Kristyrat's Psychosomasis, where there are quite a few copies that took his edit of the song AND his title, haha.)

[Megamom]

In my case it is necessary!

[Pie Row Maniac]

I say cut it down if it doesn't fit with the idea behind your video. If the 2nd verse is unnecessary and doesn't lend to what you want your video to be, by all means get rid of it. Although that's not to say one should cut the hell out of the song, stripping away all rhythm. That'd be just ugly.

[Dr. Derpface, J.D.]

If you can shorten the song and keep it from being noticeable, go for it if that's your thing. But you damned well better make the edit SEAMLESS, because people WILL notice if it's not. Meaning learn how to use multitrack mode in <Insert DAW Platform of Choice>, because just chopping it up in Wavedit won't cut it.

[Knowname]

here's my most proud moment of remixing


now here's the real song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9rh6Alhq6w

I really love what I did since I couldn't find a beer

[MycathatesyouAMV]

Sometimes in songs there might be a small section that wont fit your amv at all so its fine to cut it, but make sure it still sounds good.