Brands often want to use your content in more than one place, like YouTube and TikTok. To make that possible, some briefs now ask for your clean edit in 16:9 (landscape).
When a brief needs one, you'll see it flagged on the upload slot, so you know what format to film in before you start. The platform also checks the aspect ratio as you upload, so if anything needs changing you'll know straight away.
🎬 What is a clean edit?
A clean edit is an exact copy of your final edit, except it has:
no onscreen text
no graphic overlays
no background music or sound effects
You can keep any dialogue or voiceover in your clean edit.
🎥 How to film for multiple formats
If a brief needs a 16:9 clean edit, keep that framing in mind from the moment you start shooting. Shoot wide, in landscape, with plenty of space around you. That gives us a horizontal video we can use as it is, and one we can also crop to fit a 9:16 vertical frame without cutting anything important out.
🗺️ Use gridlines to frame your shot
Turn on the gridlines in your phone's camera settings. With your phone held horizontally, keep everything important inside the middle column of the grid: you, your face, the product and any key action. That middle section is where we'll crop your video to 9:16.
💡 Before you start filming, it's worth checking that the important parts of your shot sit in the middle column. It's much easier to fix the framing on the day than in the edit.
How to tell if a 16:9 clean edit is needed
Not every brief needs one, and within a brief it can be different for each video. It's set on each individual upload slot.
If a slot needs a 16:9 clean edit, you'll see an indicator on it. If there's no indicator, nothing changes and you can upload your clean edit as usual. It's a good idea to check your upload slots before you film, so you know which videos to shoot wide.
What about my final edit?
Your final edit isn't affected. It should still match the aspect ratio set out in the brief. Only the clean edit for that slot needs to be 16:9.
What happens if I upload the wrong aspect ratio?
The platform won't accept a clean edit that isn't 16:9 when the slot needs one. Export a landscape version (usually 1920 x 1080) and upload it again.
Need a hand?
If you're not sure whether your footage will work across formats, or something doesn't look right on your upload slot, just get in touch. Message us through the chat bubble on the platform or email community@vidsy.co, and the Community Team will help you sort it out. 😊