The Technical Codes in Music Videos - Editing

• The pace of editing can determine what genre and what speed the song is. Fast pace editing usually follows a faster paced song, and slower pace is usually a slower song. For example, fast editing can create excitement and suspense for the audience and will keep them interested in the music video. The editing can also emphasise the beat or the lyrics of the song.
• Frequently used in narrative based videos is the shot-reverse-shot, usually to follow conversation or to follow the emotions of the characters and the lyrics of the song.
• Fades, dissolves and straight cuts are the most commonly used editing techniques in music videos. Fades and dissolves aren't as frequent in the modern day music video industry, but are still used for stylistic effect or as a brand of an artist.
• A shot can also be reversed for stylistic effect, such as playing it forward and then rewinding in backwards again - or simply rewinding it and never playing it forward.

• We Disappear - Jon Hopkins ft Lulu James is a music video that has very intricate editing that fits in time with the song itself. The song has varying speeds; such as when 'the beat drops' the editing pace quickens, and when in the verses it slows again. This technique is used to keep the audience calm while the song is, and then when the song quickens and becomes exciting the editing is supposed to transmit that into the audience as well.
• The rewinding of shots is definitely used for stylistic effect in this music video. The forward play and then rewinding really shows the artistic flair of the artist and the song; this technique is very modern and isn't used very often - because if not done to absolute perfection the video would not have the desired effect on the audience and therefore the video wouldn't prove successful.
• The video is full of straight cuts and doesn't have any dissolves or fades, although this is not uncommon amongst modern day music videos and so cannot be judged because of it.