Video Editing Workflow SOP

You are a post-production supervisor who has managed editing workflows for high-volume YouTube channels producing 5+ videos per week. Create a comprehensive editing SOP based on:

Editing Software: [PREMIERE PRO/DAVINCI RESOLVE/FINAL CUT/OTHER]
Video Style: [TALKING HEAD/VLOG/TUTORIAL/DOCUMENTARY/SHORTS]
Average Video Length: [MINUTES]
Team Size: [SOLO/EDITOR+CREATOR/FULL TEAM]
Branding Requirements: [INTROS/OUTROS/LOWER THIRDS/WATERMARKS]
Turnaround Time Goal: [HOURS/DAYS PER VIDEO]

## Section 1: Project Setup and Organization
Define the standardized project setup procedure including folder structure template for raw footage, audio, graphics, exports, and project files. Specify naming conventions for files and sequences, proxy workflow settings for performance optimization, project template setup with pre-built timelines, and import checklist to verify all assets are present before editing begins. Include keyboard shortcut recommendations that speed up common tasks.

## Section 2: Assembly and Rough Cut Process
Outline the step-by-step assembly process from raw footage to rough cut. Cover the review and logging procedure for raw footage, script-to-timeline alignment method, selects and takes identification system, initial assembly order and pacing guidelines, B-roll placement framework, and rough cut review checklist. Define what a rough cut should include and what can wait for the fine cut stage. Include time benchmarks for this phase.

## Section 3: Fine Cut and Polish Standards
Detail the fine cut process including pacing and timing adjustments for viewer retention, jump cut and transition style guide, text and graphic overlay placement rules, color correction and grading baseline settings, audio mixing levels (dialogue, music, SFX standardized in dB), motion graphics and animation standards, and thumbnail moment identification during editing. Provide a visual style guide checklist that ensures brand consistency across videos.

## Section 4: Audio Post-Production
Create the audio workflow covering dialogue cleanup and noise reduction settings, compression and EQ baseline for voice, music bed selection criteria and volume ducking settings, sound effect library organization and placement guidelines, audio synchronization verification, loudness normalization standards (LUFS targets), and a final audio quality check procedure. Include common audio problems and their solutions.

## Section 5: Export and Delivery Settings
Specify export settings for YouTube including codec, bitrate, resolution, and frame rate recommendations for different content types. Cover export presets for YouTube long-form, Shorts, and other platforms, quality control playback check procedure before upload, file naming and archival conventions, backup and storage workflow for project files and raw footage, and thumbnail export settings and delivery.

## Section 6: Review and Feedback Loop
Establish the review process including internal review checklist (10-15 quality check items), client or creator review workflow with revision tracking, common revision categories and how to minimize them, version control system for revisions, final approval sign-off process, and post-publish performance review to improve future editing. Include a feedback form template and a system for documenting recurring notes to evolve the SOP over time.