Remote video editing: challenges & solutions in a post-pandemic world

Fireside Design, a hypothetical creative team, is on a mission: edit a promotional video for a major product launch in the US. But with members in New York, London, and Tokyo, the team grapples with compatibility issues:

• Sarah’s Mac in New York doesn’t play well with Hiroshi’s PC in Tokyo. 

• The 8K footage is a behemoth, making uploads and downloads a waiting game.

• Without sufficient security protocols, the generic cloud storage system is always at the risk of revealing sensitive details about the unreleased product.

• Their attempt at a real-time review stumbles due to delays in playback, stretching the editing hours.

Such challenges aren’t new to remote video editing teams, but post-COVID, they’ve intensified. For creative directors navigating this landscape, understanding these hurdles and equipping teams with the right tools is crucial. 

If you’re a creative lead managing a distributed team in a post-pandemic world, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll walk you through the challenges you’re likely to face, along with ways to deal with them. Let’s dive in!

3 common challenges of remote video editing

Ensuring compatibility with various hardware and software combinations

Video editing used to be a task confined to specialized studios, each with their own standardized tools and software. Now, with team members collaborating globally and in real-time, there’s no guarantee that the tools and technologies used by different workers will mesh well together.

It’s not enough just to have the same operating system and editing tools. If anyone from your team is a few versions behind on the latest update to your video editing software, there’s a good chance it will present an issue during real-time collaboration. Not everyone has access to the same software versions across different countries, further exacerbating the problem.

A few teams try to resolve this by provisioning their own hardware and software, but even that comes with challenges. Not everyone has access to the same technology across the global market, whereas local regulations and logistical restrictions prevent everyone from using company devices. All of this makes standardization tricky, forcing teams to opt for a bring-your-own-device setup, which accentuates incompatibility.

LucidLink is a remote video editing and creative collaboration platform that offers native support for all the major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Because the platform is not tied to any specific video editing software or operating system, it can help you collaborate seamlessly with your team members no matter where they are. Whether your team uses Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, or another popular editing tool, LucidLink ensures that files are easily accessible to edit across your entire team. 

Real-time collaboration across multiple locations and time zones

Collaboration requires a combination of seamless file sharing capabilities, stable and fast internet, compatible software, as well as secure platforms. Sadly, ensuring everything works as intended is easier said than done.

Platforms like Dropbox employ a “sync and share” method, which essentially means they automatically create local copies of files on all connected devices, and then push any changes made to the cloud. For smaller files, this might work well. 

However, when dealing with large data sets, such as gigabytes of raw 4K footage, this method can severely disrupt the workflow. The process of syncing large files can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.

The need to constantly sync across multiple devices and push changes to the cloud can also lead to confusion over the “latest” version of a file, making real-time collaboration challenging.

LucidLink eliminates the need for downloading and syncing large files. Instead, data is streamed directly to your system in real-time from a centralized cloud repository secured with end-to-end encryption. This approach to remote video editing allows for rapid ingestion of high-resolution footage, providing immediate access from anywhere.

Ensuring data security when working with sensitive video content

Creative content, especially in the entertainment industry, represents expensive intellectual property. Unauthorized leaks or breaches can lead to substantial losses, especially if the content is meant for sale or distribution.

Leaks or unauthorized access can damage the reputation of production companies, studios, and even individual artists. They can lead to a loss of trust among stakeholders, partners, and the audience. In some extreme cases, the content might include confidential material that was meant to be edited out. If such content gets leaked to the public, it can cause even more complications.

These risks are more pronounced in remote video editing due to a few simple reasons. If your team members access work files using personal devices or home Wi-Fi, that can provide external attackers with a smooth entry point for stealing resources and data. The lack of a centralized access point makes it easier to access confidential information, presenting yet another opportunity for hackers to exploit.

This is exactly why LucidLink’s end-to-end zero-knowledge encryption model ensures that infrastructure and storage providers cannot access the data that customers store and transmit. That means only you and those you grant access to can see your media files. 

Best practices for tackling challenges in remote video editing

From compatibility to collaboration to security — the challenges faced by creative teams are multi-faceted. Here are a few essential best practices to help you streamline workflows and ensure efficiency when working on remote video editing projects with a distributed workforce.

Software Standardization

 To minimize compatibility issues, it’s essential to standardize the video editing software used by the team. By ensuring everyone uses the same software version, you can reduce discrepancies in file formats, features, and plugins. This approach streamlines the editing process and reduces the chances of file corruption or incompatibility.

Cloud-based Collaboration

Cloud-based platforms, such as Adobe Creative Cloud and DaVinci Resolve Studio, offer a consistent set of tools and features accessible from anywhere. By centralizing the toolset, teams can ensure everyone has access to the same resources, plugins, and updates, fostering a more cohesive workflow. And with a platform like LucidLink to tie it all together, you can access and modify your creative files directly from your cloud environment!

End-to-end encryption

 Security is paramount, especially when dealing with sensitive content. End-to-end encryption ensures that data remains encrypted from the moment it’s created until the intended recipient accesses it. This approach safeguards content from potential breaches, unauthorized access, and leaks during transit and storage.

Two-factor authentication

2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring two verification forms before granting access to platforms or tools. This could be a combination of something the user knows (password), something the user has (a phone or hardware token), or something the user is (fingerprint or facial recognition). It significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

Centralized file storage

Centralized storage solutions ensure that your entire team can access media files from a single location. By combining the accessibility of the cloud with the seamlessness of an on-premise solution, your team can collaborate on creative projects wherever they are, without worrying about file recovery or version control.

Dedicated onboarding program

Regularly updating software protects against known vulnerabilities. But beyond just updating, it’s crucial to educate your team about the importance of updates and security best practices. Regular training sessions can keep everyone informed about potential threats and safe operational procedures.

Real-time feedback

Real-time feedback is crucial for efficient editing. Platforms like Frame.io offer features like timestamped comments, version tracking, and direct integrations with editing software. This centralized feedback system streamlines the review process, reduces miscommunications, and accelerates project completion.

Remote video editing is easier with LucidLink

LucidLink is a cloud storage and collaboration solution designed to give teams remote access to their media files from anywhere. It integrates smoothly with existing creative tools, functioning similarly to a shared local drive. This ensures that all team members have access to the same folder structure and file versions, allowing for a seamless handover of tasks.

With LucidLink, teams can work together in real time from any location, as if they were in the same room. Team members can access and utilize new assets and project changes instantly as they are saved in the shared “filespace.”

Want to learn more about how LucidLink can streamline remote video editing workflows for distributed creative teams? Start a free trial!