What Technical Standards Should You Check Before Outsourcing Your Video Editing Projects?

What Technical Standards Should You Check Before Outsourcing Your Video Editing Projects?

Outsourcing video editing has become one of the smartest ways for content creators, businesses, agencies, and filmmakers to scale high-quality video production without hiring an in-house team.
But choosing the right editing partner isn’t just about cost or delivery speed – the technical standards they follow determine the final quality, compatibility, and performance of your video.

Before you outsource, you must ensure your video editing partner meets the right technical benchmarks.

This article covers everything you need to check – from file formats and software to color grading, sound engineering, codecs, and security standards.

1. Supported Video Codecs & File Formats

A professional editing partner should support a wide range of industry-standard formats.
This ensures they can handle footage from any camera – DSLR, cinema camera, action came, drone, or smartphone.

Key codecs to check

• H.264 / H.265 (HEVC) – Most common for DSLR and mirrorless cameras
• Apple ProRes 422 / 4444 – Preferred for high-quality professional editing
• Avid DNxHD / DNxHR – Used in broadcast and filmmaking
• Blackmagic RAW (BRAW)
• RED R3D RAW
• Sony XAVC / XAVC-S

Supported file types

• MP4
• MOV
• MXF
• AVI
• MTS
• MKV

A technically strong editing team should handle all of these without compatibility issues.

2. Editing Software & Workflow Compatibility

Software compatibility is crucial if you want the project files or future edits later.

Top editing software you should expect

• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Final Cut Pro X
• DaVinci Resolve Studio
• Adobe After Effects (for motion graphics & VFX)
• Avid Media Composer (for broadcast)

What to check

• Which version of the software they use
• Whether they can deliver project files (.prproj, .drp, .aep, .fcpxml)
• If they offer Adobe Team Projects or collaborative workflows

A professional video editing partner should have updated licensed software and a proven workflow.

3. Color Correction & Color Grading Standards

Color grading is a highly technical task.
A strong outsourced team must know how to work with:

Color spaces & profiles

• Rec.709
• Rec.2020
• HDR10
• S-Log2 / S-Log3
• C-Log
• V-Log
• D-Log (DJI drones)

Grading tools & techniques

• Custom LUT creation
• Skin tone correction
• Exposure balancing
• Cinematic grading
• Matching multi-camera footage

If the editor cannot handle RAW or Log profiles, your footage may lose dynamic range and detail.

4. Resolution, Frame Rates & Export Quality

Your editor must support multiple resolutions and delivery formats based on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, OTT, or broadcast.

Resolutions to check

• 1080p (Full HD)
• 2K
• 4K UHD
• 6K / 8K
• Vertical resolutions (1080 × 1920 for Reels & TikTok)

Frame rates

• 24fps (cinematic look)
• 25fps (PAL regions)
• 30fps (social media)
• 50fps / 60fps (smooth motion)
• 120fps (slow motion editing)

Bitrate standards

A good editor should deliver:

• High bitrate exports for YouTube
• Optimized exports for social media
• Visually lossless exports for professional projects

5. Audio Engineering & Final Sound Output

Audio is 50% of the video experience – and often overlooked.

Audio enhancements to expect

• Noise reduction
• Echo removal
• Equalization (EQ)
• Voice enhancement
• Background music mixing
• Audio-video synchronization
• Sound effects (SFX) design

Broadcast-level audio mastering

Professionals should follow loudness standards:

• YouTube / online platforms: –14 LUFS
• Broadcast: –23 to –24 LUFS

A technically strong outsourcing partner will deliver clean, balanced audio.

6. Motion Graphics, VFX & Animation Capabilities

Modern videos require more than basic edits.

Advanced capabilities include

• Animated titles & lower thirds
• Explainer video graphics
• Logo animations
• Kinetic typography
• Green screen keying
• Object tracking
• Compositing
• 2D/3D effects

This is essential for ads, corporate videos, social media content, and branding visuals.

7. Multi-Camera Editing & Syncing

If you shoot:

• events
• interviews
• weddings
• live shows
• YouTube podcasts

You’ll need editors who can handle multi-cam sync accurately using:

• Audio waveforms
• Timecode
• Metadata
• PluralEyes or internal sync tools

A professional team should be able to edit multi-angle footage seamlessly.

8. Proxy & High-Resolution Workflow Management

4K, 6K, and 8K files are heavy.
A top-tier editing provider must use a proxy workflow to handle large files smoothly.

Questions to check

• Do they generate lightweight proxy files?
• Do they use optimized media for faster editing?
• Do they relink to full-resolution files before delivery?
• Do they maintain project organization and file structure?

This ensures smooth editing and avoids corrupted final outputs.

9. File Transfer, Storage & Security Measures

Security is the most critical concern when sharing raw footage.

Security standards to verify

• NDA signing
• Encrypted file transfer
• Safe cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive, AWS, Dropbox)
• Multi-layer backup systems
• Data retention & deletion policies
• Restricted internal access

Your footage must always remain private and protected.

10. Platform-Optimized Deliverables

Different platforms require different formats.

Your editing partner must deliver optimized outputs for:

• YouTube – high bitrate, 16:9, thumbnail design
• Instagram Reels & TikTok – 9:16 vertical videos
• Facebook Ads – 4:5 or 1:1 format
• Websites – compressed, fast-loading MP4
• Corporate presentations – MOV / MP4 high-quality versions

A professional team should understand these standards and export videos accordingly.

Final Thoughts: Choose an Editing Partner Who Meets Industry Technical Standards

Outsourcing video editing is a smart strategy – but only if the team you choose follows strong technical workflows.
From codecs and color grading to audio mastering and security, every step impacts your final video.

If your editor meets all the above standards, you can expect consistent, high-quality, professional results every time.

 

Looking for a Technically Strong, Professional Video Editing Partner?

OURS GLOBAL offers world-class Outsource Video Editing Services backed by advanced tools, expert editors, strict security, and scalable workflows.

👉 Professional Editing
👉 Fast Turnaround
👉 4K/8K Support
👉 Motion Graphics & Color Grading
👉 Affordable Outsourcing Models

🔗 Explore our services:
https://www.oursglobal.com/outsource-video-editing-services