What to Send Your Music Video Editor

Published July 12, 2026 · Updated July 13, 2026

The completeness of what you send determines two things: how accurate your quote is, and how close the first cut lands to what you imagined. Editors don't need your package to be tidy — they need it to be complete and uncompressed. Here's the full checklist, including the format details that trip people up.

The song

• A link (streaming or private link) or a downloadable audio file — WAV or high-bitrate MP3 if you have it
• The final mix if possible — edits are timed to the waveform, so a video cut to a rough mix can need re-syncing when the master lands
• If the mix isn't final yet, say so, and flag what might change (intro length, tempo, an added bridge)

Footage (if you already have it)

• Original files, straight from the device. Footage that's been through Instagram, TikTok, or WhatsApp has been recompressed and can't be restored — transfer from the camera roll or SD card, not from a chat thread
• Everything you shot, not just your favorites. An editor scrubbing your takes will find usable moments you'd have deleted — the seconds before and after the take are where natural moments live
• Any b-roll, behind-the-scenes, or extra angles, even if you're not sure they're useful
• If you know your camera shot in a flat or log color profile, mention it — that footage looks washed out on purpose and grades beautifully
• Don't pre-trim clips; send them whole. Cutting is the editor's job, and trimmed clips remove options

Don't have footage yet? That's fine — say so. Planning a shoot from scratch is a normal starting point, not a blocker, and the process guide covers how that works.

Creative direction

• 2–3 reference videos (yours or other artists') for pacing, color, or mood — and say what you're referencing in each one
• Anything you specifically don't want — negative direction is just as useful as positive direction and saves whole revision rounds
• Where the video will live: a straight horizontal cut, vertical for Reels/TikTok, or both — this changes how the edit is framed from the first cut
• Any moments in the song that matter to you: the line that should hit hardest, the beat switch, where the energy should peak

Logistics

• Your timeline or deadline, if you have one — especially a release date that's already announced
• Your rough budget range — see the cost guide if you're not sure what's realistic, or Clipcutting's pricing for how quotes work here
• Best way to reach you — Instagram DM or email both work

A message that covers it all

If you're staring at a blank DM, this structure covers everything an editor needs in five lines: what the song is and a link to it; whether you have footage and where it lives; two references and what you like about each; where the video will live (horizontal, vertical, both); and your timeline and rough budget. That's it — an editor who receives those five things can usually reply the same day with a concept and a number instead of a list of questions.

How to send large files

For anything beyond a few files, a Google Drive folder, WeTransfer, or Dropbox link is easier than email attachments and won't compress your footage the way messaging apps do. One folder with everything in it is the ideal delivery — subfolders are appreciated but optional. Two details that matter: make sure link sharing is actually enabled before you send it (the "request access" email costs a day), and keep your own copy of everything until final delivery — cloud links expire, and WeTransfer deletes files after a week.

What happens after you hit send

At Clipcutting: you get a free concept and custom quote back within 24 hours. Nothing is owed at that point — you approve the concept, the first cut arrives within 48 hours, and there's no deposit until you've seen it. Revisions are included until the cut is right. The better your package, the more of that 48 hours goes into the edit instead of into sorting out what's missing.

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