What order should I follow when editing a reel—should I add text and voiceover first or edit the video clips first?

Always follow this hierarchy: 1) Edit the video/visuals first—trim, split, delete, and arrange all clips until you’re completely satisfied. 2) Add your voiceover second, once the video timeline is locked. 3) Add text overlays last, syncing them to the voiceover. If you add text or voiceover before finalizing your video edits, every subsequent trim or split will shift everything out of sync, forcing you to redo all the overlays. Think of it like building a house (video), painting the walls (voiceover), then adding decoration (text)—you don’t decorate before the house is built.

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Asked by an artist editing voiceover reels · Answered by Millie · art-marketing-101 · 2026-06-19