SMii7Y Style Breakdown - Episode 5
Welcome Editors to this Special Edition!
This week's issue comes straight from the Twitch stream where we dove deep into recreating the @SMii7Y editing style! This hands-on session walked through every technique needed to replicate the fast-paced, caption-heavy, sound-effect-loaded style that gaming content creators use to keep audiences hooked.
The goal? To master the rapid-fire editing techniques that dominate gaming content.
If you've ever wanted to understand how to build engaging gaming edits from the ground up, this is your comprehensive guide.
Quick Update: Streams continue on Saturdays and Sundays from 4-6pm AEST, with plans to extend to 4pm as the community grows. Same practical breakdowns, consistent schedule.
Let's break down the techniques!
Let's cut the Assembly!
This Week's Live Breakdown
This session focused on the core pillars of gaming content editing, breaking down five essential techniques:
1. CAPTION STYLING: The Pop-In Effect
What's the technique?
Gaming creators use dynamic text that pops in and out with energy, featuring:
Bold black outlines for readability
White text with drop shadows
Quick zoom animations on entry and exit
Strategic placement that follows the action
How to create it in DaVinci Resolve:
Use Text+ (not basic Text) for template reusability
Go to Shading settings to add outline
Set outline color to black and adjust thickness
Add drop shadow with offset to the right and bottom
Create pop-in animation with keyframes (1-2-3 frames)
Scale from 0 to slightly over 1.0, then settle at 1.0
Use ease curves for smooth motion
Pro Tip: Alternatively you could use the SnapCaptions!
I’ve been personally using this for captioning my work and videos, do make sure to go through the subtitles since it won’t be 100%! But definitely faster, easier, and free : )
2. TEXT TRACKING: Following Your Subject
What's the technique?
Rather than static captions, gaming editors often lock text to characters or objects as they move through the frame, creating a more dynamic viewing experience.
How to do it:
Go to the Fusion page in DaVinci Resolve:
Add a Tracker node (Shift + B to open node menu)
Select your clip and draw a tracking box around your subject
Choose "Best Match" and "Match Move" as tracking mode
Hit Track Forward to analyze the movement
Add your Text+ node
In the Tracker's Operation tab, select "Match Move"
The text will now follow your subject's movement
Key Insight: The free version of DaVinci Resolve includes full tracking capabilities, making this technique accessible to everyone.
3. SOUND EFFECT SOURCING: Building Your Arsenal
Where to find sound effects:
Epidemic Sound - Professional library with extensive whooshes and impacts
Meme Soundboards - For comedic timing (Among Us sounds, vine booms, etc.)
Japanese Sound Effect Lab - Anime-style effects perfect for exaggerated moments
YouTube - Search specific effects like "Garry's Mod pipe sound" or "Half-Life metal hit"
The Strategy: Build your own organized sound pack over time. Keep commonly used sounds in a unified folder for quick access during editing.
4. VOICE MODULATION: Creating Character
The technique that adds personality:
Gaming creators often process vocals to create different moods or emphasize moments. Here's how to achieve that "cursed" or dramatic voice effect:
Using Fairlight in DaVinci Resolve:
Record your voiceover (or import existing audio)
Add Reverb to create space and atmosphere
Experiment with Pitch adjustment for comedic effect
Layer multiple effects for more extreme results
Try the Chorus effect for ethereal or unsettling vibes
Alternative: Use external tools like Soundly or Voicemod for more preset options, then import the processed audio.
5. DYNAMIC ZOOM EFFECTS
The attention-grabbing technique:
Quick, exaggerated zooms punctuate moments and direct viewer focus.
How to create smooth zooms:
Use Adjustment Clips (not direct transforms on footage)
Create keyframes at start and end points
Transform > Zoom > adjust scale values
Use 2-3 frames for snappy zooms
For more polish, try the Magic Zoom plugin with presets:
Standard zoom
Dramatic zoom
Smash zoom
Hole zoom (circular transition)
Why Adjustment Clips? They're non-destructive, reusable across projects, and can be saved to your Power Bin for instant access.
Watch the Full Recording - Twitch VOD Here!
The Toolkit: From Live Stream to Your Project
Theory is nothing without practice. Here's how we bridge that gap.
FOR ALL READERS (Free Tier):
The Analysis: This entire write-up is your breakdown of the technique.
The Replication Guide: The step-by-step Davinci Resolve process outlined above is your starter kit.
COMING SOON FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS (The Hands-On Toolkit):
For creators who want to go beyond reading and start doing, a premium subscription will unlock:
The DaVinci Resolve Project File: The actual timeline from my live stream with ready to use Fusion templates.
The Asset Library: The specific clips and audio file used from projects.
The Full Video Walkthrough: An edited, clear version of the step by step process.
PDF : An written step by step guide to refer back to.
This is for those who don't just want to watch, they want to build.
The Value: Understanding the Architecture
This session wasn't about copying a style blindly—it was about understanding the mechanics behind engaging gaming content. These techniques work because they:
Maintain viewer attention through constant visual and audio stimulation
Emphasize comedic timing with precise sound effect placement
Create personality through voice modulation and dynamic text
Direct focus using strategic zooms and tracking
The beauty of mastering these fundamentals is their transferability. Once you understand the blueprint, you can adapt it to any content style—from gaming montages to reaction videos to educational content.
To further delve into the Smii7y Editing style, look towards the Editor himself!
What's Next?
Keep practicing these techniques and building your sound effect library. The more templates and presets you create now, the faster your future editing workflow becomes.
Remember: your first assembly cut is a skeleton. Get the rhythm and structure right, then polish the details.
Until next time, embrace the chaos and keep editing!
Until next time, embrace the chaos and start editing something stupid.
~Sniv