A rebrand, a new logo, a new address, a new phone number, and the old video is out of date. Reshooting and remaking is always an option, but often only part of it needs changing. How much can be changed depends on which files you still have.
First, check what you have
| What you have | What's possible |
|---|---|
| Original footage plus the project file | Almost anything; it's like reopening the original job. |
| Original footage only | A re-edit is possible, but it's close to editing a new video. |
| Only the finished MP4 | Limited changes; see below. |
The project file is the editing software's working file, usually kept by whoever did the edit. If another studio made the video, it's worth asking whether they still have it.
What's possible with only the MP4
- New intro and outro: cut off the old ones and attach new ones. The most common and cleanest fix.
- Covering a logo or text: place the new logo or a colour block over the old one. If the old logo moves or sits on a busy background, the patch shows.
- New subtitles: burned-in subtitles can't be removed, only covered with a bar and new text, or cropped out.
- Shortening or reordering: using the finished video as footage. Possible, but every cut has to land on an existing shot.
- Changing the music: if voice and music are already mixed together, replacing the music replaces the voice too. Separating them works only to a limited degree.
Every re-export of an MP4 loses a little quality, so make all the changes in one go.
When remaking is the better choice
- The products, premises or people in the video look very different now.
- The original is 720p or lower and visibly soft on today's screens.
- More than half of it needs changing.
Remaking doesn't have to mean reshooting. Some shots can be replaced with AI video or existing photos.
What to send us
- Every file you have: the finished video, the original footage, the project file, whatever exists.
- The new logo (vector or high-resolution PNG) and the new text.
- A list of changes with timestamps, for example "00:05 new logo, 01:20 phone number to 02-xxxx".
Within 48 hours we'll tell you whether we can help. If we can, we send a quote and you decide whether to go ahead.
Frequently asked questions
The old video file won't open. Is it lost?
Try repair first, at the video repair site. If it comes back, we can talk about editing.
Can a low-quality old video be made sharp?
It can be improved to a degree, but not turned into true high definition. See old video restoration.
The original studio won't hand over the project file. What then?
Ownership of project files depends on the original contract. Without it, we work from the MP4 and tell you first how far the changes can go.
