Hardstyle, Cut to the Beat

I channeled my passion for hardstyle into this high-octane event recap, editing four songs into a 100-second adrenaline rush. My goal was to mirror the structure of the Midnight Mafia experience: an atmospheric build-up, a crescendo of lights and sound, and a powerful emotional finale. Through precise beat-syncing, dynamic transitions, and layered visuals, this edit showcases how storytelling can thrive in even the most chaotic environments.

Melbourne to Sydney - With a Smartphone

Travelling from Melbourne to Sydney for this event, I knew ahead of time that I wanted to create something polished and cinematic. Everything was filmed handheld using just my smartphone, proving that thoughtful composition and clever editing can elevate even mobile footage to a professional standard. Armed with that mindset, I captured anything visually compelling-from signage and sunsets to dancers, lasers, and even a spinning amusement ride at the venue. I wasn’t just gathering footage; I was collecting moments that could form a visual narrative.

Cutting to the Pulse

The video opens gently, with a soft saxophone-driven hardstyle track. A warm sunset flare shines behind a “WELCOME TO MIDNIGHT MAFIA” sign, captured handheld as I walked toward the venue. I used this natural lens flare to transition into a time-lapse of the crowd streaming into the arena. From there, the pace begins to climb. I layered smooth motion shots of people posing by the “Midnight Mafia” sign, intercut with angled shots of the indoor venue. As the beat intensifies, flash transitions and BPM-synced cuts take over, introducing laser-lit chaos and strobes of colour. Every transition is tied tightly to the rhythm-each beat is a cue, and each shot is chosen for its energy. Midway through, a quick shot of an indoor amusement ride provides a visual breather, perfectly timed to shift between tracks. I used this as a rhythmic breather and a visual reset before diving into the next drop, helping maintain flow and pacing while adding more flavour from the event’s atmosphere. Four tracks were used in total, each one escalating the mood. With each shift in tempo, the visuals grow more frenetic: strobe lights, fog bursts, crowd reactions, on-stage performers, and pyro effects all layered to heighten the sense of immersion. I even included a meta moment-filming someone filming the stage-to emphasise how we all capture and reflect live experiences in the digital era.

In Memory of Delete

The video ends on its most intense moment: a dancer caught mid-move, frozen in a surge of light and sound-then, abruptly, a cut to black. From silence, a tribute fades in: “In memory of Ryan ‘Delete’ Biggs.” Delete’s music was central to the hardstyle community and personally influential to me. Including this tribute was my way of honouring his legacy and giving emotional closure to an otherwise frenzied visual piece.

Key Techniques

• Music Editing: Seamless transitions between four tracks in under two minutes
• Beat-matching: Every major visual change synced to audio cues
• Motion and Flash Transitions: Used to build rhythm and momentum
• Colour Grading & Light Sync: Enhanced the rave atmosphere with matching intensity
• Narrative Flow: Structured like a mini-story with a beginning, climax, and resolution
• Smartphone Filmmaking: Entire video was shot on a mobile device, emphasising handheld creativity and versatility