Nonlinear Editing

Editing is the creative force of filmic reality….and the foundation of film art.

V.J. Pudovkin 1915

Linear EditingAND

Linear EditingConcept of Linear Editing

One or more tapes containing the original footage are transferred(recorded) segment by segment onto a tape in a video recorder. Editor must begin at the beginning of the tape and lay down shots in story order. (1, 2, 3, sequence)Editor usually has to make several versions.

“off –line” edit where cuts are made“on-line” edit where all the extras are added: sound, transitions, etc.

Linear Editing: The Machinery

Edit Recorder: used to record the final edited master.

Source machine: contains the original footage

Controlled by the edit controller

Edit Controller

Edit Controller

Shuttles tapes back and forth to find the beginning and ending points of each needed segment. (reference points)

Reference points are entered into the controller as time code numbers or control track marks.

2 Types of Edits in Linear Editing

Insert Editing

Assemble Editing

Assemble Editing

Add video and audio segments like links on a chain.

Problem: Glitches can occur when the segments are mistimed.

Used mostly when few segments need to be spliced together.

Control Track Editing

Control Track EditingHas two major disadvantages:

1. Relies on mechanical equipment to maintain an accurate count of thousands of control tracks pulses. If the beginning and end points of the segment are mistimed then the edit will be off by a few video frame.

2. When the machine is turned off then the count of control tracks is erased, making it harder to make adjustments at a later time. SMPTE time-code can help this problem.

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers

(SMPTE)

A time code that made it possible for all manufacturers to use the same techniques for

reading and writing times codes so that everybody’s tape and equipment would work

together.

For more information: www.videoexpert.home.att.net/artic1/212smte.htm

Insert Editing

Requires an extra step -

Must “lay down” (record) a stable control track over the entire area of the edited master tape you plan to use.

While editing you “insert” the audio and video you want over the prerecorded control track.

Although it used to be said that linear editor systems were faster than the nonlinear systems, this

is no longer true.

Non Linear Editing (NLE)

Technical term for what software does.Also called Random-access editing.The film can be edited in any order and changes can be made at any time. It lets you easily cut and paste video sequences, adjust clips frame by frame, and control your camera’s input and output.

How It WorksOriginal video segments are digitized and transferred to the hard drive. Any video segment can be accessed and dragged to the timeline that represents the ongoing editing sequence.

With a mouse click you can add transitions, special effects, audio, or other video segments.

The final edited video and audio can be put on a videotape in linear form or on a disk to use again.

Advantages

Can make changes anytimeCan save multiple cutsCan remember and undo recent editsCan generate an Edit Decision List (EDL)Can do a variety of effects and transitions easily.Many have capability to convert to and from other computer formats.

Non Linear Editing Systems

Avid’s Xpress DV (EduPack 3.5)

Final Cut Pro (academic Lab version 3.02)

Adobe Premiere 6.5

Ulead’s VideoStudio 6

Pinnancle Systems’ Studio DV 7

References1. Dr. Peter Utz. Using SMPTE time code. Today’s Video

(online), Available: videoexpert.home.att.net/index.htm2. Holzberg, Carol S Ph.D. (October 2002). Picks of the

Month: The New Cinema Ecole. Technology and Learning, 23, 16-25.

3. Insert and Assemble Editing: www.mediacibc.com/cine/filmtv/insertlinearediting.shtml

4. Linear and Non-Linear Editing (Free CyberCollege Interactive TV Course), November 06, 2002: www.cybercollege.org/tvpo56.htm

5. Non Linear Editing: www.mediacibc.com/cine/filmtv/nonlinearediting.shtml

6. Rubin, Michael. (2000). The Little Digital Video Book, Berkeley, California: Peachpit Press.

7. What’s Non-Linear Editing? (1997) www.filmmaker.com/editing/nlexplan.html