Video Editing

2. 24 Video Editing

3. Objectives • Identify the differences between linear editing and non-linear editing processes. • Summarize the creation and use of an edit decision list. • Explain the considerations related to editing and action. • Recall the application of edit transitions. • Summarize the steps involved in non-linear editing.

4. Editing • Required—Scenes shoot out of chronological order • Unethical for editor to change speaker’s intended message through editing • Best takes of raw footage are combined into coherent, sequential, and complete program • Includes post-production addition of music and sound effects, as well as video effects and transitions

5. Linear Editing System • Videotape-based system • Good takes are copied onto blank tape in straight line, or linear, fashion • Rapidly being replaced by non-linear editing systems

6. Videotape Generation Losses • Master tape is first generation • Master tape’s copy, or dub, is second generation • Copy of dub is third generation, etc. • Each generation is lower quality than previous

7. Videotape Generation Losses (Cont.) • Factors affecting generational quality losses • Quality of VCRs and videotape • VCR tape speed during recording and playback • Use of time base corrector (TBC), processing amplifier (proc amp)and/or distribution amplifier (DA)

8. Non-linear Editing Systems (NLE) • Raw footage is put into digital format and stored hard drive or server • Using drag-and-drop techniques, scenes can be arranged in proper order • Elements that can be added include special effects, transitions, music, and sound effects

9. Preview Raw Footage • Use take log to verify which scenes are good • With take log as template, fine tune exact locations for each edit, creating edit decision list (EDL) • Place good takes onto NLE

10. Time Coding

11. Screen Time vs. Real Time • Audience watches screen time action only • Use cutaway that shows time passing • Put cookies in oven • Cut to shot of timer set to 10 minutes • Dissolve to timer at zero and cookies being removed from oven • Ten minutes of real time = five seconds on screen

12. Editing and Action • Creates smooth edits for audience

13. Editing and Audio • Ensure that audio pause between two sides of conversation is not unnaturally long or short • When editing long answer to question, use nod shot or cutaway to bridge video jump cut • After editing, place uninterrupted track of room tone in background of scene • Background audio— 1/4 level or less of dialogue

14. Planned Edits • Creative edits that must be planned for while shooting: • Matched cut • Matched dissolve

15. Discussion What is it that makes a matched cut or matched dissolve interesting to the viewer? Give an example of one.

16. Editing Transitions • Plan transitions in pre-production phase and write into script • An edit transition can be a fade, dissolve, wipe, special effect, or digital video effect • Edit through black, or kiss black

17. Pace • Network average for comedy/drama is one cut every seven seconds • Increase rate and your program becomes more exciting/interesting • Decrease rate and the audience will find program dull

18. Cutaways and B-roll • Picks up pace of program by increasing video cut rate without interrupting audio • Provide reaction shots • Show objects being discussed in audio track • Cover audio edit of long-winded speaker

19. Video and Audio Delay • Video delay edit • Audio delay edit

20. Non-Linear Editing Process • Capture/Digitize footage • Split footage into clips • Separate audio from video if necessary • Color correction • Audio correction • Trim clips • Apply a/v effects, transitions, music • Insert titles • Output completed program

21. Capture • If raw footage is on tape, capture is real-time process • If raw footage is on digital media, files can be clicked and dragged to NLE storage in seconds • Use of EDL to digitize will reduce wasted space on NLE storage

22. Split into Clips • Newer NLE systems can detect when incoming video footage contains break and will automatically begin new clip • Older systems require footage be split manually by operating editor who presses split button at start of each new scene

23. Clips • Each scene is now separate file • Frame of each video clip is displayed on computer screen as a thumbnail icon • Each clip has small window to type “name” of clip—for example, “Scene 3, Take 2” • All clips for program are in folder called bin

24. Timeline Creation • Thumbnails of clips can be double-clicked or dragged into timeline to place scenes in proper order for program

25. Trimming • Edit point • View entire clip to decide exactly how much head and tail to trim

26. Correction • Advanced technique that matches color and audio attributes between clips to remove possible discrepancies

27. Audio Editing • Begins after trimming is complete • Audio mixing, music, nat sound, and sound effects added • Ensure primary audio is still easy to hear

28. Export • Exporting allows finished program to be off-loaded from NLE to the desired distribution media • Tape • DVD • Broadcasting

29. Career Page • The American Cinema Editors • http://www.ace-filmeditors.org/newace/abt_Edu.html

30. Review Question What type of media format does linear editing use? Videotape

31. Review Question What equipment is used during non-linear editing? Software, computers with high-capacity hard drives, or video server.

32. Review Question Once footage has been digitized and split, what is the thumbnail representing each scene called? A clip

33. Review Question How is linear editing different from non-linear editing? Linear editing copies good takes in a straight line fashion onto master tape, whose copies are subject to quality loss. Non-linear editing uses easy-to-use software that allows for footage to be put quickly into digital format with added special effects.

34. Review Question What is the process of creating an edit decision list? The take log indicates the good and bad takes during the shooting process. The take log will help the editor locate the good takes and avoid the bad takes. From the take log editor creates the EDL with more precise notations about where the scenes that need to be split into clips are located. Now he can capture the footage into the NLE much more quickly and efficiently.

35. Review Question Why is editing important when it comes to screen time vs. real time? There is no need to make the audience watch something procedural that has no action in real time. For example: your 20 minute walk can be edited by shooting you leaving home, a few quick shots of you walking a few steps along the way, and then arriving at the destination. Real time would be 20 minutes. Screen time might be 10 seconds.

36. Review Question What are edit transitions and why are they important when editing video? Edit transitions refer to the way one scene ends and the next begins. If the transition from one scene to the next is not smooth, then the audience may get confused and lose interest.

37. Review Question How are NLEs used in editing video? NLEs are software applications that use digital technology to process video and audio signals and store them onto computer hard drives. Using drag-and-drop techniques, scenes can be arranged in any order with added special effects.

38. Glossary • audio delay edit: An edit that cuts to the video portion of the next scene before the corresponding audio of the new scene is heard by the audience. • bin: A folder on a non-linear editing computer that contains all of the captured footage for a program. A thumbnail icon of the first frame of each video clip contained in the bin may be viewed in a window on the computer monitor.

39. Glossary • capture: Non-linear editing process of copying all the good program footage to a computer hard drive or to a server. Also called digitize. • clip: A captured scene or piece of video that can be used when compiling the completed program.

40. Glossary • distribution amplifier (DA): A machine used when a signal must be split and sent to multiple outputs. The signal is amplified before it is split so that each output receives nearly 100% of the original signal. • dub: A copy of the master program recording. Also called dup.

41. Glossary • edit decision list (EDL): A list noting which take of each scene should be used in the final program and the location of each take on the raw footage tape. • editing: The process of selecting the best portions of raw video footage and combining them into a coherent, sequential, and complete program. Editing also includes post‑production additions of music and sound effects, as well as effects used as scene transitions.

42. Glossary • editor: 1—The person responsible for putting the various pieces of the entire program together. The editor removes all the mistakes and bad takes, leaving only the best version of each scene, and arranges the individual scenes into the proper order. 2—A collective term that refers to the systems and equipment used to edit program footage.

43. Glossary • edit point: The exact location in the footage where an edit should occur. The edit “out point” is the edit point at the beginning of a scene. The edit “in point” is the edit point at the beginning of a scene. • edit through black: An edit in which a cut is made during the period of black on screen between a fade out and a fade in. Also called kiss black. • edit transition: The way in which one scene is edited to end and the next scene is edited to begin.

44. Glossary • export: The process of copying the completed program for duplication and distribution. • linear editing system: Video editing equipment that is based on videotape. The raw footage is placed in a source VCR and the best takes from the program footage are copied, in the order the audience will see them, to a tape in the record VCR.

45. Glossary • matched cut: A type of edit in which a similar action, concept, item, or a combination of these is placed on either side of a cut. • matched dissolve: A type of edit in which a similar action, concept, item, or a combination of these is placed on either side of a dissolve.

46. Glossary • non‑linear editing system (NLE): Video editing equipment that is based on digital technology and uses high‑capacity computer hard drives to store and process video and audio. The raw footage is converted to a digital format, copied to a computer’s hard drive, and may then be arranged and otherwise manipulated.

47. Glossary • pace: The frequency of cuts or edits per minute during a program. Also called cut rate. • processing amplifier (proc amp): A machine that corrects some color and brightness problems in the video signal passing through it. This piece of equipment is commonly used when recording and/or duplicating videotapes.

48. Glossary • split: Non-linear editing operation in which program footage is separated into individual clips. • time base corrector (TBC): A machine that corrects any quality related imperfections in the video and audio signals caused by mechanical errors associated with the VCR’s functionality. • time coding: A system of assigning each frame of a video a specific number, like an address.

49. Glossary • trimming: Non-linear editing process of reviewing footage to determine the exact place one scene should end and the exact place the next scene should begin. • video delay edit: An edit that cuts to the audio portion of the next scene before the corresponding video of the new scene is seen by the audience.