There are several different ways to edit video and each
method has its pros and cons. Although most editors opt for digital non-linear
editing for most projects, it makes sense to have an understanding of how each
method works.This page provides a very brief overview of each method — we
will cover them in more detail in other tutorials.
Film Splicing
Technically this isn't video editing, it's film editing. But
it is worth a mention as it was the first way to edit moving pictures and
conceptually it forms the basis of all video editing.
Traditionally, film is edited by cutting sections of the
film and rearranging or discarding them. The process is very straightforward
and mechanical. In theory a film could be edited with a pair of scissors and
some splicing tape, although in reality a splicing machine is the only
practical solution. A splicing machine allows film footage to be lined up and
held in place while it is cut or spliced together.
Tape to Tape (Linear)
Linear editing was the original method of editing electronic
video tapes, before editing computers became available in the 1990s. Although
it is no longer the preferred option, it is still used in some situations.
Linear Editing
Configuration
In linear editing, video is selectively copied from one tape
to another. It requires at least two video machines connected together — one
acts as the source and the other is the recorder. The basic procedure is quite
simple:
Place the video to be edited in the source machine and a
blank tape in the recorder.
Press play on the source machine and record on the recorder.
The idea is to record only those parts of the source tape
you want to keep. In this way desired footage is copied in the correct order
from the original tape to a new tape. The new tape becomes the edited version.
This method of editing is called "linear" because
it must be done in a linear fashion; that is, starting with the first shot and
working through to the last shot. If the editor changes their mind or notices a
mistake, it is almost impossible to go back and re-edit an earlier part of the
video. However, with a little practice, linear editing is relatively simple and
trouble-free.
Digital/Computer
(Non-linear)
In this method, video footage is recorded (captured) onto a
computer hard drive and then edited using specialized software. Once the
editing is complete, the finished product is recorded back to tape or optical
disk.
Non-linear editing has many significant advantages over
linear editing. Most notably, it is a very flexible method which allows you to
make changes to any part of the video at any time. This is why it's called
"non-linear" — because you don't have to edit in a linear fashion.
One of the most difficult aspects of non-linear digital
video is the array of hardware and software options available. There are also
several common video standards which are incompatible with each other, and
setting up a robust editing system can be a challenge.
The effort is worth it. Although non-linear editing is more
difficult to learn than linear, once you have mastered the basics you will be
able to do much more, much faster.
Live Editing
In some situations multiple cameras and other video sources
are routed through a central mixing console and edited in real time. Live
television coverage is an example of live editing.
Live editing is a fairly specialist topic and won't concern
most people.
