Video Editing
Editing is the process of taking the footage that has been recorded and manipulating it to create a quality piece. Editing is considered to be one part of the post production process.
The first thing to work on when editing is trimming bits of unwanted footage. Secondly, selecting the most quality pieces of film is done, loads more footage is recorded than needed to be so it’s important to select the best bits. The story should then be made so it flows smoothly prividing the story and information at its logical times. The next part is to make the picture stand out from just being a flow of different shots, effects, graphics and music are all added in here. The style and pace of the movie is altered then to create the correct mode and so the audience can feel the emotions each character does. Finally the angle is added in to give the story a viewpoint or impart a message. A lot of Japanese anime imparts a message in some shape or form to the viewer for them to take away.
There are several different ways to edit a video. Typically a lot of editors tend to go for a digital non – linear style for editing the work.
Film Splicing – Usually a film is edited by cutting different sections and moving them or even removing them to create the story. Film splicing involves the film footage to be lined up and held in place whilst it is cut.
Tape to Tape (Linear) – Before computers were used to edit film this method was used to edit video tapes. This method involves the video being selectively copied from one tape to another, requiring at least two video machines connected together. The first thing that happends is that the video that is going to be edited is placed onto the source machine and have a blank tape in the recorder. Then just press play on the source machine and record on the recorder. Tape to tape is a linear type of editing as it starts with the first shot and finishes with the last shot.
Digital / Computer – Digital / computer editing involves recording the video footage onto a computer hard drive then edited with software such as Sony Vegas or Camtasia. This method is a lot easier and flexible to use as it allows you to edit any point at any time, meaning you can work in a none linear way. However editing a film using this method can sometimes be complicated due to the amount of features the type of software can have.
Live editing – Live television shows will use this method and it involves using multiple cameras and other types of media are routed through a central mixing console and edited in real time.
Video Editing Terminology
Capture device – A device used to convert an anolgue video to a digital video.
Compressers and Codecs – Software or firmware used to create the file into a smaller size.
Editing – The process of manipulating the footage taken. Also used to create transitions between clips.
Encording – Converting digital video into a particular format.
Layering – Adding several layers of superimposed video.
Linear editing - Footage being copied from one tape to another in a specific order.
None linear editing - Using computer software to edit a film.
Transition - The way a shot changed into another.
Post production – Everything that happends to the film after all the footage has been recorded.