Linear Video Editing

When I first saw the Linear video editing machine, I felt like observing a kind of dismantled time machine. Video monitors, big key board, recorders, players, speakers, tapes and network of cables in a small room just shook up my brain. My editor friend took his time to explain the complexity of this machine. I watched him edit for more than six hours on that mutli-gadgeted machine. I was so very much excited.

Linear editing setup

Well, linear video editing is a video editing post-production of selecting, arranging, and modifying images and sounds in a predetermined, ordered sequence. The only thing you need to take care is the order of editing; you can't go back and forth and edit. You have follow your storyboard and go chronologically.

Few Precautions:

You need to make sure you have at least 5 seconds of footage present on the raw footage tape prior to the point you want to start your clip. When you set “in” points, the editing system automatically goes back 5 seconds before your 'in' point in order to properly place your edit. If you don’t have 5 seconds of extra video prior to the clip you want, the machine won’t be able to place the edit on your master tape. This is why it is very important to always allow the camera to run 5 seconds before and after a shot been taken.

You need to control DV tape by hitting the “p” button on the key board or player. By using the jog, you need to cue DV tape to the clip you want to transfer onto your final edit. Once you are at the beginning of the clip you want, set an “in” point on the DV tape. Register an “in” point on the DV tape by hitting the “in” and “entry” buttons at the same time.  A light at the top will light up to indicate that you did this successfully. Using jog, fast forward your clip to the point you want it to end. At the end of the clip, set an “out” point on the DV tape by hitting the “out” and “entry” buttons at the same time.  Again, a light at the top will light up to indicate that you did this successfully.

Doesn't that sound easy? Yes, that's how it works...

In case you messed up and need to re-set an “in” or “out” point, hit “cancel” and “in” at the same time or “cancel” and “out” at the same time. Then reset your “in” or “out” points. You can also re-set an “in” or “out” point by simply hitting the “in” and “entry” buttons again, or the “out” and “entry” buttons again. Computer will automatically use whatever points you last inputted. And your project will be safe on the timeline again.

Yes, it was that simple!!

In the past, loss of frames, frames slipping, audio out sync, and background sound was a problem with this kind of editing. That's the reason, they are out of market now and replaced by non linear editing machines.

As a beginner, it was fun for me and I enjoyed editing on it for more than a year. Despite its complications and drawbacks, it made me more accurate and organized in learning the abcd...of video editing.