Non Linear Video Editing

Non Linear (Digital) Editing
Non Linear EditingThis tutorial provides an introdution to the world of computer-based digital video editing, known as non-linear editing. You will learn how to set up a computer editing system, record footage from a camera or VCR onto your hard drive, edit the footage and record it back to tape or disk.
Editing with a computer can be a complex process. This tutorial provides an overview and general instructions — you may need to consult your manuals or support forums for some specific tasks related to your software and hardware.
Note: Before attempting this type of editing, it pays to have an understanding of how linear editing works.

Setting Up a Non Linear Edit Suite

To edit video on a computer you will need:

* A source device to play the original tape or disk. Typically a VCR or camera.
* A computer with at least these specs: 200 MHz processor / 64 MB RAM / Fast hard drive with 1 GB or more free space.
Note: If you want decent results, you'll need much higher specs. Some editing software requires a high-performance computer to even work properly.
* A video capture device. To capture video from an analogue source (such as VHS or Video8) you need a device to convert the video into a digital format. This can be a standalone device which plugs into the computer or a video capture card which becomes part of the computer.
If you are using a source device which outputs a digital signal (such as Firewire or USB) you don't need a capture device, but you do need to make sure your computer has the appropriate input available.
* Connecting leads to plug the source device into the capture device or computer.
* Software to control the capturing, editing and outputting.
* A video monitor (or television).

We'll come back to the software on the next page. First, let's have a look at the hardware and physical connections. There are various options depending on your equipment.
Camera and Computer

The most common system in non-professional situations is to plug your video camera directly into your computer via a Firewire or USB connection. These are digital connections and allow you to "dump" footage straight from the camera to the hard drive. This is a convenient and inexpensive way to operate. Consult your camera manual for details.

If your camera doesn't have a digital output, but does have analogue AV outputs, you can use a capture device. Follow the next example, using your camera in place of the VCR.

If your camera doesn't have any video outputs at all, you will need to use a VCR as the source device.
Computer and VCR

The example below shows a VCR used as the source device, connected to a computer with capture card. A video monitor (or television) is used to monitor the pictures. Audio can be monitored with the TV speakers, a separate sound system or headphones.


The top VCR is the source device; the bottom VCR is the recorder.
(1) The AV output of the record VCR plugs into the AV input of the monitor.
(2) The AV output of the source VCR plugs into the AV input of the computer's capture card.
(3) The AV output of the capture card plugs into the AV input of the record VCR.
(4) The second AV (or RF) output of the source VCR plugs into the second AV (or RF) input of the record VCR.
On the record VCR, select the appropriate input to record from either the computer or the source VCR.
Note: You could also use the second (or third) AV output of the source deck to feed another video monitor.
Video Editing Software

Video Editing SoftwareDeciding which video editing software to use is not easy. There is a huge range available, from very basic applications such as Windows Movie Maker to professional packages such as Final Cut Pro, ULead MediaStudio and Adobe Premiere.

For most people, the main constraint is money. Good editing software is expensive and often requires a high-priced computer to run effectively. Obviously the more money you can spend the better, but you can achieve reasonable results with software costing less than $US500.

Very cheap or free software (e.g. Windows Movie Maker) tends to be very limited and somewhat impractical. If you are at all serious you will need to spend some money.

Note that many capture devices and cameras come with their own editing software, or perhaps a limited version of a professional package. This can be a cost-effective way to get started.
How Editing Software Works

Most general-purpose editing software does three things:

1. Capture
2. Edit
3. Output

This means the software controls the capturing (recording) of the footage, provides a way to edit the footage, and allows the finished product to be output to a recording device such as a VCR or DVD.

If you like, you can use separate software for capture or output, but initially you will probably find it more convenient to use the same program for all tasks.

Projects

Although the terminology may vary, non-linear video editing is founded on the concept of a project. An editing project is a collection of elements which are used to create the finished product. Elements can include video clips, audio clips, titles, graphics, etc.

The project also includes information about how these elements are arranged in the edit. In effect, a project consists of all the individual elements and instructions on how they are put together. When you create a video project, you import or capture the elements you need, then arrange them in the order you want (adding effects and other goodies if you like).
What to Look For in Editing Software

1. Make sure it is compatible with your hardware and operating system.
2. Check the capture, import and export options. Make sure it can handle the formats and resolution you want to use.
3. Does the software allow for layering and effects? What other advanced features does it have?
4. Is there any other software bundled with the package (e.g. audio editing)?
5. Is it compatible with other common software (e.g. Adobe Photoshop)?

Capturing Video for Non Linear Editing

Once your edit system is set up correctly, you need to record (capture) the footage from the source machine (e.g. camera or VCR) onto the computer's hard drive. The capture process goes like this:

Adobe Premiere Capture WindowTurn everything on and launch the video capture software. Exactly how this works will depend on your software, but in most cases you will have a menu option to open a capture window.

For example, in Adobe Premiere Pro, select File > Capture (F5) to open a window like the one pictured here.

Press "play" on the source machine. If luck is on your side the capture window will show the picture coming from the source. If not, consult your software help file to see what you need to do.

Look for a record or capture button in the capture window. Simply click this button to record (just as you would press the record button on a VCR). Keep recording until you have all the footage you want. In most cases you will want to capture only the footage you are likely to need, but it is better to capture more footage than less — you can discard unwanted clips later.

When you have captured all the footage, save the video file(s) to your hard drive.

Using Edit Software

Once you have captured your footage to your hard drive you are ready to start a new project and begin editing.
The Editing Workspace

The screenshot below is from Adobe Premiere Pro. This shows the three basic work areas which are common to most editing software packages (although the exact terminology may vary):

1. The Project Window
In the top left of the screenshot, this window contains all of the elements used in the current project (video clips, audio, graphics, etc).
2. The Monitor Window
Top centre and right, the monitors show the video you are editing. In this case, there is one monitor for the source and one for the master edit.
3. The Timeline
Along the bottom, the timeline represents the flow of the video project. This is where you insert video and other elements and arrange them as desired. When you output the video, it will play from the left to right and include everything on the timeline.


The simplest way to arrange elements on the timeline is to drag and drop them from the project window. You can then adjust the elements, for example, trim video clips to make them shorter or reduce the volume of audio clips. You can rearrange elements as much as you like and preview the results before finalizing them.
Any good software package will also allow you to add multiple layers of video, audio and graphics which can be mixed and superimposed to create various effects.
Remember, different software packages will look different to the example above. You really need to read your software manual to learn how to use it properly.
Outputting Video

Now that you have finished editing your masterpiece and you have your timeline all finalised, you are ready to output the video file. The two most common ways to do this are:

1. Encode the video to a digital format such as MPEG-2 and record it directly to DVD or other optical disk.
2. Output the video through your computer's video card to a recording device such as a VCR.

Again, you will need to consult your software/hardware manual for specific instructions. The example below is Adobe Premiere's Export menu. Select the best option for your needs — each option will open a window which allows you to define various settings before exporting.