The Sony VCR Hi-8 EVO-9700 Linear Editor (which will be referred to
as the linear editing system) has
the capability of working with two Hi-8 video tapes at a time. One of the
tapes will be referred to as the master
tape, and the other will be called the source
tape. You typically would use only one edited
master tape, and one or more source
raw footage tape(s) during the editing process since you will be selecting
and transferring segments from the source tape(s) to the master tape. The
master tape is typically a "black"
tape that doesn't contain any video footage to start, and will contain
the final edited version of the video.
Shoot to Edit
Since you do have the benefit of using an editing system, your video
production can take on the "shoot
to edit" approach, knowing that you can record as much raw footage
as you want. Being able to choose from several takes,
you should be able to extract ideal segments for use in your edited master.
Tape Tracks
Before describing editing issues, you need to know that the Hi-8 videotape consists of three tracks for the picture and sound:
(1) video,
(2) standard audio, and
(3) PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) audio.
During shooting, the standard audio
and video are always recorded together. The PCM
audio, on the other hand, is usually used during editing to add secondary
audio, such as music or voiceovers
which could be played back simultaneously with the video and standard audio.
In the Sample Storyboard section of these web pages you will see how you
can use these three tracks to produce interesting videotapes.
Editor Functions
The linear editing system can be used to perform: (1) assemble,
(2) program, or (3) insert
edit functions. With any technique, it is still important to have a
detailed storyboard that helps to keep you focused on the end product.
Knowing a little about what options are available to you during the editing
phase can help you generate ideas when developing your storyboard.
Assemble or Quick Edit
In assemble edit (also known as quick
edit) mode, you basically transfer over the segments of audio and video
tracks from the source tape to the master tape one segment at a time, right
after each other.
Program Edit
Program edit is a special feature of the linear editing system that
allows you to program several start and stop (or IN and OUT) points before
recording to the master tape. With program edit you can preview the edited
sequence, make adjustments to the start and stop times of the segments,
or even add or delete events, then create the master tape.
Insert Edit
The insert edit function of the linear editing system allows you to
replace sections of video or to add secondary audio to the sequence. When
performing an insert edit, it is really important that you understand which
track(s) you are replacing on the master tape.
Video Insert Edit
During a video insert edit,
the picture and sound on the video and standard audio tracks are replaced,
while the PCM audio track is left intact. Because both video and standard
audio are being replaced, you must be certain that the segment you end
up with will have a nice flow of both standard audio and PCM audio. Any
sound on the standard audio will have an abrupt stop and start as the videotape
plays through the changes in video images.
Before video insert. This example shows three different segments
called video 1, video 2, and video 3. Video 1 has already been recorded
on the master tape. The editing team decides to modify the scene a little
by inserting a couple different segments (video 2 and video 3) showing
other action at the construction site.
After video insert. When this sequence is played back, the viewer
will see four different camera shots of a construction site. The standard
audio will have abrupt changes between shots since the original sounds
came from three different recordings. To compensate for the sound variation,
the editing team might also decide to perform an audio insert edit (see
below).
Audio Insert Edit
When you choose to perform an audio
insert edit, only the PCM audio track is replaced, while the video
and standard audio of the master tape remaining the same. This is most
commonly used for adding music or narration to go along with the video
images. Keep in mind that you can also use the standard audio to be inserted
into the PCM track. Sometimes you will find it easier to edit your tapes
when all music and voiceovers are recorded onto videotape rather than taken
as a direct input from a microphone during your editing session. By having
the music and voiceovers already recorded on a videotape you avoid having
to worry about starting and stopping your recording at the exact moments
that you desire during the insert edit. Even if you rehearse scripted narration,
you probably will end up re-recording your audio because your first attempt
did not turn out the way that you wanted. In addition, this technique will
allow you to record to tape several takes
of voiceovers to try and fill
the appropriate amount of time for the images that it will accompany. You
can record different takes that have narration with slow, medium, and fast
delivery.
Audio insert edit allows for voiceover narration. This scene shows
a person
checking in his baggage at the airport. The editing of this sequence is
actually done in two phases. First, the different shots of video are edited
to the master tape. During this first phase, the standard audio is muted
(or softened). Then, in the second phase, the narration is added to the
master tape by performing an audio insert edit.
Audio Volume Control
Audio is perhaps the most difficult component with which to work. During
editing, you can adjust the volume of the standard audio and the PCM audio
tracks, but it is still important to strive for excellent audio during
the shooting. You want to obtain consistent levels of combined audio tracks.
Sometimes you may want the music louder than the background sounds, while
other times you may want the talking voices of the standard audio to be
louder than the background music. You decide which sounds should stand
out and by how much.
Slow Motion
The linear editing system allows you to transfer segments
of video images in slow motion onto the edit master tape. This might be
used to add dramatic effects to a scene, or just to slow down a fast action
scene. Keep in mind that when you use the slow motion feature, the audio
from the raw footage does not transfer over to the master tape. If you
want sounds, you must record it on the PCM audio track using the audio
insert function.
Freeze Frame
You can also record a freeze frame
from the source tape onto the master tape. When transferring a freeze frame
image, the audio from the source tape during playback is still recorded
onto the standard audio track of the edit master tape. One instance that
the editing team might find advantageous in producing a freeze frame shot
is replacing a segment that has poor camera work. You might want to cover
up bad footage showing a subject going out of focus, or hide segments in
which the camera operator did not hold the camera steady.
Titling
The linear editing system allows you to add titles onto: (1) a colored
background, (2) a slow-motion picture, (3) a
freeze-frame picture, or (4) a regular moving
picture. The title function does not have as many selections of fonts as
you see in word processors, but it is a quick and easy way to create any
titles or captions for your video. For example, you might have shots that
could use captions that show the names of people or places. If the title
feature doesn't meet your needs, you may want to consider other means of
character generation such as those
described in the Graphics Insert
subsection.
"In-camera"
editing is one way of producing a video, but it may not be suitable for
creating an instructional video. This editing technique requires that every
scene be shot in order and be acceptable before you progress to the next
segment. You will find that very seldom on the first attempt will you get
a perfect recording of someone reciting words from a script, even after
rehearsing. If you are only shooting a couple of different scenes and feel
lucky, you might be able to create a video without any editing equipment.
What is a Storyboard?