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CHAPTER SIX ....., EDITING VIDEOTAPE PART 1 TECHNICAL The first thing I can hear you ask is "why would I want to edit my videotape? Dear old Dad didn't edit his home movies." Sure, Dad didn't even cut out the double exposed stuff when he flipped the roll over twice in the camera instead of once, but you will make a much better impression on your in-laws, neighbors, and even your kids if you cut out that minute and a half you shot of the asphalt parking lot, when you didn't know the camcorder was running. Since you can't cut and splice videotape the way you do film, it is necessary to re-record the material you want, in the order you want onto another tape. This means that the absolute minimum of equipment required is your camcorder to play back the original footage, and some kind of VCR to record the master. If you have to use a common garden variety machine to record, you will not get clean edits. At best, you will see bits of color wending their way out of the picture for about a second after the edit. This is the nature of the beast, and you will have to live with it, but the results will be superior to an unedited tape. The absolute best edit with a low priced VCR can be obtained by playing back the existing shot to the point where you want to bring in the next one, putting the machine in PAUSE, push the RECORD button, which should leave the machine in RECORD-PAUSE, and as you start to play back the next shot on the source machine, (camcorder, or whatever,) take the RECORDER out of PAUSE. If you can invest in the next step up in a machine for editing, get one with FLYING ERASE HEADS. This has erase heads on the video drum immediately ahead of the video heads, and will permit clean cuts with no colors drifting out of the picture. On most machines, this will also permit VIDEO INSERTS, which will allow you to replace footage in the middle of a production, not just at the end. Video inserts will also allow you to consider such exotic things as laying down a music track, and /or narration, and cutting the video to match. Audio dubbing and inserting ability is also necessary for a quality production.
The next step up from this, if you can get by with the old car for a year or two, is a pair of editing decks and a controller. These have the features mentioned above, plus the ability to let you line up and rehearse your proposed edit, and when you are satisfied, push the button and have it performed at exactly the right place. Digital Video Editing While the modern digital camcorder will give good clean edits right in the camera, more serious editing is now done in the computer. A "Firewire" cable and card will let you transfer your video into your computer, and a low cost editing program, sometimes free with the camcorder, will allow you to produce a very professional looking project. The addition of a board like the ATI "All in Wonder" will let you export it as composite video, or you can burn it to DVD if your computer is properly equipped. |
