Introduction+to+Video+Editing

Welcome to an Introduction to Video Editing.
Other Classes: - Final Cut Pro - Advanced Final Cut Pro 7

This is a one day/three hour class

Major Topics:
 * The Production Process
 * Digital vs. Analog
 * What is Digital Video?
 * What is Video Editing?
 * Video Editing Terminology
 * Digital Video Formats

Day 1

 * Review the Production Process**

__** Pre-Production **__ ** __Production__ ** **__Post-Production__**
 * **Project Information Gathering**--This is the first step in the process of creating your video. Arrange a meeting to discuss all the needs for your project.
 * **Outline and Script Review**--This is the meeting where you give all the relevant information you want included in your video. From this, you create the script.
 * **Shot List Preparation**--Based on the script, all of the needed shots are mapped out before any shooting begins. This process is best known as storyboarding.
 * **Video Shoot**--With cameras and staff, begin the video shoot. Following the shot list, we capture all of the footage with attention to creativity and detail.
 * **Narration Recording**--The narrator that you select records the narration that will enhance the visuals.
 * **Digital Editing**--The editing process begins, following the agreed upon script. Deliver a rough edit for review. A final edit is created based upon feedback and creative input.
 * **Mastering and Duplicating**--The final presentation is mastered onto a digital format. Then you can give it to your favorite public access channel, make a DVD, upload it to the web, or distribute some other way.

Computers are digital devices, meaning they perform all calculations using ones and zeros. This method of computing is referred to as the "binary system," and is the heart of all digital technology. Devices such as hard drives, CD recorders, and Mini DV camcorders are digital devices, and therefore record data digitally, as ones and zeros.
 * What is the difference between analog and digital technology?**

VCRs, tape players, and record players, on the other hand, are analog devices. This is because they record data linearly from one point to another. Imagine a bumpy line moving from left to right -- that is what an analog audio recording would look like. Analog devices read the media, such as tapes or records, by scanning the physical data off the media.

For example, a record player reads the bumps and dips in the grooves of the record and translates the information into an audio signal. An audio CD player, however, reads ones and zeros off a compact disc and translates that information into an audio signal. However, the ones and zeros only estimate the actual soundwave, whereas a record player records the exact sound. When you hear terms like "sampling rate" or "bit rate," these refer to how many times per second the digital signal is sampled. The higher the number, the more accurate the estimate is, which translates into higher quality sound or video.

Digital Media is the creative convergence of digital arts, science, technology and business for human expression, communication, social interaction and education

//Video editing// is the process of manipulating and rearranging video shots to create a new work. Editing is usually considered to be one part of the //post production// process — other post-production tasks include titling, colour correction, sound mixing, etc.
 * What is Video Editing?**

Types of Editing
 * Film Splicing - Traditionally, film is edited by cutting sections of the film and rearranging or discarding them.
 * Tape to Tape (Linear) - Linear editing was the original method of editing electronic video tapes, before editing computers became available in the 1990s.
 * Digital/Computer (Non-linear) - In this method, video footage is recorded (captured) onto a computer hard drive and then edited using specialized software.
 * Live Editing - In some situations multiple cameras and other video sources are routed through a central mixing console and edited in real time. Live television coverage is an example of live editing.

Video Editing Terminology
 * **Aspect Ratio**: The term //Aspect Ratio//refers to the width of a picture (or screen) in relation to its height. Ratios are expressed in the form "width x height". For example, a 4x3 ratio means the picture is 4 units wide by 3 units high. Note that the actual physical size of the picture is irrelevant — aspect ratio refers only to the relationship between width and height.
 * **Capture Device:** A hardware or firmware device used to convert analogue video into digital video.
 * **Compressors & Codecs:** Software or firmware used to compress and decompress digital video. Compression makes the file size smaller.
 * **Editing:** The process of rearranging, adding and/or removing sections of video clips. Also, creating transitions between clips. Editing is part of post-production.
 * **Encoding:** The process of converting digital video into a particular format, for example, saving a video project in MGEG-2 format for DVD distribution.
 * **Layering:** Adding multiple layers of superimposed video.
 * **Linear Editing:** Also known as //tape to tape// editing. A method of editing in which footage is copied from one tape to another in the required order.
 * **Non Linear Editing:** An editing method which uses computer software to edit the footage.
 * **Post Production:** Everything that happens to the video and audio after production, i.e. after the footage has been shot. Post production includes video editing, audio editing, titling, color correction, effects, etc.
 * **Rough Cut, Final Cut:** A rough cut is generally a draft that is intended to be reviewed by the production team. A final cut, is generally considered to be the final edit, and is ready for any additional sound or color mastering.
 * **Timecode:** Way of measuring time. 00:00:00:00 HH:MM:SS:FF
 * **Transition:** The way one shot changes to the next.
 * **Workflow:** The process by which you create your project. Everyone has as different workflow, depending on the hardware and software that you are using, and how you feel most comfortable using these tools.

This could become a very complicated subject, but I want to introduce to you the idea that there are many, many video formats out there and you should be aware of what you *need in order to have a successful edit. Final Cut Pro uses QuickTime codecs. If it opens in QuickTime, you can most likely put it on your timeline. You may have to Render any format that does not match the sequence preset. Also, keep in mind that there are a variety of ways to get video formats into your FCP project. You can capture (from tape) transfer (from card) or import (from hard drive)
 * Digital Video Formats**

For a complete list and comparison of video editing software: @http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_video_editing_software