Easy Home Video Editor
(150-1963)                 Editing                    Faxback Doc. # 34339

Step 4 Editing Concepts

The basic idea behind video editing is explained in the section "About
Video Editing" in the beginning of the Instructions pamphlet.  Here are
some additional details:

Instant vs. Automatic Editing

There are two ways to edit with the Easy Editor:

    When you use Instant Editing, you immediately record the good video as
    it appears on the screen.  You watch the original tape and press the
    Thumbs-Up button when good video is about to begin.  The Easy Editor
    automatically starts the recorder.  If the fader is on, it also fades
    the video in from black.  When the good video ends, you press the
    Thumbs-Down button. The Easy Editor pauses the recorder and optionally,
    fades the video to black.  You repeat the process for each scene.

    Instant Editing is fast and simple and it works with most camcorders
    and VCRs.  If you do not have edit control, you'll probably use Instant
    Editing most of the time.  But you can do Automatic Editing by making a
    timecoded copy of the original, as explained in Step 9.7, on Faxback
    Doc. # 34342.

    With Automatic Editing, you watch the video and use the thumb buttons
    to note where good segments begin and end.  The segments are not
    recorded as you mark them-instead, the Easy Editor remembers them.  You
    can mark up to 62 scenes, preview them, and make changes.  Then you
    press EDIT and the Easy Editor automatically records all the good
    segments, one after another.

    Automatic Editing has the advantage that you can make changes, refining
    the production until it's perfect.  And it's easy to remake the same
    production several times for different people.  Each one is made from
    the original, not from a copy, so each has the best possible quality.

    If you have edit control, you'll use Automatic Editing most of the
    time.  For quick edits, you can use Instant Editing, as explained in
    Step 6.3, on Faxback Doc. # 34340.

Controlling the Camcorder and VCR

If the camcorder has edit control, and you have connected the edit control
cable between it and the Easy Editor, you can use the buttons on the Easy
Editor (PLAY [>], REWIND [<<], etc.) to control it. Otherwise, use the
controls on the camcorder itself, or on the camcorder's remote.

You can control the VCR by using the VCR's own buttons or its remote
control.  The buttons on the Easy Editor do not control the VCR.

Video Quality

The Easy Editor has several features designed to deliver the best possible
video quality.  First and foremost, its productions are normally "second-
generation" copies of the original tape rather than being copies of a copy.
Second, it has a built-in enhancer and fader (described in this section).

The Troubleshooting section (Step 12 on Faxback Doc. # 34345) lists some
hints for maximizing video quality, under the heading, "Video Quality."

Fader

You can add a fade to black between each segment.  With the fader on, the
video fades to an all-black screen at the end of each segment and the next
segment begins with a fade in from the black screen.  In many cases, this
provides a smoother transition between segments.  It's especially useful
for VCRs that cause a picture disruption when recording is paused, as the
fade to black reduces the visual impact.  Step 8.3, item 4, on Faxback Doc.
# 34341 tells how to turn the fade option on and off.

Enhancer

The Easy Editor includes an enhancer that can improve the apparent
sharpness of the picture or reduce the snowy effects of video noise. Step 5
on Faxback Doc. # 34340 tells how to adjust the enhancer.

Black Generator

It's a good idea to avoid recording good video on the first 30-60 seconds
of a videocassette, because that section is subject to extra wear.  That's
one of the reasons professionals start their productions with an all-black
screen.  The Easy Editor has a built-in "black generator." The Instructions
pamphlet describes how to use it to add a black leader and trailer to the
beginning and end of each production.

Titles

You can use a video title generator to add video titles as you edit. Titles
can be automatically triggered, using the "T" button, if your titler is
equipped with a "GPI" trigger (Step 7.6 on Faxback Doc. # 34340).

Accuracy

The Easy Editor's accuracy depends on your equipment.  You can fine-tune
its scene timing by adjusting "trim" settings.  Step 8.3, on Faxback Doc.
# 34341, items 7 and 8, describe this.

Time code

Some of the more advanced camcorders add timecode to the video as they
record.  Timecode makes very accurate editing possible.  The Easy Editor
automatically detects and uses the two timecodes used in consumer cam-
corders (SMPTE VITC and Sony RC) if either is present.  No user action is
necessary.

You can also use the Easy Editor to make a timecoded copy of any tape,
giving you the accuracy advantage of timecode even if your camcorder
doesn't record timecode.  Step 10 describes timecode in detail.

More...

You can rearrange segments, make productions from multiple original tapes,
put more than one production on one tape, and more.  See Step 9 on Faxback
Doc. # 34342 for these advanced techniques.


(BR/EB 8/2/96)