Linear editing systems and non-linear editing systems are used in video and film editing. In Linear editing systems, edits to be made in a linear fashion, i.e. in 1-2-3 sequence.
One or more tapes containing the original footage are transferred (recorded) segment by segment onto a tape in a video recorder. In this process, the original segments can be shortened and rearranged, bad shots can be removed, and audio and video effects can be added.
The source machine(s) contain the original footage and the edit recorder, which is controlled by an edit controller, is used to record the final edited master.
The person editing, using an edit controller to shuttle tapes back and forth to find the beginning and ending points of each needed segment. These reference points are then entered as either control track marks or time code numbers. The editor then turn things over to the edit controller, which uses the precise beginning and ending points that have been entered, to roll and cue the tapes and make each edit.
Non-linear editing is a little like working with a highly sophisticated word processor; it allows segments to be inserted, deleted and moved around at any point in the editing process. In non-linear editing the original video segments are digitized (they are not in digital form when they come out of the camera) and transferred to computer hard disks. The editing system can access them in any order, almost instantly.
During nonlinear editing, a wide range of special effects can be added, including fades, dissolves, keyed in words and scene to scene colour corrections. Many audio enhancements can also be added, including sound effects.
