When you watch a movie, a TV show, an upload from your favorite YouTube channel, a pre-recorded news broadcast, or any other type of video, you’re looking at a creation that had to be edited to receive its final form. And when video editors do their work, they experience a process with many steps to it. But what goes into creating these types of videos? Well, in video editing, there are three aspects that are important for the process: Linear and Non-linear Editing, Offline and Real Time (or Online) Editing, and Batch Processing and Project Trimming.
Let’s start with Linear and Non-linear editing. As their names suggest, the way in which they are done is quite simple:
| Linear | Non-linear |
|---|---|
| All edits are made within a pre-determined order, such as from the start of the video to the end | Edits are made not in a specific order (for example, from scenes 1-10: 5, 10, 1, 7, 2, 4, 9, 3, 6, 8) |
Both editing styles are very viable options, and they also both hold importance, albeit for different types of films. According to Indeed, Linear Editing was used for traditional film (i.e. film strips), and Non-linear Editing “is a more versatile method for creating movies,” used for modern film (AKA a variety of video file types). And with today’s technology and the accessible editing software, Non-linear Editing is a more common sight in video editing.
Now for Offline and Online Editing. When it comes to this concept, the terms are in reference to timeframes of video editing, not Internet connectivity. As explained by Sharp Films, Offline Editing comes first and is when, for video editors, “the goal is to create a ‘draft cut’.” Footage is of a lower quality (due to how higher quality footage takes much longer to process), and aspects that include pacing, cuts, and sequencing are determined.
Meanwhile, Online Editing, quote, “is all about creating a final cut,” and it involves placing in the higher quality version of footage while following an EDL (edit decision list), which reminds video editors of the cuts, sequencing, and pacing from the Offline Editing. Then they work on color grading, sound design, VFX (visual effects), and many more important tasks. All of this results in whichever video project is being worked on holding its own aura of life.
Now, let’s talk about something more specific, stemming from the previous two aspects of video editing: Batch Processing and Project Trimming. These are two critical steps in the process, and if you’re wondering why that is, I’m about to tell you.
According to Adobe, Batch Processing is, quote, “a technique for automating and processing multiple data jobs, such as transactions, as a single group.” It’s used for a variety of reasons, including lower costs, the ability to quickly work without being interrupted, and allowing no need to provide supervision. And with a start that came from the creation of punch cards, it has been a useful asset for employees’ efficient workflows.
As for Project Trimming, it lacks the need for a slightly complex explanation, as it simply refers to the action of trimming clips (a very important part of video editing). Without it, the videos we watch would not have the right pacing for each recorded segment.
With both now summed up, they are, of course, only small fragments of what happens in the process of editing videos. Now, to wrap up:
With a variety of editing software to choose from and many resources able to teach how to use them, anyone can learn how to become a video editor and make the content people view on a daily basis. With patience, skill, an eye for detail, and acquired knowledge that relates to the field, the next blockbuster film, Try Not to Laugh compilation, or music video for a musician’s newest song could find its way to the eyes and hearts of many. So if you think you’re ready, get editing!
(Featured Image by Wahid Khene on Unsplash)
Simon Scofield 