Edit Suite: Using Your Computer for Linear Editing

While nonlinear editing systems seem to be all the rage, computer-controlled linear editing is tried, true and affordable.

Everyone's talking about how you can turn your personal computer into a nonlinear editing system by simply adding a few extra pieces of gear. They tell you to pick up a couple big AV-compatible hard drives, some double-digit RAM chips and a video capture card and "poof," you've got a nonlinear editing system in your computer.

While that "poof" might be the sound of all that editing power appearing on your desktop, it might also be the sound of all those dollars leaving your pocket. Prices on many nonlinear systems have dropped dramatically in recent years, but they remain out of reach for many videographers. Either they can't seem to find enough money to do the nonlinear thing, or they can't justify spending that much on a system to make better home videos.

No one's disputing that nonlinear is an editing dream come true. It's just difficult to choose between staying with trusted linear technology which costs less, or spending the extra money to reap the nonlinear gains.

If you've recently pondered the upgrade and decided against it, did you consider using your computer as a linear editing tool instead? Did you know you could?

While nonlinear products ultimately provide the most editing features and flexibility, they have a number of desktop video cousins that can turn even a moderately powered computer into a serious linear editing tool.

That's what this article's all about: teaching you how to get more from your computer in a linear editing environment. You'll learn the kinds of editing tricks your computer can do, and the products you need to make it perform them. Along the way, you'll get to keep your existing linear editing investment, and make both it and you work more effectively.

Why a Computer?

We all know that computers are amazing pieces of technology. They crunch numbers in spreadsheets, keep the kids busy playing adventure games and help you track your investment portfolio. By adding some inexpensive software and hardware, your computer can also perform one or more linear editing chores: control your VCRs, generate digital video effects and on-screen titles, or control a special effects generator. The link between the computer on your desktop and all of your video gear is usually the serial port on the back of the computer. It might also be through an empty card slot inside. Put the right wires and cards in the right places, and your computer instantly becomes a powerful editing tool worthy of professional attention.

As an edit controller, it can control most consumer and professional VCRs, depending on the installed hardware and software. Through an on-screen interface, you can tell the computer to shuttle the tape forward or back, mark and save edit points, and perform a long list of edits.

Why, you might ask, would you buy the computer-based version of an edit controller or special effects generator (SEG) when a perfectly capable stand-alone version already exists? If you buy the computer product, you run the risk of incompatibility with your current PC system, or of a conflict between the controller and another program on your computer. The editing programs themselves may also use up some valuable hard disk space.

Even with these caveats, the fact is that computer-based editing products offer more power and control over your video equipment than stand-alone models. Most also have an easy-to-use interface that takes less time to learn than the control panels on stand-alone models. Computer-based linear editing systems can also store more details about the edits you make.

Stand-alone edit controllers, for example, save time code or counter numbers in their memories, but lose those numbers when you switch the power off. Computer-based controllers let you save your edit points, or the entire edit decision list (EDL), in a file on the hard disk that doesn't go away until you delete it. That means you can preserve your edit lists for as long as you need them.

Computer models also let you store much more than just the time code or counter numbers. Most systems let you save a short description of the edit. Some even help manage your entire raw footage library, letting you search with keywords to find the specific shots you need.

Computer-based--More Money?

Even if you already own a personal computer that supports a video editing product, you'll probably find that adding a computer-based product to your system will cost a bit more than a stand-alone version. If you don't already have a computer, obviously getting the computer-based version will cost quite a bit more. They do, however, return that extra investment in ease of use and features. Whether the return is enough to justify the extra expense is a decision only you can make.

Most of these products include some type of interface hardware: either a cable that connects to the VCRs, or a card that plugs into the computer. They all have software that installs on your computer and interacts with the VCRs and/or SEGs in your system. These interfaces let your computer "talk" to the video gear exactly like a stand-alone edit controller would. These products usually require little if any upgrades to your current computer or video systems. Those that do may include any needed equipment inside the box. That means you can boost your editing capability and efficiency without dropping a huge chunk of money, or rendering your current editing system obsolete.