Edit Suite: Bare-bones Editing: Simple Editing Without a Controller

When you get down to the basics of video, it's all about telling a story. You select the images and sounds that weave the message. It's all about choices--editing choices.

Editing is the essential step that separates droning videos from dazzling masterpieces. Are you limited to making mundane video if you don't own an edit controller? No. By mastering the simple techniques in this article you can assemble a quality video production without an edit controller. All you need is your camcorder, a standard VCR and a monitor. Sound simple? It is. You probably already have the gear you need.

In its basic form, editing is the process of rearranging, correcting and assembling a video into a polished production that tells a story. Let's look at each part of the process.

You may want to rearrange the order of the shots on your original camcorder tape. Maybe you scripted the second shot on your tape as the final scene in the video. Not a problem. During the editing process, you select each shot and choose the order they appear in the final production.

Mistakes happen. Tripods wobble at the worst moment and mouths turn to mush as a Pavlovian response to the word "action." You just skip over these gaffes and use only the best shots while editing. Save the funny "out takes" for another video.

You may want to add titles and maybe a musical sound track to your work. These steps, accomplished during the editing operation, give your production a professional look. Editing gives you the power to add these finishing touches.

A basic editing setup requires two VCRs, or a camcorder and a VCR. One VCR, or the camcorder, functions as a playback deck, sometimes called the source deck. This is the deck that plays the original tape you shot in your camcorder. The second VCR serves as a recording deck. You selectively copy portions of the original footage onto a blank tape in this deck.

Hook-up is simple. All you need are inexpensive RCA-type cables. These are the standard cables that carry audio and video signals to video monitors, stereo amplifiers, audio cassette decks and CD players.

You probably have a set of RCA cables around the house--they're often included with camcorders and VCRs. If not, a quick trip to your local electronics store will fix you up. Most department and discount stores that sell VCRs and camcorders also stock RCA cables--even some videotape-rental stores have them.

Use the RCA cables to hook the audio and video outputs of the playback deck to the input terminals of the recording VCR.

Now you need a way to view the video. Two monitors are best: one hooked to the playback deck, the second attached to the recording VCR. This allows you to monitor both decks simultaneously. If you only have one monitor, connect it to the record VCR.

Use RCA cables to hook the audio/video outputs of the decks into the inputs of the monitors. If you're using regular televisions as monitors and they don't have audio/video inputs, use RF cables (also used for cable TV) and set the TVs to channel 3 or 4. This also has the added bonus of leaving the audio/video outputs on the playback deck free for connection to your record VCR.

Many newer camcorders have a fold-out LCD video display that's perfect for monitoring your footage. Even the standard viewfinder will work, though its tiny size is less than ideal.

Stereo equipment requires two RCA audio cables, one for the left channel and one for the right. What if some of your gear is stereo and some is not? Use a "Y" adapter to combine the stereo signals into a single mono signal. These inexpensive adapters are available at most stores that carry RCA cables.