Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 28, 1995                   TAG: 9503010021
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAVID BUTLER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VIDEO EDITORS SHOULD GO HAND-IN-HAND WITH CAMCORDERS

A: Most camcorder owners have the same problem you have: They shoot lots of tape and then quickly discover that no one (except possibly their mother) will sit through it all. As you discovered, simply copying segments to another tape is rather cumbersome and the final product usually looks amateurish. Even worse is to present your tapes with one finger on the scan button!

Making a video without a video editor is like trying to write on a PC sans word processor. Think of unedited video as raw footage - nothing more, nothing less - just waiting to be cut, rearranged and polished. A video edit controller makes it easy to find and mark the segments you want to keep. In most cases, you'll only use a fraction of the original footage.

With the right tools, even a beginner can produce engaging home movies. You don't have to be a pro to know what you like and what you don't. The key is to make the editing process enjoyable - something to look forward to. You'll also sharpen your camera skills ... guaranteed! Each editing session will refine your sense of what works and what doesn't.

The recent explosion of camcorders onto the scene has ignited demand for consumer oriented editing equipment. Now, more than a dozen companies offer editing consoles at prices starting under $150. The latest models include features previously found only on expensive pro gear such as on-screen menus, fade-to-black and wipes.

The edit controller is perhaps the most important component in a video studio. It allows you to operate your VCR (record deck) and camcorder (playback deck) from a single console. In most cases, the editor operates the VCR by mimicking its infrared remote while taking control of the camcorder through a special connector (e.g., LANC, also known as Control-L).

In order for the edit controller to keep track of your shots, it needs a way to reference the beginning and end of each segment. Some camcorders are capable of recording a special time code with the video. If yours has this feature, choose an edit controller that knows how to read it. Otherwise, the camcorder's tape counter serves as the reference. Although less convenient than time codes, the counter is accurate enough for most editing tasks.

As you review and mark your shots, the edit controller compiles an "edit decision list." By modifying the EDL, you can quickly rearrange the playback sequence of your shots. This powerful feature allows you to a tell a story as opposed to simply stringing together a disjointed series of images. Once the EDL is final, simply push a button and the edit controller takes over and does the rest!

Many editors include an audio mixer to accommodate background music or narration. Some models include video processing controls (e.g., color correction, brightness, tint). Optional components such as title generators and special effects generators can add a professional touch to your video projects.

To receive a list of companies that manufacture video editing equipment, please send $1.50 and a self-addressed envelope to David Butler F-451, Department TWN, 14713 Pleasant Hill Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28278-7927. The list includes toll-free phone numbers and a summary of each company's products. You'll also receive information on PC-based video editors and film-to-video transfer systems.

TechTalk: The three most common recordable time codes are: Vertical Internal Time Code (VITC), Recordable Consumer Time Code (RCTC) and the long-established time code developed by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).