Preparing to Edit

Getting ready to edit is a three-part process: organizing your media, getting the media into your editing system, and preparing it for editing, especially if it’s double-system sound or multi-cam footage that needs to be synchronized.

The biggest change when it comes to setting up a project for editing is that most projects are now file-based, instead of tape-based (see Figure 13.1). Even projects that were shot on videotape typically capture full-resolution video and maintain a file-based workflow from that point on. 35mm film projects also maintain a file-based workflow once the film footage is transferred to a digital intermediate.

Figure 13.1

No matter how you acquired your media, your postproduction workflow will ultimately be file-based, as shown in this diagram.