Apple Final Cut Pro 7 - Manual (Page 1678)

• Assemble edits: Assemble edits use a pre-roll time before the edit In point to let the
VTR motor get up to speed and continue recording a consistent signal once the edit
begins. The result is a smooth edit at the In point. All tracks on the tape, including
video, audio, timecode, and control tracks, are replaced. The Out point of an assemble
edit ends abruptly, similar to a crash edit, because there is a discrepancy between the
timing of the newly recorded signal and the one that already existed on the tape (if
the tape wasn’t blank).
• Insert edits: Insert edits only replace selected tracks, such as the video track, or two
audio channels. The control track on the tape is never replaced, which keeps the tape
playing at the proper speed while the other tracks are replaced. Both In and Out edit
points are smooth. Professional tape-to-tape editing systems use pre-blacked videotapes
and use insert editing exclusively.
About Assemble Editing to Tape
An assemble edit records all video, audio, timecode, and control track information onto
tape starting at the In point of the edit. Whatever signal was on the tape previously is
replaced. By definition, this means there must already be some signal recorded on the
tape (even if it’s only 10 or 15 seconds at the head of the tape) so you can set an In point.
When an assemble edit stops, there is a signal break at the Out point between the new
signal and the previous signal already on tape. Thus, the In point of an assemble edit
maintains a smooth control track signal, but the Out point always has a break. Since you
can always cover up the last Out point break with the In point of a new edit, assemble
editing gets its name from the fact that it is used for quickly assembling footage together
in a linear fashion. However, you cannot replace a shot in the middle of the tape without
creating a signal break at the Out point.
About Insert Editing to Tape
An insert edit allows you to individually replace video, audio, and timecode tracks on a
tape, using In and Out points. Insert editing is frame accurate and never creates breaks
in the control track. For example, you could record new music to audio track 1 while
keeping the existing video track and audio track 2 intact. This requires a precision,
professional deck. (For more information, see
“About Tracks on Videotape.” )
Note: This term is not at all related to making an insert edit in the Timeline; insert editing
is a tape-to-tape editing term that predates nonlinear editing systems.
To perform an insert edit, your tape needs to have a signal already recorded on it. You
can prepare a tape for insert editing by blacking the tape, which means recording control
track, timecode, and a black video signal. You can also perform insert edits on any tape
with an existing, unbroken control track. Having timecode on the tape is also necessary
to set In and Out points for the edit. For more information about blacking a tape using
Final Cut Pro, see
“Stage 6: Preparing Your Videotape with Black and Timecode.”
1678 Chapter 101 Assemble and Insert Editing Using Edit to Tape