Introduction to Electronic Editing Techniques
David Miles Huber · 2023
In editing videotape, an entirely different approach must be taken to join together separate pieces of program material. During the early years of video production, the use of the quad VTR allowed for the physical cutting and splicing of program material; the video tracks for a quad machine make an angle of almost exactly 90 degree with the longitudinal dimension of the tape. Early techniques of electronic editing were generally unreliable and often resulted in picture breakup or inaccurate cut-in placement, a phenomenon that earned the rather unloving nickname of “edi-crash.” However, developments soon allowed for a smooth transition from one video signal to another on a single, continuous piece of videotape. The central concept behind the process of electronic editing is signal timing when switching from one video source to another. The stability of a video signal is extremely critical for accurate image reproduction.