Video Assembly

The video assembly consists in selecting images recorded on a nonsilver support and assembling the whole in a coherent continuation.
C' is one of the final operations in the realization of Documentaire S, Téléfilm S, Reportage S, Vidéo clip S, etc

For a long time used by the Cinema, for the special effects in particular, each and everyone can now also use the tool Informatique to create its films of family or its fictions and to carry out itself its Montage S. Several Logiciel S are besides at its disposal with this intention, unquestionable free, the other paying ones.

Material

One distinguishes two types of material:

“linear” assembly benches known as or “controls multimachines” equipped at least with a video tape recorder reader and a second, recording
assembly benches known as “virtual”: the assembly is then carried out via a software on a computer or a dedicated station.

Until in the years 2000, a control made up of an assembly bench multimachine generally laid out, in addition to video tape recorders, of an editor of assembly (Sony RME 400, RME 450, BVE 600, BVE 900, BVE 2000, BVE 9000, BVE 9100…), of a Mixing video, a console of mixing and a multi effect (TEENAGER 100, Sony DME 7000…) Since the era of numerical, the controls multimachines disappear little by little, leaving room to the stations of assembly which gather all these functionalities.

For the numerical formats general public such as FD or HDV, the station of assembly will have to be equipped with a port Firewire (implemented on the mother chart or a chart annexes) to acquire the cassette S video and with an important storage, according to the projects.

For the professional formats, the station of assembly will have to be equipped with adequate connector industries according to the formats:

Betacam SP: component inputs/outputs
numerical Betacam: inputs/outputs SDI
HDCAM: inputs/outputs HD SDI
HDCAM SR: inputs/outputs doubles HD SDI to manage flow 4:4: 4

The linear assembly

The linear assembly is historically the first shape of video assembly.

That consists in using two video tape recorders: a reader and a recorder, to put an empty medium in the recorder (cassette) and there to copy after, in a linear way, the parts which one selected on the source.

This type of assembly was the single means of assembling images until in the beginning of the year 1970 and the technique of the linear assembly with summer improved up to that point.

Addition of console of assembly (editor) operating by remote control readers & recording
Possibility of using more than one source
Possibility of mixing the sound (for example to add a background music to the sound of environment)
Use of Mixing video allowing basic effects such as the Incrustation on blue bottom or by mask, the Molten and all kinds of other transitions.

The addition of these various functionalities takes place and more and more the rooms of assemblies resemble cockpits of planes. The term of Cinema " Bench of Assembly " is recovered by the Télévision.

The linear assembly is still usually used for its speed and its reliability. But with the arrival in force of the Data-processing , of new possibilities is offered to the assemblers.

The non-linear assembly

The non-linear assembly, or " virtual Assembly " , was made possible in video thanks to the advent of data processing.

From now on the images and the sound are placed on the computer (more precisely on its hard drive) before being copied from the support of destination. By analogy, one can compare the non-linear assembly with a data-processing word processing and the assembly " linéaire" with a page layout by typist. The insertion of a new sentence in a text already typed with the typist requires a reorganization of the more or less tiresome page layout, which is not any more the case in data-processing word processing.

It is from now on possible to move plans or sequences in the course of assembly, as in traditional assembly in film, not easily realizable thing in the case of the linear assembly. But that is only one of the many advantages which has the non-linear assembly.

Acquisition

Also called " importation" , " capture" , " numérisation" , " digitalisation" , " input" or " ingest" it makes it possible to transfer the video data since a video camera, a video tape recorder or a satellite beam towards the hard drive of the computer.

In the formats general public, it is first of all necessary to connect the video camera to the computer. In the case of a numerical video camera, connection is preferably made by the port IEEE 1394 (also called Firewire at Apple or i-Link at Sony), which is present on the majority of the recent computers and out of standard of origin on Macintosh Apple. In the other cases, via a chart or of an external case of acquisition present on the market.

Under Linux, the service Video4linux, generally installed by defect allows the frame grabbing or of vidéos, for the management of the IEEE 1394, according to the distributions, it is necessary to install the corresponding packages or they are installed by defect, or when one installs a software of assembly specialized FD, like Kino.

On Windows XP, the service WIA allows the frame grabbing without installation of additional pilots starting from certain compatible video cameras. If not, it will be necessary to install the driver of the video camera to be able to transfer the images on the PC.

In the professional formats, in SD it is necessary to be equipped with a chart of acquisition components or SDI and in HD with a chart HD SDI

In professional environment, digitalization (or digitalization), in particular of fiction, solely does not consist in capturing images. It is necessary to make a dérushage i.e. to name each plan (by the number of the clap), to briefly describe the nature of the plan (Plane broad, Plan means, dolly, pano…) and the action (description of the scene and the characters). One must choose a quality of digitalization (example into 1 per 1 means that one digitizes an image without compressing it, in 10 per 1 it will be it), the good audio format (analogical or numerical etc…). Digitalization, when it is effctuée correctly thus makes it possible to save a little time to the assembler who will take the continuation…

Advantages of the nonlinear assembly

Makes it possible to at will move the sequences on the track of assembly. In linear assembly the displacement of a plan or a sequence does not pose any problem if the replaced sequence makes the same duration as the new sequence, on the other hand if the " trou" is too small (too short in fact) the sequence of replacement overflows on the following one and obliges to move all the part which is after the modification. In nonlinear assembly this waste of time does not exist since one only moves the images virtually contrary to the linear assembly which physically moves them with each " coupe".
Makes it possible to use more than one track of assembly, that offers another pallet of advantages:

Possibility of making assembly multi-layer. That amounts superimposing several images on the same screen with different levels of transparency. This method will upset the world of the assembly in particular in the Vidéo-clip S where true artists will give to the non-linear assembly its noble letters.
Possibility of carrying out transitions more elaborate than with a linear assembly bench.
Possibility of incorporating special Effects ( Compositing , Matte painting ) on the images.
Possibility of incorporating graphics, texts or any element and of animating them. (That was already possible on linear bench but infinitely longer and complicated)
the possibilities have like limit only the imagination and the capacities of the machines unceasingly in evolution.

Disadvantages of the nonlinear assembly

With this type of technique, the images and the sound must be recorded on the computer before any work, it is the stage of captures or of acquisition which is generally rather long. A waste of time which can be considerable if one does not select beforehand the sequences to be used. This phase of preselection before assembly is called a dérushage.

The mixing

The Mixage makes it possible to add audio comments, music or sound effects thanks to the functions of the software of assembly (either by recording them with the video camera and in the important one, or digitizing them with the request), which makes it possible to support the narrative direction of the images, to even impose a style particular (shift of direction, voice-off, background music).

In professional environment, the mixor is an artist with whole share which must manage all the sound elements which arrive on its console (direct sounds, sound effects, assembly its, musics). Thus the mixing is not that a management of potentiometers and levels, it includes a sensitivity which must be implemented to privilege certain sounds, to create sound effects, to modulate the music to integrate it perfectly into the other bands its, in short to create a harmony to make a mixing single for each film. It is the haute couture of the sound, all is graduated at the time of the mixing following the sound elements which will compose film.

Coding (conversion)

According to the format of the final production, one code (converts) the assembly carried out is in AVI or in various formats MPEG (for a final production on CD or DVD), or in formats like DivX, .mov (read with QuickTime) or Windows Media Player or Real Media (.rm generally). These last three formats are especially used for the video online ( Streaming in English). In certain case, one can choose the flow and/or the number of images/second following the quality which one wishes.

Engraving and reading

If one wishes to diffuse his production on Cédérom or DVD (on the condition of having an engraver), one uses a software of engraving then. The cédérom or the DVD will be able in certain cases being read on a reader DVD of living room (to make tests to check compatibility of it as a preliminary). They can also be read on computer with software (free or paying) of reading of cédéroms or DVD.
The software of engraving can have a preset model to engrave in VCD, SVCD or DVD with interactive menu or not, simple layer or double-layer.

An export is also possible out of FD AVI towards the video camera which has an entry FD (it is not the general information in France and certain countries of Europe: tax on the entries vidéos). In lose speed, the system VHS could also accommodate the finished assembly if the computer has a chart with analogical exit.

The video assembly by computer became with the range of almost everyone since it was simplified, made more intuitive.

Software of nonlinear assembly

Software of assembly is generally provided with the video camera, the chart or the external case of acquisition. Some others are paying.

They generally make it possible to integrate transitions, titles, sometimes of the special effects, corrections of video, colorimetric or audio levels, to modify the speed of the images…

Free software

Windows Movie Maker is integrated into Windows XP (To go in Démarrer>Programmes>Accessoires>Divertissements) and makes it possible to create simple video assemblies.

IMovie is a software delivered free with all the Macs currently sold. Annual updates are available with the software continuation ILife.

ZS4 is a software of downloadable video assembly free and surprisingly powerful since it is absolutely not limited of many tracks and can produce vidéos of a resolution higher than 200 Mpixels (16 000 X 16.000 pixels).

jumpcut makes it possible to make assembly video online. (directly in the window of the navigator.) He does not make it possible to then recover on his hard drive the assembled vidéos, which are thus visible only on the site.

InteractiveTV makes it possible to mix vidéos sources in real-time on an exit of Graphics card. Its original intention is to simplify the assembly of emissions for the TV Perso.

Free software and free

Kino functions in particular under GNU/Linux. Distributed under license GNU LPG.
Cinelerra is a software of audio/video assembly sophisticated for the operating system GNU/Linux. It was conceived by Heroine Virtual, and is distributed under license GNU LPG.

CinePaint is a tool of final improvement of video images resting on The GIMP. Distributed under license GNU LPG.

Kdenlive Distributed under license GNU LPG, software of the environment of office KDE.

Diva is a software of video assembly for Gnome writes in Mono on the multi-media library of Gstreamer which functions for the moment only under Linux. Distributed under License MIT.

VirtualDub is a software of video assembly for Windows, easy to use. Distributed under license GNU LPG.

Paying software

Avid Technology is the precursor in nonlinear systems of assemblies since 1988. Avid proposes a range supplements energy of the software alone to the complete systems combining hardware and software with architecture of groupware. The Avid systems equip much with television channels (Broadcast) and are used post-to produce many films. Various versions were born with the passing of years (MediaComposer, NewsCutter, Avid Xpress Pro, Liquid, etc). Intended initially for the professionals of film and the video, the Avid systems were democratized with the appearance of Avid Xpress Pro. There exists a free version of AVID named Avid Free FD downloadable on site AVID.

Lightworks exists since 1989 and uses an interface of control similar to the assembly bench film Steenbeck. This machine of assembly broadcast is more largely used for the assembly of feature-length films, but is also used for the assembly of documentary and in television. Lightworks proposes solutions with material like (Ligthworks Touch and more recently Alacrity or software only with Softworks (Lightworks website). The characteristic of Lightworks is to propose a " PAD" (paving stone) which limits the use of the keyboard and thus of data processing which supports the software what makes of it a genuine machine of assembly and not a software of assembly like all the other competitors. The PAD comprises all which the assembler needs, " mark" , " cut" , " reading ahead " , " reading behind " , etc… There is also a " Jog" and a " Shuttle" , that one finds on the machines of assembly. Thelma Schoonmaker the monteuse one of Martin Scorsese received two Oscars for The Aviator and The departed which it assembled on Lightworks.

Studio of ''' Pinnacle ''', software originally reserved for the only charts Pinnacle. Convivial, very widespread in the general public (it is undoubtedly the software of assembly more used at present), it never was essential in the studios pros. Pinnacle was then repurchased by Avid.

Adobe First (and alternatives). It is a software alone, one can always add specific video charts of course. Very widespread in the general public, minority in the assembly benches pro (Broadcast).

Final Cut Pro of Apple. It is about a software alone. Increasingly widespread in the assembly benches pro (Broadcast), from now on one of the leaders of the market. Apple proposes various versions of its product (Final Cut Express, Studio and iMovie) on its Internet site.

EDIUS of Canopus: the current version (Edius Pro 4 or Edius Brodcast 4) allows with or without chart dedicated to go up in HD and to mix flows HD, SD and MPEG in all fluidity. Another software of the same mark Let' S Edit 2 is more accessible. More information is available on their Internet site like on that of the importer France.

EDICT of Discreet (c). It is about a software alone but functioning only with certain video charts (Matrox Digisuite (c) IT and LX,). Rather confidential him also, EDICT has the advantage of functioning with 3D Studio max and Combustion . Discreet, meanwhile absorptive by Autodesk, has decided the stop of the development of EDICT for several years.

Encourages (c). Excellent but the too confidential one Incites. In lose speed him also, it was however precursory in many fields and often has " inspiré" its competitors (such as AVID).

Vegas studio (c) Sony. Software of very complete video assembly and referring in its approach with the audio assembly. One of its characteristics is to accept the format 3gp, format of compression used by the cellphones.

VideoStudio (c) Ulead. One of easiest to use.

Video Deluxe (c) Magix. Software of assembly muli-track. Very complete by the options of assembly. Function with all video charts. For the informed not-professionals. The version 2008 makes it possible to engrave films in HD DVD and BlueRay.

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