AV News 195 - February 2014
'Straight cutting' gives Editors/Producers the opportunity to move from one
image to another, not only rapidly and cleanly, but, for example, to 'hit' music 'on
the beat'. This apparently simple change can make an enormous difference to
the final polish in a programme. Add to that zooming in and out and panning.
These, and other 'imports' from film making, have added enormously to the
toolkit of the modern AV producer.
Digital technology has also seen a vast improvement in sound quality with the
use of CDs, Minidiscs (sadly on their way out) and small digital sound recorders.
These miniaturized devices when fitted with high quality microphones, can
approach broadcast quality sound - something unattainable even a few years
ago. Sound in all its forms, can also be downloaded onto a computer for storage
and editing. With the aid of, for example, the free download 'Audacity' program,
sound can be edited using the invaluable WAV-form giving the editor the
opportunity to 'see' the sound and to view potential cutting points - which are, of
course, reversible. This is some change from the days of an Ever-Ready
single-edged razor blade, a chinagraph pencil and an EMI tape cutting block!
An additional facility now is to import movie fo