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PCEDIT.DOC Documentation for the PCEDIT Video Edit System Simulator (Version 1.2) by Michael D. Most 9-18-85 The PCEDIT program is designed both as a learning tool and a practical use program for the video professional. It is modeled after the CMX and ISC type video editing systems and offers a simulation of the operation of these systems. Many of the commonly used functions of these systems are duplicated in PCEDIT. In addition, the keyboard layout is also duplicated. PCEDIT version 1.2 was written in Turbo Pascal (copyright Borland International) during August through October of 1985. 1. The Keyboard PCEDIT uses a dedicated keyboard layout. When PCEDIT is run, the keys are given individual functions that are automatically executed when the key is pressed. When certain functions are activated, such as the TITLE or the SET IN functions, the keyboard is freed up for the user to input a response. In these situations, the keyboard is used in its normal mode to enter either the numbers or characters for the response. The layout of the keyboard is based on the standard keyboard layout first introduced by CMX and later adapted by Dave Bargen for ISC's keyboard based on the DEC VT-100. Since PCEDIT does not actually control videotape machines, many of the functions on those standard keyboards relating to machine control and edit previews are not implemented. All of the selection keys are duplicated, as are the set in and out, the mode selections (audio and/or video), the transitions (cut, dissolve, wipe), and such other functions as title entry and reel assignments. Most of these keys are given the same location as on the CMX keyboard, with some exceptions. The primary selection keys are along the "middle" row, the one that starts with 'A'. From left to right, the dedicated keys are as follows: KEY FUNCTION a R-VTR s A-VTR d B-VTR f C-VTR g D-VTR h AUX j BLK k SET IN l SET OUT Some of the other keys are also implemented in the dedicated keyboard. They are as follows: KEY FUNCTION y AUDIO 1 u AUDIO 2 i VIDEO o BOTH p CUT [ DISSOLVE ] WIPE 2 REEL ASSIGN 9 DELETE ALL EVENTS IN EDL 0 PRINT EDL (ON PRINTER) )(SHIFT-0) OUTPUT EDL TO DISK FILE +(SHIFT-=) TITLE ESC EXIT PCEDIT CTL-Q RECORD (Enter into EDL) , TRIM IN . TRIM OUT Many of these follow the same placement as in the ISC keyboard (the 2 for reel assignment, for instance). For convenience, the PCEDIT keyboard is a hybrid of the CMX and ISC keyboards. In normal operation, the user uses the selection keys to select the current source (or the record VTR). Entries of timecode numbers for in and out points, as well as reel numbers, type of edit (cut, dissolve, wipe) and video/audio selection, are made into the active VTR (indicated on the display by the '>' prompt). Functions such as EDL title entry may be made at any time. When entry of current information is complete, CTL-Q is pressed. This enters the current menu information into the Edit Decision List, updates the menu, and allows the user to enter the next edit. 2. The Display The screen display in PCEDIT is once again a hybrid between the CMX and ISC approaches. The top area is the marks menu, and displays the current information about each VTR as well as the AUX and BLK sources. The current IN and OUT timecode points, as well as the edit duration (if both IN and OUT are specified) are shown in the menu. The currently assigned reel numbers are shown next to each source VTR identifier. The columns marked SPD and POSITION are not implemented. They are indicated purely for familiarity. To the left of the marks menu, the current record mode (audio, video, both, etc.) is indicated. Below the record mode, the current transition type is displayed (cut, dissolve, or wipe), as well as the current source VTR. In the case of a dissolve, the dissolve rate is also indicated. In the case of a wipe, a wipe code is noted, as well as the rate. This area of the display is modeled after the ISC system, and is slightly different from that of CMX. The edit decision list is displayed in the lower half of the screen. The EDL display is in standard CMX format. PCEDIT version 1.2 displays the record mode as either A, A2, AA, V, B, A2/V, or AA/V. This represents the CMX approach for two channel audio. When an edit is "recorded," it is entered into the list and given the next sequential event number. The previous events are then scrolled up the screen. The EDL area displays the last 6 edits, although all edits that have been entered are still in memory. Finally, at the lower left corner of the display is the prompt area. This is also the location of the prompts on the ISC system. When functions such as SET IN and SET OUT are called, the prompt for user entry appears in the lower left hand corner. Additionally, system messages are also displayed here; for instance, when printing an EDL the message 'PRINTING EDL' will appear while the computer is outputting the list, and will be erased when output to the printer is complete. 3. The Prompt Area As discussed previously, the prompt area is located in the lower left hand corner of the screen. Various functions display system prompts. They include: SET IN SET OUT DISSOLVE WIPE TITLE PRINT EDL EXIT PCEDIT DELETE EDL OUTPUT EDL DISK FILE The prompt will be erased when the function is carried out. In most cases, any key other than 'Y' will evoke a negative response. The prompt will be erased and the program will continue. 4. Using PCEDIT Operationally PCEDIT is much like the standard CMX and ISC systems. Most of the marks menu functions are duplicated, including time code transfers between registers. Following is a description of the functions and their methods for use. SET IN: When Set In is selected, the program looks at the first key entered after the selection. If it is a VTR selector key (a,s,d,f,g, or h), PCEDIT assumes that this will be a time code transfer. It then displays the prompt 'FROM < selected VTR >'. The next key entered will determine which register (set in or set out) the time code will come from. After this is entered, the prompt area clears and the time code entry is made. If the first key after selecting Set In is a number, PCEDIT assumes a manual entry is being made, and does not perform the entry until the <return> key is pressed. SET OUT: Same as Set In, for the Out register. TRIM IN: Allows trimming, by frames, of the in point of the currently selected VTR. This may be a positive or a negative (preceded by '-') number. The Duration us updated accordingly. TRIM OUT: Same as Trim In, for the Out point. AUDIO 1: Toggles Audio 1 on and off. Current state is reflected in the edit mode display. AUDIO 2: Same as above, for Audio 2. VIDEO: Same as above, for Video. BOTH: Included for convenience. If either Audio only (channel 1, 2, or both) or Video only is currently selected, pressing the Both key will change the current mode to a Both cut involving video and the currently selected audio channels. If neither Audio 1 nor Audio 2 is selected when Both is pressed (i.e., current mode is V only), the selection will default to AA/V. CUT: Changes the current edit type to Cut. If it is already a cut, this key has no effect. DISSOLVE: Enters the Dissolve dialogue. The prompt 'DISSOLVE:' appears in the prompt area. This is responded to by pressing a VTR selector key. When this is done, PCEDIT responds by writing 'FROM < selected VTR > TO '. The To source is then selected. The prompt area clears the current information, and then displays the prompt 'RATE:'. The rate is entered (in frames) and the dialogue is complete. The information is then entered into the marks menu. If the Dissolve selector key is pressed while the current mode is already a dissolve, only the RATE prompt will be displayed. To change sources, change the edit type to Cut (using the Cut selector key) and then start the Dissolve dialogue over again using the Dissolve key. WIPE: Enters the Wipe dialogue. This is very much like the Dissolve dialogue, except that in answering the first prompt, 'WIPE:', the proper wipe code should be entered. The dialogue then proceeds much like the Dissolve dialogue. WARNING: Wipes are not currently supported in the EDL. They will not be entered into the EDL in proper format. EXIT PCEDIT: Allows exit from the program. Any response other than Y will allow the prompt to clear and the program to continue. REEL ASSIGN: Allows assignment of reel number to selected VTR. Prompt 'REEL:' is displayed, and the reel number is entered (3-place reel numbers only, PCEDIT will add leading zeros if string is shorter than 3 places). DELETE EDL: Deletes the contents of the current EDL and clears the EDL display area. Allows the user to "blow away" the current list without exiting the program. PRINT EDL: Prints EDL on the printer. Displays prompt to make sure the printer is on line (failure to do so will crash the program). PRINT DISK FILE: Prints the current EDL to a disk file. A prompt is displayed asking for confirmation. Any response other than Y will exit the function. If a Y is pressed, the screen will clear and a directory of the current logged disk's EDL files will be printed. A 'FILENAME:' prompt will appear at the bottom of the screen. Enter a filename (do NOT include the .EDL extension, this will be added by PCEDIT) and press <return>. The PCEDIT screen will reappear, and prompts will be displayed as the file is open, written, and closed. TITLE: Allows entry of EDL title. Enter the title and press <return>. The title is displayed over the program title, and is centered on the screen for convenience. RECORD EDIT: Pressing CTL - Q records the current edit in the EDL and updates the marks menu. Updating the marks menu allows rapid entry of sequential edits by making the new in point equal to the former out point. This allows creation of 'auto-track' dissolves without re-entering the proper match frame (since the former out point is now the in). 5. Some Points To Remember Anyone experienced with keyboard type editing systems will find PCEDIT to be quite familiar and simple. Version 1.2 has some rules to follow, however, that are somewhat nonstandard. Future versions will eliminate some of these requirements, but for the moment, here goes: 1. PCEDIT will calculate a record OUT time based on the source. This means that the source VTR must have its duration specified if the record OUT time is not manually entered. The calculation of the proper record OUT time will be accurate for minutes, seconds, and frames only -- hours are not calculated. The calculated record OUT time will be entered into the EDL and the marks menu updated accordingly. The calculation will be made for both sides of dissolves. 2. The duration calculation is accurate for minutes, seconds, and frames only. Hours are not calculated, and the indicated duration will be inaccurate if the hours are different in the IN and OUT points. 3. Reel numbers are three places long. They may be alphanumeric, but the length is always three places. Leading zeros will be added by PCEDIT if the length is less than three places. 4. The list cannot currently be scrolled. Since PCEDIT is intended primarily as an educational and/or simple edit listing tool, this was not considered a major priority in the development of version 1.2 (although it will probably be available in future revisions). The screen display always contains the current edit plus the last 5 previous edits. 5. Wipes are not currently supported in the EDL. For educational purposes, they may be specified in the standard format in the marks menu, but they will not be entered into the list properly. Dissolves, however, are supported fully, and two-line, single number events are entered into the EDL whenever a dissolve is specified. 6. PCEDIT automatically activates the NumLock and CapsLock keys when the program is run. This allows the numeric keypad to be used for timecode entries and the regular keyboard to produce caps for title entry without further input from the user. The NumLock and CapsLock keys are returned to their normal (off) state upon exiting the program. 7. PCEDIT hides the cursor during operation. The cursor is restored upon exit from the program (either from the opening screen or the marks menu). Other than the above mentioned items, all data entry in PCEDIT is straightforward, and nearly identical to the large scale systems it emulates.