Timeline vs. Storyboard.

Video-Editing Technologies For Beginners To Professionals

There are many different ways of telling a story. Sometime you want to start in the beginning, sometimes in the middle, and sometimes you start at the end and work backward.

There are different ways to edit video, as well. Years ago, before electronic and nonlinear editing, many video and TV editors planned out their programs by first making notes of each scene on 3-inch by 5-inch cards and then shuffling them around to create a story. Shuffle, shuffle, rearrange, re-arrange. The editor could review the overall scene sequence with other members of the creative team before actually sitting down to cut the video and lay it down. By using index cards, the editor could get a good sense of the entire show's flow, timing and rhythm, as well as discovering any missing footage and action.

Fast-forward to today's editing technologies. Now, there are a cornucopia of digital and nonlinear video-editing systems, of all price ranges and levels of performance. Video editors are no longer locked into editing in a chronological sequence; they now have the freedom to experiment with arranging the scenes in any order and sequence. Regardless of the programs, prices and platforms, most offer either one of two styles of editing--storyboard or timeline. (Some video editing programs offer the capability to edit in both modes and to switch back and forth.)

Timeline & Storyboard Editing Modes

Timeline mode is the method that most professional video editors use. All of the high-priced editing systems provide timeline-based editing. Timeline editing capabilities are also found in many of the less-expensive and beginner products, as well. Timeline-based editing systems provide a series of video and audio tracks, and separate tracks for effects, titles, graphics, etc.

If you look at a typical computer timeline-editing interface, you will see one or two windows at the top for viewing and trimming the various scenes, as well as for selecting and previewing effects and transitions. Usually, there is a separate window for managing your collection of captured video and audio clips.