Edit to the Maxx - The Art of the Digital Cut - Part 16by Steve MullenPublished on Feb 7, 2007 10:00 AM 
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In this lesson, we'll learn how to erase clips from the timeline.
When you need to remove clips without disturbing other clips in the Timeline, you should use Avid’s “video style” editing mode. (When one erases a segment of video from videotape, the production does not become shorter.) Therefore, you must switch from Avid’s “film style” Extract/Splice-in mode to Avid’s “video style” Lift/Overwrite Mode.
Click on the red button at the bottom of the Timeline to place it into Lift/Overwrite mode. [ press ' ] In this mode, clips can be removed from a Timeline without disturbing other clips.
Before you can erase a clip, you must select it.
Free DV provides multiple ways to select clips: Lasso-drag, Single-click, and Shift+click.
LASSO
1. The beginning of a lasso drag must start outside the Timeline tracks (no yellow or red cursor visible).
2. Select by a left-to-right lasso:
- Drag from above to select video (V2 or V1) or synced video/audio clips in V1 and A1.
- Drag from below to select audio clips in A2 and/or A1
Below a left-to-right drag from above V1 has selected the second clip in the Timeline.
A lasso can net more clips than needed. In this situation, use Single-click or Shift-click selection to highlight only the clip(s) you want to select.
Single-click Selection: Simply click on the clip you want to select.
Shift-click Selection: Click on the first clip you want to select and then, holding down the shift-key, click on each of the additional clips.
ERASING A CLIP
1. Erasing Video with Monaural Audio from Tracks V1 and A1
- The V1 and A1 Record Selectors must be made active by clicking on them. Their color will turn from purple to silver. The other Record Selectors must be set inactive. They must be gray. Be sure they look as shown below.
- Select the clip(s) you want to delete.
- Press the delete key.
2. Erasing Video from Track V1
- The V1 Record Selector must be made active by clicking on it. Its color will turn to silver. The other Record Selectors must be set inactive. They must be gray. Be sure they look as shown below.
- Select the clip(s) you want to delete.
- Press the delete key.
3. Erasing Video from Track V2
- The V2 Record Selector must be made active by clicking on it. Its color will turn to silver. The other Record Selectors must be set inactive. They must be gray. Be sure they look as shown below.
- Select the clip(s) you want to delete.
- Press the delete key.
4. Erasing Monaural Audio from Track A1
- The A1 Record Selector must be made active by clicking on it. Its color will turn to silver. The other Record Selectors must be set inactive. They must be gray. Be sure they look as shown below.
- Select the clip(s) you want to delete.
- Press the delete key.
5. Erasing Monaural Audio from Track A2
- The A2 Record Selector must be made active by clicking on it. Its color will turn to silver. The other Record Selectors must be set inactive. They must be gray. Be sure they look as shown below.
- Select the clip(s) you want to delete.
- Press the delete key.
6. Erasing Stereo Audio from Tracks A1 and A2
- The A1 and A2 Record Selectors must be made active by clicking on them. Their color will turn to silver. The other Record Selectors must be set inactive. They must be gray. Be sure they look as shown below.
- Select the clip(s) you want to delete.
- Press the delete key.
7. Erasing Video with Stereo Audio from Tracks V1, A1, and A2
- The V1, A1, and A2 Record Selectors must be made active by clicking on them. Their color will turn to silver. The V2 Record Selector must be set inactive. It must be gray. Be sure they look as shown below.
- Select the clip(s) you want to delete.
- Press the delete key.
When you are done deleting clips, click the yellow button at the bottom of the Timeline to place it back into Extract/Splice-in mode. [ press ; ]
Drag a Video-only or Audio-only Clip into a Timeline
- When in Lift/Overwrite mode, clips can be dragged into a Timeline without disturbing other clips. Confirm the red arrow at the bottom of a Timeline has been selected. [ press ' ]
- Now select and unselect the appropriate Tracks so that only the Track that will receive the clip is active.
- If the audio clip is not in a Bin, import it as described in Lesson 10.
- Double-click into the Source Composer monitor, the clip to be inserted clip.
- Set In- and Out-points in the Source Monitor to define the clip.
- Drag the Source Monitor screen to the point in the Timeline where you want the clip to go.
- When you are done inserting clips, click the yellow button at the bottom of the Timeline to place it back into Extract/Splice-in mode. [ press ; ]
In the next Lesson, you will learn how to add Segment effects to a pair of video clips that overlay each other. This will complete our Lessons on effects.
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Steve Mullen owns Digital Video Consulting that offers eBooks on HD production. Currently, DVC (www.mindspring.com/~d-v-c) offers two eBooks: the Sony HDV Handbook and the JVC ProHD Handbook. In February 2007, DVC will offer a new title: the Sony V1/FX7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $2599) Handbook. Then, in March, DVC will release an eBook on “Low-cost High-Definition DVD Creation."