Edit to the Maxx - The Art of the Digital Cut - Part 18by Steve MullenPublished on Apr 11, 2007 9:00 AM 
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In this Lesson, you will learn some advanced techniques to trimming clips in the timeline.
Click on the yellow button at the bottom of the Timeline to place it into Extract/Splice-in mode.
Timeline: Dual Trim
There will be times when you will need to move an edit point without changing the duration of the timeline. In this case, you want to slide the edit-point either earlier or later.
Left-to-right lasso a cut-point in the Timeline. The beginning of a lasso-drag must start outside the Timeline tracks in the dark gray area:
· 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
Free DV will automatically enter Trim mode with the cut-point selected by pink bars.
When you enter Trim mode, the dual monitor windows switch from displaying a Source and Record monitor to displaying the last frame of the out-going clip (left) and the first frame of the in-coming clip (right).
As shown below, I have lassoed cut-points in Tracks V1 and A1.
Automatically Tracks V1 and A1 are selected. Automatically Tracks V2 and A2 are deselected.
· Perform the trim by dragging the double-roller in the Timeline. A faint line will move through the clip, but you should monitor the trim in the Record monitor. The cut-point will move earlier or later in the Timeline, but the total duration of your Timeline will not change.
· To hear audio, press caps lock
· Move on to the next cut-point by pressing the Go To Next Edit button.
You can go back and edit a cut-point by pressing the Go To Previous Edit button.
To exit from Trim mode, press ESC or click the Toolbar Trim Mode button.
Timeline: Single Trim
This capability is ideal for trimming video-only or audio-only clips that you have added to a Sequence.
Of course, you can use it on any clip.
The Timeline’s duration will change.
Left-to-right lasso a cut-point in the Timeline. The beginning of a lasso-drag must start outside the
Timeline tracks in the dark gray area:
o Drag from above to select video (V2 or V1) or synced video/audio clips in V1 and A1.
o Drag from below to select audio clips in A2 and/or A1
Free DV will automatically enter Trim mode with the cut-point selected by pink bars.
As shown below, I have lassoed cut-points in Tracks V1 and A1.
Automatically Tracks V1 and A1 are selected. Automatically Tracks V2 and A2 are deselected.
· Move the cursor near either the right- or left-side of the cut-point(s). A “single-roller” will appear. There is a before and after roller.
· Perform the trim by dragging the roller in the timeline. A faint line will move through the clip, but you should monitor the trim in the Record monitor.
· To hear audio, press caps lock
· You can trim a clip’s in- or out-point either earlier or later. The Timeline’s duration will change.
Move on to the next cut-point by pressing the Go To Next Edit button.
You can go back and edit a cut-point by pressing the Go To Previous Edit button.
To exit from Trim mode, press ESC or click the Toolbar Trim Mode button.
Create a J-cut Edit
After working though a Sequence and trimming all the cut-points, you may want to alter some edits so that audio and video do not switch at the same time. When you want to hear the next shot’s audio before you see its video, use a J-cut
The Timeline’s duration will not change.
Left-to-right lasso a cut-point in the Timeline. The beginning of a lasso-drag must start outside the
Timeline tracks in the dark gray area:
o Drag from above to select video (V2 or V1) or synced video/audio clips in V1 and A1.
o Drag from below to select audio clips in A2 and/or A1
Free DV will automatically enter Trim mode with the cut-point selected by pink bars. You can use any type of Trim operation.
J-cut (audio leading picture): lasso an audio cut-point and trim the out-going (A-side) earlier.
J-cut (audio leading picture): lassoa video cut-point and trim the out-going (B-side) later.
To exit from Trim mode, press ESC or click the Toolbar Trim Mode button.
Create a L-cut Edit
There will be situations where you do not want to see video at the end of a shot, but need to hear the incoming audio. These kinds of edits are called L-cuts.
The Timeline’s duration will not change.
Left-to-right lasso a cut-point in the Timeline. The beginning of a lasso-drag must start outside the
Timeline tracks in the dark gray area:
o Drag from above to select video (V2 or V1) or synced video/audio clips in V1 and A1.
o Drag from below to select audio clips in A2 and/or A1
Free DV will automatically enter Trim mode with the cut-point selected by pink bars. You can use any type of Trim operation.
L-cut (picture leading audio): lasso a video cut-point and trim the out-going (A-side) earlier.
L-cut (picture leading audio): lasso an audio cut-point and trim the out-going (B-side) later.
To exit from Trim mode, press ESC or click the Toolbar Trim Mode button.
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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 March, DVC will offer a new title: the Sony V1/FX7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $2599) Handbook. And, in July, DVC will release an eBook on “Low-cost High-Definition DVD Creation.