The Evolution of Video Editing: From Manual Cutting to Advanced Edits
Category - Quality Information on Video Editing
The history of video editing is rich. It has gone through many evolutions. However, not everyone knows about it. Many people often think that video editing has always been the way it is today. But that is not true. The face of the old video editing era was completely different. Do you want to know about that era? If yes, then just follow this blog and explore the evolution of video editing from manual cuts to advanced edits. It is important to explore these things for all, from students pursuing video editing training in Delhi or working professionals.
History and Evolution of Video Editing
Since its beginning, video editing has been one of the most important parts of the post-production process, which is the 3rd stage of video production.
Different eras came and brought different techniques and software applications to edit videos. Let’s knock on the first door to know how it began.
Rise of Video editing
The video editing industry is very old. Most old movies introduced at that time were black and white. In India “Raja Harishchandra (1913)" was the very first movie filmed and edited. It had no sound in it, and only pictures and actions were there.
During that period of time, video editors used scissors, tape, and an editing table to edit films.
Source: Jamesriverfilm
It was indeed a difficult task to edit videos while looking at the mini-reels. Hat’s off to all the editing legends we had in the past.
Film Editing Tool Introduced (1920s - 1950s)
During this period, we saw mechanical film editing in which we started using some tools like:
- Moviola: It was invented in 1924 and allowed editors to view and cut film easily.
- Steenbeck: It came in the 1930s–40s. This machine was like a flatbed film editing system.
Check its picture below for reference.
Source: Guggenheim.org
Source: Wikipedia
Tape Recorders Invention (1950s - 1960s)
Since the 1950s Video Tape Recorder (VTR) has come to define the advanced techniques of editing a video. This is known as the first device for editing videos, which has magnetic tape in it.
Source: Wikipedia
Electronic Editing Software Introduced (1960s - 1970s)
After video tape recorder, we saw electronic editing during the 1960s. Two main tools were invented, like EECo 900 and Ampex EDITEC, at this time. These were electronic editing tools.
Source: vtoldboys.com
Launch of Computerized Video Editing (1970s to 1984)
It was considered the very first time that, in the 1970s, computer editing was launched. A tool named CMX 600 was invented. Using this tool, video editors could preserve the original footage and make edits in the different timelines of the video.
Source: wci.nyc
New Software Introduced for Bulk Data Saving (1984 - 1990s)
Another change to see that time was a tool named Editdroid by LucasFilms. It came with the power to store large files and make them computerized.
NLE Software Introduced in the world (1990s - 2000)
In the end of the 1980s and the start of the 1990s, NLE or non-linear editing software applications were launched. The very first was Avid Media Composer (1989).
We also saw Premiere in 1991, but it was for Mac users at that time. Then Adobe launched it with a new name that was Adobe Premiere Pro in 2003. This new software was available for both Mac and Windows users.
Check how latest Premiere Pro works and edits raw clips with our Adobe Premiere Pro Training in Delhi.
Different Types of Video Editing used in Every Era of Time
Let’s take a closer look at all the types:
Linear video editing: This type of video editing was used in the early 1900s, when there was a rise in video editing. This editing uses video tapes for editing videos. It moves various small tape data into one big tape with the use of scissors, tape, and an editing table.
Non-linear editing systems (NLE): This type of video editing was introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This type introduced computer-based video editing with various different software like Davinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro, etc.
Offline editing: This is a process in which video clips are copied from the original source and make a final video. After the original data was reassembled, and again got stored at a safe place.
Online editing: This is an editing process that is performed after the offline process of post-production has been done. In this final step, the process editor makes finished videos with the use of different software and tools.
Cloud-based editing: This is a process by which editors make changes and enhance the quality of video with the use of software and tools hosted in the cloud. Cloud video editing is a method by which editing can be done by any device using the internet.
Vision mixing: This is a process of taking video signals from various sources and making one finished output. Vision mixing is also known as video mixing.
These were different video editing types that show how the evolution of video editing takes place in different periods of time. But how should we consider that modern and past time video editing was different from each other? Let's take a look at it.
How is Modern Video Editing Different from the Past?
Past Time Video Editing
As you read above in the past period, video editing was done with the use of scissors, tape, and an editing table. At that time, there was not such high-tech editing software and tools, with the use of metallic sheets which were put in the video tapes.
Modern Video Editing
In the modern period, technology has evolved so much now editors can make changes in videos with the help of various advanced software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci, etc. With the help of these digital tools doing editing on video has become super easy.
This shows how modern and past video editing are different from each other. Now let's take a look towards different software and tools used in different periods of time.
Different Application used in Previous and Present Period
- Moviola: This is the first software that was invented around the 1920s. Video editing became easier as this software allowed the editor to see the video while editing.
- Video Tape Recorder (VTR): This is the first software in the world that has metallic tape in it. This was formed in the 1950s to make video editing easier.
- EECo 900: In the 1960s, there were 2 tools invented for electronic editing. EECo 900 was one of them. This was an electronic controller that made editing possible without physically cutting or splicing tape.
- Ampex EDITEC: This is a tool that was invented around the 1960s. It was considered the first electronic videotape recorder editor. Ampex EDITEC simplified the tape by tape recording and made editing simple.
- CMX 600: This was the tool that was invented in the 1970s. It introduced computerized editing and editing videos separately on a timeline.
- Editdroid: This software was invented by Lunatimes in 1984. With these tools, editors could store their precious data in the computer itself in bulk quantities.
- NLE Software: This software was introduced to the world around the 1990s and is also known as Non-Linear Editing. This type of editing makes video editing simpler and easier with its different editing software, like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Davinci Resolve, etc.
So, we have gone through the complete evolution of video editing through this mini guide. Now, if you want to learn the advanced techniques of video editing, from scratch in this modern era, then you should explore our courses in video editing.
Our Post Production Institute gives training on all the advanced tools and covers industry-standard topics. For more information about our courses, feel free to contact our institute anytime.
