Dual compression format digital video production system

The method of producing a final video program, comprising the steps of:

• providing video program source material in first and second digital formats, the material in the first format being compressed relative to the material in the second format;
• recording the material in the first and second formats, respectively, onto first and second removable storage media along with correlated edit-time-code information;
• interfacing the first storage medium to an off-line video editing system to develop edit decision information;
• transferring the edit decision list to an on-line video editing system;
• accessing the program material in the second storage medium using the on-line video editing system;
• and
• editing the material in the second format on the second storage medium in accordance with the edit decision list to produce a final video program.

A digital video production system adapted to deliver program material and an accompanying edit decision list to an on-line video editing facility for the purpose of creating a final program, the system comprising:

• digital video recording apparatus, including:
• an input to receive a video program,
• means to digitally compress the program in accordance with more than one compression ratio,
• an interface to a first removable storage medium,
• an interface to a second removable storage medium, and
• means no simultaneously record the video program onto the first removable storage medium at a first compression ratio and onto the second removable storage medium at a second compression ratio, the first compression ratio being greater than the second;
• and
• an off-line digital video editing system, including:
• an interface co receive the first removable storage medium.
• a display to review portions of the video program, enabling a user to make edit decisions concerning the program, and
• an interface to a third removable storage medium to store a list of the edit decisions,
• whereby an on-line video editing facility, upon receiving the second and third storage medium, may be used to produce a final, edited version of the program in accordance with the decision list.

A digital video recording apparatus adapted or use with an on-line video editing facility and a personal computer configured to perform off-line editing, including edit-list development, the apparatus comprising:

• a camera outputting information representative of a video program;
• means to digitally compress the program information at a plurality of compression ratios;
• a removable disk drive to store a highly compressed version of the program information suitable for off-line editing using the personal computer;
• and
• a removable tape drive to store a less compressed version of the program information suitable for on-line editing;
• both versions of the program being stored with correlated edit-time-code information, thereby enabling the on-line editing to use the edit list developed during off-line editing.

A digital audio/video production system, comprising:

• (a) digital video recording apparatus, including:
• an input to receive a video program,
• first and second removable digital storage media, and
• means to simultaneously record the program, including correlated edit-time-code information, onto the first and second removable storage media in first and second formats, respectively, the first format being data-compressed relative to the information in the second format;
• (b) a first video editing system, including:
• means to receive the first removable storage medium, and
• controls enabling an operator to edit the program in the first format and develop a set of edit decision directives;
• and
• (c) a second video editing system, including:
• means to receive the second removable storage medium,
• means to receive the edit decision directives, and
• means to edit the program information in the second format in accordance with the edit decision directives to create a final video production.

A video production method, comprising the steps of:

• simultaneously recording information representative of a video program, plus correlated edit-time-code information, onto first and second removable digital storage media in first and second formats, respectively, the pro,ram information in the first format being data-compressed relative to the program information in the second format;
• receiving the first removable storage medium at a first video editing facility and editing the program information at the first facility in the first format to develop a see of edit decision directives based upon the edit-mime-code information;
• and
• receiving the second removable storage medium and edit decision directives at a second video editing facility and editing the program information at the second facility in the second format in accordance with the edit decision directives so as to create a final video production.