Methods and apparatus for editing and recording audio and/or video signals reproduced from plural sources

An automated editing apparatus for editing video/audio signals automatically onto a recording medium comprising:

• first, second and third reproducing means;
• means for automatically synchronizing a start point of a first reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a first playback medium by said first reproducing means to a first reference time of said recording medium;
• means for automatically synchronizing an end point of said first reproduced signal and a start point of a second reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a second playback medium by said second reproducing means to a second reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a first duration between the start and end points of said first reproduced signal, the second reference time being later in time than said first reference time;
• means for automatically synchronizing an end point of said second reproduced signal to a third reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a second duration between the start and end points of said second reproduced signal, the third reference time being later in time than said second reference time;
• means for automatically synchronizing a start point of a third reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a third playback medium by said third reproducing means to said first reference time of said recording medium;
• means for automatically synchronizing an end point of said third reproduced signal to said third reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a third duration between the start and end points of said third reproduced signal;
• automatically setting the end point of said first reproduced signal and said start point of said second reproduced signal such that a sum of said first and second durations equals the third duration of said third reproduced signal;
• recording means for recording said first and second reproduced signals simultaneously with said third reproduced signal onto said recording medium, said first and second reproduced signals being one of video signals and audio signals and said third reproduced signal being another of said audio signals and said video signals;
• first delivery means for sequentially delivering said first and second reproduced signals to said recording means as a function of said first, second and third reference times such that said first reproduced signal is delivered from said first reference time substantially until said second reference time and said second reproduced signal is delivered substantially from said second reference time until said third reference time;
• second delivery means for delivering said third reproduced signal to said recording means concurrent with the sequential delivery of said first and second reproduced signals so that said third reproduced signal is delivered from said first reference time until said third reference time;
• and
• control means for controlling the operation of said first and second delivery means and said recording means.

An automated editing method for editing video/audio signals automatically onto a recording medium comprising the steps of:

• automatically synchronizing a start point of a first reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a first playback medium to a first reference time of said recording medium;
• automatically synchronizing an end point of said first reproduced signal and a start point of a second reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a second playback medium to a second reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a first duration between the start and end points of said first reproduced signal, the second reference time being later in time than said first reference time;
• automatically synchronizing an end point of said second reproduced signal to a third reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a second duration between the start and end points of said second reproduced signal, the third reference time being later in time than said second reference time;
• automatically synchronizing a start point of a third reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a third playback medium to said first reference time of said recording medium;
• automatically synchronizing an end point of said third reproduced signal and a start point of a fourth reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a fourth playback medium to a fourth reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a third duration between the start and end points of said third reproduced signal, the fourth reference time being later in time than said first reference time;
• automatically synchronizing an end point of said fourth reproduced signal to said third reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a fourth duration between the start and end points of said fourth reproduced signal;
• automatically setting the end point of said first reproduced signal and said start point of said second reproduced signal such that a sum of said first and second durations equals both the third duration of said third reproduced signal and the fourth duration of said fourth reproduced signal;
• sequentially delivering said first and second reproduced signals to said recording medium as a function of said first, second and third reference times such that said first reproduced signal is delivered from said first reference time substantially until said second reference time and said second reproduced signal is delivered substantially from said second reference time until said third reference time;
• sequentially delivering said third and fourth reproduced signals to said recording medium concurrent with the sequential delivery of said first and second reproduced signals and as a function of said first, third and fourth reference times such that said third reproduced signal is delivered from said first reference time substantially until said fourth reference time and said fourth reproduced signal is delivered substantially from said fourth reference time until said third reference time;
• and
• recording said first and second reproduced signals simultaneously with said third and fourth reproduced signals onto said recording medium, said first and second reproduced signals being one of video signals and audio signals and said third and fourth reproduced signals being another of said audio signals and said video signals.

An automated editing apparatus for editing video/audio signals automatically onto a recording medium comprising:

• first, second, third and fourth reproducing means;
• means for automatically synchronizing a start point of a first reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a first playback medium by said first reproducing means to a first reference time of said recording medium;
• means for automatically synchronizing an end point of said first reproduced signal and a start point of a second reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a second playback medium by said second reproducing means to a second reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a first duration between the start and end points of said first reproduced signal, the third reference, the second reference time being later in time than said first reference time;
• means for automatically synchronizing an end point of said second reproduced signal to a third reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a second duration between the start and end points of said second reproduced signal, the third reference time being later in time than said second reference time;
• means for automatically synchronizing a start point of a third reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a thrid playback medium by said third reproducing means to said first reference time of said recording medium;
• means for automatically synchronizing an end point of said third reproduced signal and a start point of a fourth reproduced signal reproduced from said video/audio signals recorded on a fourth playback medium by said fourth reproducing means to a fourth reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a third duration between the start and end points of said third reproduced signal, the fourth reference time being later in time than said first reference time;
• means for automatically synchronizing an end point of said fourth reproduced signal to said third reference time of said recording medium thereby defining a fourth duration between the start and end points of said fourth reproduced signal;
• automatically setting the end point of said first reproduced signal and said start point of said second reproduced signal such that a sum of said first and second durations equals both the third duration of said third reproduced signal and the fourth duration of said fourth reproduced signal;
• recording means for recording said first and second reproduced signals simultaneously with said third and fourth reproduced signals onto said recording medium, said first and second reproduced signals being one of video signals and audio signals and said third and fourth reproduced signal being another of said audio signals and said video signals;
• first delivery means for sequentially delivering said first and second reproduced signals to said recording means as a function of said first, second and third reference times such that said first reproduced signal is delivered from said first reference time substantially until said second reference time and said second reproduced signal is delivered substantially from said second reference time until said third reference time;
• second delivery means for sequentially delivering said third and fourth reproduced signals to said recording medium concurrent with the sequential delivery of said first and second reproduced signals and as a function of said first, third and fourth reference times such that said third reproduced signal is delivered from said first reference time substantially until said fourth reference time and said fourth reproduced signal is delivered substantially from said fourth reference time until said third reference time;
• control means for controlling the operation of said first and second delivery means and said recording means.