Electronic film editing system using both film and videotape format

A method for capturing an input sequence of images including redundant fields created from film according to a pulldown sequence, comprising:

• receiving the input sequence of images;
• accessing an input data file including data indicative of the pulldown sequence used to generate the received input sequence of images;
• while receiving the input sequence of images and using the data file indicative of the pulldown sequence, identifying nonredundant fields in the input sequence and storing only the nonredundant fields in an output data file on a random access computer readable medium, whereby an output sequence of images having a one-to-one correspondence with frames in the film is generated;
• and
• making the output data file accessible by an editing system for editing a sequence of scenes using the output data file.

Apparatus for capturing an input sequence of images including redundant fields created from film according to a pulldown sequence, comprising:

• an input for receiving the input sequence of images;
• means for storing an input data file including data indicative of the pulldown sequence used to generate the received input sequence of images;
• a random access computer readable medium on which data files accessible by an editing system are stored for editing a sequence of scenes using the data files;
• and
• a processor that, during receipt of the input sequence of images through the input, identifies nonredundant fields of the input sequence of images using the input data file and stores only the nonredundant fields in an output data file on the random access computer readable medium in a manner accessible by the editing system, whereby an output sequence of images having a one-to-one correspondence with frames in the film is generated.

An apparatus comprising:

• a random access computer readable medium for storing a plurality of sequences of digital images from one or more sources of frames captured for playback at a rate of 24 frames per second, wherein each of the sequences of digital images is stored as a data file of a file system of a computer and has images having a one-to-one correspondence with the rate of 24 frames per second, and for storing a plurality of data files containing audio data;
• a nonlinear editing system, including:
• means for permitting a user to specify scenes from the sequences of digital images stored in the data files on the random access computer readable medium, wherein a scene is defined by a reference to a data file storing a selected one of the sequences of digital images and by frame points designated in the selected sequence of digital images, wherein the frame points may be designated at any frame boundary using a metric based on the playback rate of 24 frames per second;
• means for permitting a user to specify a sequence of one or more specified scenes;
• means for permitting a user to specify segments of the audio data from the data files stored on the random access computer readable medium to be associated with the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images;
• and
• means for displaying, during operation of the nonlinear editing system by the user, the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images from the data files on the random access computer readable medium in synchronization with playback of the associated segments of the audio data from the data files on the random access computer readable medium.

A method comprising:

• storing, on a random access computer readable medium, a plurality of sequences of digital images from one or more sources of frames captured for playback at a rate of 24 frames per second, wherein each of the sequences of digital images is stored in a data file in a file system of a computer and has images having a one-to-one correspondence with the rate of 24 frames per second, and a plurality of data files containing audio data;
• receiving user input to specify scenes from the sequences of digital images stored in the data files on the random access computer readable medium, wherein a scene is defined by a reference to a data file storing a selected one of the sequences of digital images and by frame points designated in the selected sequence of digital images, wherein the frame points may be designated at any frame boundary using a metric based on the rate of 24 frames per second;
• receiving user input to specify a sequence of one or more specified scenes;
• receiving user input to specify segments of the audio data from the data files stored on the random access computer readable medium to be associated with the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images;
• and
• displaying, in response to user input, the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images from the data files on the random access computer readable medium in synchronization with playback of the associated segments of the audio data from the data files on the random access computer readable medium.

A computer-based nonlinear editing system, comprising:

• a random access computer readable medium for storing a plurality of sequences of digital images from one or more sources of frames captured for playback at a rate of 24 frames per second, wherein each of the sequences of digital images is stored as a data file of a file system of a computer and has images having a one-to-one correspondence with the rate of 24 frames per second, and for storing a plurality of data files containing audio data;
• an editing interface, including:
• a mechanism to permit a user to specify scenes from the sequences of digital images stored in the data files on the random access computer readable medium, wherein a scene is defined by a reference to a data file storing a selected one of the sequences of digital images and by frame points designated in the selected sequence of digital images, wherein the frame points may be designated at any frame boundary using a metric based on the playback rate of 24 frames per second;
• a mechanism to permit a user to specify a sequence of one or more of the specified scenes;
• a mechanism to permit a user to specify segments of the audio data from the data files stored on the random access computer readable medium to be associated with the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images;
• and
• an output system that displays to the user, during operation of the nonlinear editing system by the user, the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images from the data files on the random access computer readable medium and that plays the associated segments of the audio data from the data files on the random access computer readable medium in synchronization with the display.

An audio-visual work produced by a process comprising:

• storing, on a random access computer readable medium, a plurality of sequences of digital images from one or more sources of frames captured for playback at a rate of 24 frames per second, wherein each of the sequences of digital images is stored in a data file in a file system of a computer and has images having a one-to-one correspondence with the rate of 24 frames per second, and a plurality of data files containing audio data;
• receiving user input to specify scenes from the sequences of digital images stored in the data files on the random access computer readable medium, wherein a scene is defined by a reference to a data file storing a selected one of the sequences of digital images and by frame points designated in the selected sequence of digital images, wherein the frame points may be designated at any frame boundary using a metric based on the rate of 24 frames per second;
• receiving user input to specify a sequence of one or more specified scenes;
• receiving user input to specify segments of the audio data from the data files stored on the random access computer readable medium to be associated with the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images;
• displaying, in response to user input, the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images from the data files on the random access computer readable medium in synchronization with playback of the associated segments of the audio data from the data files on the random access computer readable medium;
• generating the audio visual work according to the specified sequence of scenes and the associated specified segments of the audio data.

An apparatus comprising:

• a random access computer readable medium for storing a plurality of sequences of digital images from one or more sources of frames captured for playback at a rate of 24 frames per second, wherein each of the sequences of digital images is stored as a data file of a file system of a computer and has images having a one-to-one correspondence with the rate of 24 frames per second, and for storing a plurality of data files containing audio data;
• a nonlinear editing system, including:
• means for permitting a user to specify scenes from the sequences of digital images stored in the data files on the random access computer readable medium, wherein a scene is defined by a reference to a data file storing a selected one of the sequences of digital images and by frame points designated in the selected sequence of digital images, wherein the frame points may be designated at any frame boundary using a metric based on the playback rate of 24 frames per second;
• means for permitting a user to specify a sequence of one or more specified scenes;
• means for permitting a user to specify segments of the audio data from the data files stored on the random access computer readable medium to be associated with the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images;
• and
• means for producing an edit listing from the specified sequence of scenes in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of output frame rates.

An apparatus comprising:

• a random access computer readable medium for storing a plurality of sequences of digital images from one or more sources of frames captured for playback at a rate of 24 frames per second, wherein each of the sequences of digital images is stored as a data file of a file system of a computer and has images having a one-to-one correspondence with the rate of 24 frames per second, and for storing a plurality of data files containing audio data;
• a nonlinear editing system, including:
• means for permitting a user to specify scenes from the sequences of digital images stored in the data files on the random access computer readable medium, wherein a scene is defined by a reference to a data file storing a selected one of the sequences of digital images and by frame points designated in the selected sequence of digital images, wherein the frame points may be designated at any frame boundary using a metric based on the playback rate of 24 frames per second;
• means for permitting a user to specify a sequence of one or more specified scenes;
• means for permitting a user to specify segments of the audio data from the data files stored on the random access computer readable medium to be associated with the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images;
• and
• means for storing information about the designated frame points of each specified scene from the specified sequence of scenes from the sequences of digital images using a metric based on the rate of 24 frames per second and a second frame rate different from the rate of 24 frames per second;
• and
• means for updating the stored information with the designated frame points of each specified scene in response to specification of the scenes from the sequence of digital images.