Editing apparatus and method, and image material selection apparatus and method

An editing method for editing a plurality of video data or a plurality of audio data using an editing apparatus which includes a recording and reproduction apparatus for storing the plurality of video data or the plurality of audio data in an individually corresponding relationship as a plurality of material files and selectively accessing any of the plurality of material files to reproduce the video data or the audio data included in the accessed material file, and a computer for displaying a graphical user interface to be used to edit the plurality of video data or the plurality of audio data and controlling a reproduction operation of said recording and reproduction apparatus based on an editing operation in which the graphical user interface is used, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a plurality of material cards individually corresponding to the plurality of material files in order to allow contents of the video data or the audio data included in the material files to be accessed, each of the material cards including an image display section for displaying an image corresponding to the video data or the audio data included in the corresponding material file and a reproduction control section for controlling reproduction of the video data or the audio data related to the image displayed on the image display section;
• and
• controlling said recording and reproduction apparatus in response to an editing operation in which the reproduction control section is used so as to display a video image corresponding to the editing operation in which the reproduction control section is used;
• wherein the reproduction control section of each of the material cards includes a slider for designating a reproduction position of the video data or audio data displayed on the image display section, and
• wherein the graphical user interface includes a selection interface so that any of the material cards can be selected as a clip card for editing the video data or audio data stored in the material file corresponding to the selected material card.

An image material selection method for selecting any of a plurality of image materials, comprising:

• a first step of displaying identification information of the plurality of image materials on a screen including displaying a plurality of operation buttons in a corresponding relationship to different pieces of the identification information respectively and displaying sliders in an individually corresponding relationship to the pieces of the identification information;
• a second step of displaying, when any of the operation buttons is operated, a motion picture of the corresponding image material on said screen, and displaying, when any of the sliders is operated, an image of the corresponding image material corresponding to a position of the slider is displayed on said screen;
• and
• a third step of selecting any of the pieces of the identification information for editing.