Editing Linear video editing (section)

== Further advancement in technology ==
[[Image:Linear video editing console.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[Sony]] BVE-910 linear editing system's keyboard]]
When [[helical scan]] video recorders became the standard, it was no longer possible to physically cut and splice the tape. At this point, video editing became a process of using two [[Video tape recorder|video tape machines]], playing back the source tape (or "[[Footage|raw footage]]") from one machine, and copying just the portions desired onto a second tape (the "edit master").

The bulk of linear editing is done simply, with two machines and an edit controller device to control them. Many video tape machines are capable of controlling a second machine, eliminating the need for an external editing control device.

This process is "linear", rather than non-linear editing, as the nature of the tape-to-tape copying requires that all shots be laid out in the final edited order. Once a shot is on tape, nothing can be placed ahead of it without overwriting whatever is already there. (Such a replacement is sometimes called an "insert edit".) If absolutely necessary, material can be [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] by copying the edited content onto another tape; however, as each copy generation degrades the image cumulatively, this is not desirable.

One drawback of early video editing techniques was that it was impractical to produce a [[rough cut]] for presentation to an [[executive producer]]. Since Executive Producers are never familiar enough with the material to be able to visualize the finished product from an inspection of an [[edit decision list]] (EDL), they were deprived of the opportunity to voice their opinions at a time when those opinions could be easily acted upon. Thus, particularly in documentary television, video was resisted for quite a long time.