For video editing on tape, an edit controller (such as the one shown here) is used to shuttle tapes back and forth to find the beginning and ending points of each needed segment.

These reference points are then entered into the edit controller, which uses the precise beginning and ending points to roll and cue the tapes and make each edit, joining all the video segments together.

This process of working with video tape is called LINEAR EDITING.

This process is called Digital (or Nonlinear) editing and is a little like working with a sophisticated word processor. The video segments are on computer hard drive, which allows the video to be inserted, deleted and moved around at any point in the editing process.

A wide range of special digital effects can be added, including fades, dissolves, wipe patterns keyed-in words, and audio enhancements, including sound effects. Dozens of editing programs available, all of them different in their operation and on-screen configuration.