Before the advent of video tape, tv programmes were either produced live or used film. Film allowed the producers to edit the productions down to a reasonable time, as well as editing out errors by simply cutting the filmstrip and pasting the various bits into one long filmstrip for viewing. Soon video tape was invented and producers edited on video machines. This meant copying clips into the correct order onto another VTR and the edit master was used for screening. Then in the late 1980's computers were used to capture edit the video clips. At first they coulkd only capture a few seconds worth becouse of the huge files created and so were used in special effects (such as the Quantel FX machiens - Harry, Harriet). Eventually a company called Avid came out with a machine which digitised the footage onto its disk drives for actual editing. Again, at first it was used for short form work (pop promos and opening title sequences) but the technology worked, and non-linear editing came of age.
The Avids used Apple Macintosh computers becouse they were ideal for working with video and sound sources, though the current Avid range includes PC's as well now, but the Mac will always reign supreme in the world of digital video, especially now the new G4's have Firewire built in to edit digital video without having to buy any extra cards.
Using DTV is very easy. You digitise (record) your video clips onto your computers hard drive using a capture board. You then trim your clips, add titles and special FX then play back your finished project onto video tape.
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