Understanding the pros and cons of automatic editing

In the first chapter, we looked at the timeline paradigm. It’s the standard layout for NLEs, in which clips are laid out horizontally, from left to right. However, other models and structures do exist. In Magic Movie and Storyboard mode, clips are laid out in a vertical list. Each clip looks like a banner, separated from the other clips. This can feel a lot less intimidating than a blank timeline.

Figure 2.1 – The Magic Movie interface in which the clips, a tasty selection of tea and cakes, are shown as separate banners

Another advantage of this structure is that by having separate banners, less can go wrong off the back of a single action. In a timeline, clips sit on or below other clips and are often influenced by one another. For example, if you deleted one clip, several other clips could be deleted with it, and the video could fall out of sync with the sound. By making clips into separate...