Non-Linear Video Editing
Background
Student film projects at Queen's Film and Media are completed with a digital on-line edit using Apple computers with Final Cut Studio software.
Funding provided by the students of Queen's University through the Queen's Challenge campaign allowed us to be one of the first schools in the world to offer non-linear editing to students. Our original non-linear video editing suite, installed in 1995, was based around Adobe Premiere and a Radius VideoVision Studio card in a Power Mac. In 1997 our second-year production students began using two AvidCinema cards in 6500-series Power Mac computers.
We upgraded to FireWire-equipped G3 computers with EditDV software developed by Radius, partly because of our prior experience using VideoVision Studio, and partly because EditDV was the first DV-native software. Our FireWire systems have worked virtually flawlessly since the first one was installed, and we have been using Final Cut Pro since 2001.
Hardware Configuration
In 1999 we bought Canon GL-1 MiniDV cameras, so our student video work has been all-digital since then.
We now use 13 Canon XH-A1 high-definition HDV cameras, with Sony VCR's for FireWire input and output in our iMac-based editing suites. Each room also has HD video and audio monitoring, and can accommodate students who bring in their own laptop computers.
Material shot on 16mm film for upper-year student projects is transferred to HDV tape at the lab. The Final Cut Studio software provides a complete set of video and audio editing features, and compression for distribution online or on DVD.
See Recent Student Productions for a description of our students' projects.
Go to the tour of our Production Facilities.