Follow the path of the Audio/Video Cables. Audio and video signals are sent directly from each play
VCR/camcorder to the MX-1, from the MX-1 to the TitleMaker, and from the TitleMaker to the
Recorder. No video or audio passes through Edit Suite.
Edit Suite does not need to "see" the video–it just needs to know where the video is located. You provide
part of this information by locating and viewing the scenes you want to include in your production. Your
VCRs and camcorders provide the rest of the information by telling Edit Suite where on that videotape
the scenes start and stop. The start and stop locations are usually sent over the Edit Control Cables.
The Edit Control Cables
Trace the path of the Edit Control Cables. Each cable goes directly between Edit Suite and a VCR or
camcorder. The Edit Control cables are used by Edit Suite to send commands to the VCRs and
camcorders. The VCRs respond by changing operating modes, telling Edit Suite their current time code
or Real Time Counter position, and by telling Edit Suite what mode they are in (Stop, Play, Fast
Forward, etc.).
The GPI Cables
Trace the path of the GPI (general purpose interface) cables. One cable goes from Edit Suite to the MX
1. A second goes from Edit Suite to the TitleMaker. For most devices except the MX-1, Edit Suite sends
a GPI trigger down the cable which causes a titler to play a screen of titles or a mixer/switcher to cut or
transition from one VCR to another.
With a Videonics MX-1, in addition to triggering the transitions, Edit Suite also sends all the setup
information the MX-1 needs to run the transition. It selects the MX-1's Current and Next sources
automatically, it tells the MX-1 which transition to use and at what speed and direction that transition
should be played, and it sets the color choices for the background and border.
A Few Words About Time Code
Time code is a digital code that is recorded on and identifies each frame of a video. When displayed,
time code is in an hours:minutes:seconds.frames format (hh:mm:ss.ff). Because the time code is a part of
the videotape, Edit Suite can search for a specific time-code value, and the video associated with that
value will be the same every time.
Without time code, Edit Suite must rely on the Real Time Counter in your VCR or camcorder to locate
your scenes. Because there is not a fixed relationship between the counter and the tape position, the
video that displays at a specific counter position may be slightly different each time you search to that
position. With proper care and setup, you can still create accurate productions, but they will not be quite
as accurate as when time code is used. Appendix D has a more detailed discussion of time code and edit
