Reference clips in a media-editing application

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a media-editing application. The application defines a reference clip data structure for a media clip that represents one or more media files imported into the media-editing application. The application receives a command to add the media clip into a composite media presentation. The application defines a clip instance data structure as part of the composite media presentation. The clip instance data structure inherits properties of the reference clip data structure and subsequent modifications to the reference clip data structure affect the clip instance data structure.

Description

CLAIM OF BENEFIT TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 559,710, entitled “Multi-Camera Media Clips”, filed Nov. 14, 2011. U.S. Application 61 / 559,710 is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]Digital graphic design, image editing, audio editing, and video editing applications (i.e., media-editing applications) provide graphical designers, media artists, movie and television directors, and other users with the necessary tools to create a variety of media content. Examples of such applications include Final Cut Pro® and iMovie®, both sold by Apple, Inc. These applications give users the ability to edit, combine, transition, overlay, and piece together different media content in a variety of manners to create a resulting media project. The resulting media project specifies a particular sequenced composition of any number of text, audio, image, and / or video content elements that is used to create a media presentation....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about a media-editing application that allows users to synchronize and align multiple camera clips in a composite presentation. The application uses metadata from host devices to align the clips and fine-tune the synchronization using audio data captured by multiple devices. The application also provides different ways for users to modify which group is active for a clip instance and view content from multiple groups simultaneously. These features make it easier for users to create and edit multi-camera media clips.

Problems solved by technology

Manually editing numerous media clips into a timeline, trying to figure out how the clips should be aligned and trimmed, and where to switch between the different cameras can be a difficult and time-intensive process.

Furthermore, if the editor has gone through this process in multiple locations in a timeline or in multiple different media projects, the editor will be hesitant to make any changes, as this will require making the same correction in multiple places.

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