Dual compression format digital video production system

Abstract

An audio/video production system is implemented on a PC-based platform, preferably utilizing various forms of removable magnetic, optical, or magneto-optical storage media. Specially modified cameras or other sources provide digitally data-compressed audio and video program materials in two formats, a first format having a higher data-compression ratio and intended for use in off-line systems to develop edit decision lists, and a second format having a lower data-compression ratio and intended for use in on-line editing and to produce the final representations of the programs. Off-line editing decisions may thus be developed on a PC using removable storage media, and final representations of the programs may be produced on-line in accordance with stationary-head or rotary-head digital-tape-based formats, such as DAT, 6-mm or 8-mm tapes. In an alternative embodiment, automatic and unattended editing, or extended program playback of more than 40 hours duration of digital video, is available.

1. A digital audio/video production system adapted for use with an on-line video editing facility, the production system comprising:
 a digital video recorder capable of simultaneously recording information representative of the same program source material, including correlated edit-time-code information, onto first and second removable storage media in first and second formats, respectively, the information in the first format being data-compressed relative to the information in the second format;   a programmed personal computer configured to receive the first removable storage medium, enabling an operator to edit the information representative of the program source material in the first format in off-line fashion so as to develop an edit decision list; and   means to transfer the edit decision list to an on-line video editing facility, the on-line editing facility being further configured to receive the second removable storage medium, whereby an operator of the on-line facility may edit the program source material in the second format using the edit decision list to create a final video production.   
     
     
       2. The digital video production system of  claim 1 , wherein the information in the second format is non-compressed. 
     
     
       3. The digital video production system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital video recorder forms part of a camcorder. 
     
     
       4. The digital video production system of  claim 1 , wherein the first removable medium is a magnetic hard disk. 
     
     
       5. The digital video production system of  claim 1 , wherein the first removable medium is an optical disk. 
     
     
       6. The digital video production system of  claim 1 , wherein the first removable medium is a magneto-optical disk. 
     
     
       7. The digital video production system of  claim 1 , wherein the second removable medium is a tape drive. 
     
     
       8. The digital video production system of  claim 1 , including digital audio and video program data which are interleaved. 
     
     
       9. The digital video production system of  claim 1 , the means to transfer the edit decision list to the on-line video editing facility including means to record the edit decision list onto a third removable storage medium. 
     
     
       10. The method of producing a final video program, comprising the steps of:
 providing video program source material in first and second digital formats, the material in the first format being compressed relative to the material in the second format;   recording the material in the first and second formats, respectively, onto first and second removable storage media along with correlated edit-time-code information;   interfacing the first storage medium to an off-line video editing system to develop edit decision information;   transferring the edit decision list to an on-line video editing system;   accessing the program material in the second storage medium using the on-line video editing system; and   editing the material in the second format on the second storage medium in accordance with the edit decision list to produce a final video program.   
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , the second format being a non-compressed format. 
     
     
       12. A digital video production system adapted to deliver program material and an accompanying edit decision list to an on-line video editing facility for the purpose of creating a final program, the system comprising:
 digital video recording apparatus, including:
 an input to receive a video program, 
 means to digitally compress the program in accordance with more than one compression ratio, 
 an interface to a first removable storage medium, 
 an interface to a second removable storage medium, and 
 means to simultaneously record the video program onto the first removable storage medium at a first compression ratio and onto the second removable storage medium at a second compression ratio, the first compression ratio being greater than the second; and 
   an off-line digital video editing system, including:
 an interface to receive the first removable storage medium. 
 a display to review portions of the video program, enabling a user to make edit decisions concerning the program, and 
 an interface to a third removable storage medium to store a list of the edit decisions, 
   whereby an on-line video editing facility, upon receiving the second and third storage medium, may be used to produce a final, edited version of the program in accordance with the decision list.   
     
     
       13. The digital video production system of  claim 12 , wherein the second compression ratio is zero. 
     
     
       14. The digital video production system of  claim 12 , wherein the off-line digital video editing system forms part of a programmed personal computer. 
     
     
       15. The digital video production system of  claim 12 , wherein the digital video recorder forms part of a camcorder. 
     
     
       16. The digital video production system of  claim 12 , wherein the first removable medium is a magnetic disk drive. 
     
     
       17. The digital video production system of  claim 12 , wherein the first removable medium is an optical disk. 
     
     
       18. The digital video production system of  claim 12 , wherein the first removable medium is a magneto-optical disk. 
     
     
       19. The digital video production system of  claim 12 , wherein the second removable medium is a tape drive. 
     
     
       20. The digital video production system of  claim 12 , including interleaved digital audio and video program data are interleaved. 
     
     
       21. The digital video production system of  claim 12 , wherein the program includes separately recorded audio and video portions. 
     
     
       22. A digital video recording apparatus adapted for use with an on-line video editing facility and a personal computer configured to perform off-line editing, including edit-list development, the apparatus comprising:
 a camera outputting information representative of a video program;   means to digitally compress the program information at a plurality of compression ratios;   a removable disk drive to store a highly compressed version of the program information suitable for off-line editing using the personal computer; and   a removable tape drive to store a less compressed version of the program information suitable for on-line editing;   both versions of the program being stored with correlated edit-time-code information, thereby enabling the on-line editing to use the edit list developed during off-line editing.   
     
     
       23. The digital video recording apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the camera, means to digitally compress the program at a plurality of compression ratios, removable disk drive, and removable tape drive are all integral to a camcorder. 
     
     
       24. A digital audio/video production system, comprising:
 (a) digital video recording apparatus, including:
 an input to receive a video program, 
 first and second removable digital storage media, and 
 means to simultaneously record the program, including correlated edit-time-code information, onto the first and second removable storage media in first and second formats, respectively, the first format being data-compressed relative to the information in the second format; 
   (b) a first video editing system, including:
 means to receive the first removable storage medium, and 
 controls enabling an operator to edit the program in the first format and develop a set of edit decision directives; and 
   (c) a second video editing system, including:
 means to receive the second removable storage medium, 
 means to receive the edit decision directives, and 
 means to edit the program information in the second format in accordance with the edit decision directives to create a final video production. 
   
     
     
       25. The digital audio/video production system of  claim 24 , wherein the digital video recording apparatus includes means to receive a plurality of the first removable storage media. 
     
     
       26. The digital audio/video production system of  claim 24 , wherein the second video editing system includes means to receive a plurality of the second removable storage media, wherein the edit decision directive being applicable to all of the second removable storage media received. 
     
     
       27. The digital audio/video production system of  claim 26 , wherein the digital video recording apparatus forms part of a camcorder. 
     
     
       28. The digital audio/video production system of  claim 26 , wherein the first video editing system forms part of a programmed personal computer. 
     
     
       29. The digital audio/video production system of  claim 26 , wherein the first removable digital storage medium is a magnetic disk. 
     
     
       30. The digital audio/video production system of  claim 26 , wherein the first removable digital storage medium is an optical disk. 
     
     
       31. The digital audio/video production system of  claim 26 , wherein the first removable digital storage medium is a magneto-optical disk. 
     
     
       32. The digital audio/video production system of  claim 26 , wherein the first removable digital storage medium is a semiconductor memory. 
     
     
       33. The digital audio/video production system of  claim 24 , wherein the second removable digital storage medium is a magnetic tape. 
     
     
       34. A video production method, comprising the steps of:
 simultaneously recording information representative of a video program, plus correlated edit-time-code information, onto first and second removable digital storage media in first and second formats, respectively, the program information in the first format being data-compressed relative to the program information in the second format;   receiving the first removable storage medium at a first video editing facility and editing the program information at the first facility in the first format to develop a see of edit decision directives based upon the edit-mime-code information; and   receiving the second removable storage medium and edit decision directives at a second video editing facility and editing the program information at the second facility in the second format in accordance with the edit decision directives so as to create a final video production.   
     
     
       35. The video production method of  claim 34 , further including the step of recording the final video production onto a third removable storage medium at the second video editing facility. 
     
     
       36. The video production method of  claim 34 , further including the step of outputting the final video production as the program information is edited in the second format in accordance with the edit decision directives. 
     
     
       37. The video production method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of editing the program information at the second facility further includes the step of adding audio special effects in the final video production. 
     
     
       38. The video production method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of editing the program information at the second facility further includes the step of adding video special effects in the final video production. 
     
     
       39. The video production method of  claim 38 , wherein the step of adding video special effects includes the step of adding titling. 
     
     
       40. A dual format digital video recording system for recording a program having audiovisual content, comprising:
 a first digital storage medium;   a second digital storage medium;   a first digital interface associated with the first digital storage medium for receiving a first signal representing the audiovisual content in a first compressed, digital format and edit-time-code information, wherein the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format and the edit-time-code information are recorded onto the first digital storage medium;   a second interface associated with the second digital storage medium for receiving a second signal representing the audiovisual content in a second compressed, digital format and edit-time-code information wherein the audiovisual content in the second compressed, digital format and the edit-time-code information are recorded onto the second digital storage medium;   wherein the edit-time-code information for the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format and the edit-time code for the audiovisual content in the second compressed, digital format are correlated;   wherein the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format is more compressed than the audiovisual content in the second compressed, digital format; and   wherein the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format is recorded simultaneously with the audiovisual content in the second compressed, digital format.    
     
     
       41. The dual format digital video recording system of claim 40, wherein the first digital storage medium is a removable storage medium.  
     
     
       42. The dual format digital video recording system of claim 40, wherein the second digital storage medium is a removable storage medium.  
     
     
       43. The dual format digital video recording system of claim 40, wherein the audiovisual content in the first and second compressed, digital format comprises a frame rate of substantially 24 frames per second.  
     
     
       44. The dual format digital video recording system of claim 40, wherein the first signal representing the audiovisual content in a first compressed, digital format and the second signal representing the audiovisual content in a second compressed, digital format comprises a video program, and wherein a complete copy of the video program is stored on the first digital storage medium and a complete copy of the program is stored on the second digital storage medium.  
     
     
       45. The dual format digital video recording system of claim 40, wherein the digital video recording system forms part of a camcorder.  
     
     
       46. The dual format digital video recording system of claim 40, further including random access memory (RAM) for temporarily storing a portion of the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format.  
     
     
       47. The dual format digital video recording system of claim 46, wherein the first digital storage medium is removable and wherein the first digital storage medium is hot-swappable from the system.  
     
     
       48. A dual format digital video recording method for recording a program having audiovisual content, comprising:
 providing a first signal representing the audiovisual content in a first compressed, digital format and edit-time-code information;   providing a second signal representing the audiovisual content in a second compressed, digital format and edit-time-code information, wherein the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format is more compressed than the audiovisual content in the second compressed, digital format and wherein the edit-time-code information for the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format and the edit-time code for the audiovisual content in the second compressed, digital format are correlated; and   simultaneously recording the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format with its edit-time-code information and the audiovisual content in the second compressed, digital format with its edit-time-code information.    
     
     
       49. The dual format digital video recording method of claim 48, wherein the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format and its edit-time-code information are recorded onto a first digital storage medium and wherein the audiovisual content in the second compressed, digital format and its edit-time-code information are recorded onto a second digital storage medium.  
     
     
       50. The dual format digital video recording method of claim 49, wherein the first and second digital storage media are removable.  
     
     
       51. The dual format digital video recording method of claim 48, wherein the audiovisual content in the first and second compressed, digital format comprises a frame rate of substantially 24 frames per second.  
     
     
       52. The dual format digital video recording method of claim 49, wherein the first signal representing the audiovisual content in a first compressed, digital format and the second signal representing the audiovisual content in a second compressed, digital format comprises a video program, and wherein a complete copy of the video program is stored on the first digital storage medium and a complete copy of the program is stored on the second digital storage medium.  
     
     
       53. The dual format digital video recording method of claim 49, wherein the first and second digital storage media are part of a camcorder.  
     
     
       54. The dual format digital video recording method of claim 48, further including temporarily storing a portion of the audiovisual content in the first compressed, digital format on random access memory (RAM).  
     
     
       55. The dual format digital video recording method of claim 54, wherein the first digital storage medium is removable and further including hot-swapping the first digital storage medium.