Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media editing application that uses metadata or metadata tags associated with media content to facilitate editing operations. In some embodiments, the editing operations are performed on the media content at various different stages of the editing process in order to create a composite presentation. In creating the composite presentation, one or more effects are associated with a metadata tag. Once the effects are associated, the media editing application applies the effects to different pieces of media content tagged with the metadata tag in order to create the composite presentation.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer readable medium storing a media editing application for creating multimedia presentations. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a composite display area for displaying a portion of a timeline to which multimedia clips are assigned to create a composite media presentation. The timeline is divided into user-defined segments. The GUI includes an outline window for displaying a list of selectable items representing the user-defined segments, the selectable items for use in applying various operations to the user-modifiable segments. In some embodiments, the various operations include operations to insert a new segment into the timeline, to merge at least two segments into one segment, to hide a particular segment from view, to focus on a particular segment or group of segments in the composite display area, as well as other operations.

Abstract: A computer readable medium (CRM) storing a media editing application for creating media presentations is described. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI has (1) a display area for displaying a composite presentation that the application creates by compositing a plurality of media clips, (2) a composite display area for displaying graphical representations of a set of media clips that are part of the composite presentation and a set of media clips that are candidates for adding to the composite presentation, and (3) a preview tool for differentiating in the composite display area the graphical representation of any media clip that is part of the composite presentation from the graphical representation of any media clip that is a candidate for adding to the composite presentation.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method that receives a timeline that includes several pieces of content. The method receives user input to divide the timeline into hierarchical segments of varying duration. The method defines associations between the pieces of content and at least one hierarchical level of the segments. In some embodiments, the method is performed by a media-editing application and the pieces of content are media clips inserted into the timeline by a user.

Abstract: A computer readable medium (CRM) storing a media editing application for creating media presentations is described. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI has (1) a display area for displaying a composite presentation that the application creates by compositing a plurality of media clips, (2) a composite display area for displaying graphical representations of a set of media clips that are part of the composite presentation, (3) an audition display area for displaying graphical representations of a set of media clips that are candidates for adding to the composite presentation at a particular location, and (4) an audition tool for creating an audition set for a particular location in the composite display area, where the audition set is a user modifiable set of clips, each of which is for individual placement at the particular location for inclusion in the composite presentation.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer readable medium storing a media editing application for creating multimedia presentations. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a composite display area for displaying a portion of a timeline to which multimedia clips are assigned to create a composite media presentation. The GUI includes a user interface tool for dividing the timeline into segments. The GUI includes an editing tool for applying an effect to each of a plurality of clips in a particular segment of the timeline. The GUI includes a user interface tool for modifying a duration of at least one segment. Different versions of the segments may be created.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media editing application that uses metadata or metadata tags associated with media content to facilitate editing operations. In some embodiments, the editing operations are performed on the media content at various different stages of the editing process in order to create a composite presentation. In creating the composite presentation, one or more effects are associated with a metadata tag. Once the effects are associated, the media editing application applies the effects to different pieces of media content tagged with the metadata tag in order to create the composite presentation.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media editing application that displays the audio level of a set of one or more clips that has been mixed with other clips. To indicate the audio level of the set of clips that has been mixed with other clips, the media editing application of some embodiments routes a combined audio signal of the set of clips over a meter bus in order to determine the audio level of the combined audio signal. Alternatively, the media editing application of some embodiments extracts metering information from each clip in a set of clips prior to mixing the clips. The metering information is then used to estimate the audio level of one or more clips in the composite presentation.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer readable medium storing a media editing application for creating multimedia presentations. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a composite display area for displaying a portion of a timeline to which multimedia clips are assigned to create a composite media presentation. The timeline is divided into user-defined segments. The GUI includes an outline window for displaying a list of selectable items representing the user-defined segments, the selectable items for use in applying various operations to the user-modifiable segments. In some embodiments, the various operations include operations to insert a new segment into the timeline, to merge at least two segments into one segment, to hide a particular segment from view, to focus on a particular segment or group of segments in the composite display area, as well as other operations.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method that receives a timeline that includes several pieces of content. The method receives user input to divide the timeline into hierarchical segments of varying duration. The method defines associations between the pieces of content and at least one hierarchical level of the segments. In some embodiments, the method is performed by a media-editing application and the pieces of content are media clips inserted into the timeline by a user.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer readable medium storing a media editing application for creating multimedia presentations. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a composite display area for displaying a portion of a timeline to which multimedia clips are assigned to create a composite media presentation. The GUI includes a user interface tool for dividing the timeline into segments. The GUI includes an editing tool for applying an effect to each of a plurality of clips in a particular segment of the timeline. The GUI includes a user interface tool for modifying a duration of at least one segment. Different versions of the segments may be created.

Abstract: A computer readable medium (CRM) storing a media editing application for creating media presentations is described. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI has (1) a display area for displaying a composite presentation that the application creates by compositing a plurality of media clips, (2) a composite display area for displaying graphical representations of a set of media clips that are part of the composite presentation, (3) an audition display area for displaying graphical representations of a set of media clips that are candidates for adding to the composite presentation at a particular location, and (4) an audition tool for creating an audition set for a particular location in the composite display area, where the audition set is a user modifiable set of clips, each of which is for individual placement at the particular location for inclusion in the composite presentation.

Abstract: A computer readable medium (CRM) storing a media editing application for creating media presentations is described. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI has (1) a display area for displaying a composite presentation that the application creates by compositing a plurality of media clips, (2) a composite display area for displaying graphical representations of a set of media clips that are part of the composite presentation and a set of media clips that are candidates for adding to the composite presentation, and (3) a preview tool for differentiating in the composite display area the graphical representation of any media clip that is part of the composite presentation from the graphical representation of any media clip that is a candidate for adding to the composite presentation.