Abstract: For a media-editing application, some embodiments provide a method for creating a media presentation that combines several media clips. During an editing process to define a particular media project, the method receives a first set of edits to the particular media project while the media-editing application is in a first resolution mode that uses content stored at a first resolution to generate the particular media project. The method receives a selection of a user interface tool to modify the resolution mode. The method switches to a second resolution mode that uses content stored at a second resolution to generate the particular media project without interrupting the editing process. After switching to the second resolution mode, the method receives a second set of edits to the same particular media project during the same editing process to define the particular media project.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media-editing application. The application displays a trackless composite display area for creating a composite presentation from several different media clips. The composite presentation includes a multi-camera media clip that includes one of several different groups of ordered media clips. Upon receiving a selection to edit the multi-camera media clip in the composite presentation, the application displays each of the different groups of ordered media clips as separate tracks in the composite display area.

Abstract: For a media-editing application, some embodiments provide a method for creating a media presentation that combines several media clips. During an editing process to define a particular media project, the method receives a first set of edits to the particular media project while the media-editing application is in a first resolution mode that uses content stored at a first resolution to generate the particular media project. The method receives a selection of a user interface tool to modify the resolution mode. The method switches to a second resolution mode that uses content stored at a second resolution to generate the particular media project without interrupting the editing process. After switching to the second resolution mode, the method receives a second set of edits to the same particular media project during the same editing process to define the particular media project.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a list view that displays a list of media clips and, for each media clip, displays each tag associated with the media clip. The list view includes a list area for displaying the list of media clips and tags. In some embodiments, the list view includes a preview section for displaying a representation of a clip selected from the list view's list area. The list view, in some embodiments, displays information related to each tag such as a starting point of the tag's range, an ending point of the tag's range, and a duration of the range.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a virtual staging area for presenting media content. The virtual staging area of some embodiments is formed by staging areas of multiple different devices in which a same set of content can be viewed. To provide a common viewing experience, the staging areas are presented in a similar manner across different types of user devices. Each staging area may be presented as a virtual movie theatre that has movie posters that advertise user content. A sharing service operates on each of the different devices to facilitate the virtual staging area. The sharing service of some embodiments allows a person to choose a piece of content stored on a device. The sharing service then publishes the content to the device's staging area. From there, the content is then distributed across to the person's other devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for previewing edited video. In general, in one implementation, a method includes generating a video sequence from a plurality of video segments, identifying an inability to output at least one video segment in the video sequence in substantially real time; and adjusting an output level associated with the at least one video segment to enable the at least one video segment to be output in substantially real time. The output level may include a video quality or a frame rate.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for defining a data structure for representing a media file imported into a media-editing application. The method defines a reference to an original version of a media file. The method defines references to one or more transcoded versions of the media file. Each of the transcoded versions has a different resolution. The method defines a set of metadata storing information regarding the media file. In some embodiments, the media file includes both audio and video. The method defines a video clip data structure for the media file that references the first data structure and an audio clip data structure for the media file that also references the asset data structure. The method defines a media clip data structure that contains the video clip data structure and the audio clip data structure. The media clip data structure is for editing into a composite video presentation.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media-editing application that includes several background-rendering modules. These modules automatically render segments of a media presentation in the background of a system on which the media-editing application is being executed. By performing rendering in the background, the background-rendering modules produce rendered results for the segments. That is, the modules pre-generate playable media output data (e.g., composite video frames or audio samples) of the media presentation without interrupting other operations (e.g., editing operations, etc.) of the media-editing application. The background-rendering modules in some embodiments include a first background-rendering module and a second background-rendering module. The first background-rendering module determines a prioritized order in which the segments are to be rendered.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media-editing application. The application receives a command to import a media file into the media-editing application. The media file includes a sequence of video images. The application copies the media file to a storage location associated with the media-editing application. The method performs several analysis and transcode operations on the media file in parallel. In some embodiments, the application identifies a video image on which to the operations. The application schedules a single set of image preparation operations for the video image to generate one or more sets of image data for the operations. The method sends the image data to the different operations. A same set of image data is sent to at least two of the operations.

Abstract: A media-editing application of some embodiments allows a user of the application to group media clips displayed in the timeline into a single clip representation. A composite display area of the media-editing application often displays numerous clips at various instances in time and at various levels in the compositing hierarchy. To reduce the number of media clips in the timeline, the media-editing application of some embodiments allows the user to select several media clips and combine them into a one media clip representation. In this manner, the media-editing application reduces the congestion in the timeline. These single clip representations are referred to as “compound clips.” Compound clips can be viewed as containers that can include several media clips of the same type in some embodiments, or that can include several media clips of several different types in other embodiments.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method that receives the addition of a video clip to a composite video project. The video clip has a sequence of video images at a first frame rate and the composite video project has a second frame rate for outputting video images. When the first frame rate does not match the second frame rate but is within a threshold of the second frame rate, the method generates output video images for a particular duration of the composite video project at the second frame rate by using each of the video images of the video clip once during the particular duration. When the first frame rate is not within the threshold, generating output video images for the particular duration of the composite video project at the second frame rate by using at least one of the video images for each output video image over the particular duration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for previewing edited video. In general, in one implementation, a method includes generating a video sequence from a plurality of video segments, identifying an inability to output at least one video segment in the video sequence in substantially real time; and adjusting an output level associated with the at least one video segment to enable the at least one video segment to be output in substantially real time. The output level may include a video quality or a frame rate.

Abstract: Among other things, a method includes receiving, from a user of a user interface of a media authoring application, first settings specifying a destination for media content authored in the media authoring application, the destination selected from a set of destinations supported by the media authoring application, and second settings specifying a set of media characteristics of media content authored in the media authoring application, and generating data representing a user interface element usable to provide media content authored in the media authoring application to the destination specified in the first settings at the set of media characteristics specified in the second settings.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media editing application. The application places several committed media clips in a composite display area to specify a description of a composite presentation. In response to receiving a request to create a new version for a first media clip placed at a particular location in the composite display area, the application creates an audition set at the particular location in the composite display area. The application creates a second media clip from the first media clip. The application adds the first and second media clips to the audition set. At least one of the first and second media clips is a candidate media clip that is insertable at the location in the composite display area but is not a media clip that has been committed for inclusion in the description of the composite presentation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for previewing edited video. In general, in one implementation, a method includes generating a video sequence from a plurality of video segments, identifying an inability to output at least one video segment in the video sequence in substantially real time; and adjusting an output level associated with the at least one video segment to enable the at least one video segment to be output in substantially real time. The output level may include a video quality or a frame rate.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media editing application. The application places several committed media clips in a composite display area to specify a description of a composite presentation. In response to receiving a request to create a new version for a first media clip placed at a particular location in the composite display area, the application creates an audition set at the particular location in the composite display area. The application creates a second media clip from the first media clip. The application adds the first and second media clips to the audition set. At least one of the first and second media clips is a candidate media clip that is insertable at the location in the composite display area but is not a media clip that has been committed for inclusion in the description of the composite presentation.

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.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media-editing application. The application receives a selection of several media clips for creating a multi-camera media clip. Based on metadata stored with the media clips that identifies sources of the media clips, the application automatically assigns the clips to at least two different groups in the multi-camera media clip. For each group of the multi-camera media clip, the application automatically orders the assigned clips along a timeline using timing data. The application uses the timing data to automatically initially synchronize the different groups of the multi-camera media clip. The application automatically adjusts the initial synchronization of the groups by comparing audio data of media clips assigned to different groups.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media-editing application. The application displays a trackless composite display area for creating a composite presentation from several different media clips. The composite presentation includes a multi-camera media clip that includes one of several different groups of ordered media clips. Upon receiving a selection to edit the multi-camera media clip in the composite presentation, the application displays each of the different groups of ordered media clips as separate tracks in the composite display area.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a media editing application for assigning roles to media content. In some embodiments, the media editing application assigns one or more roles to each piece of content in order to categorize each piece of content that it imports. In categorizing audio content, the media editing application may use industry standard terms such as “Dialogue”, “Effects”, and “Music”. The media editing application of some embodiments extends the categorization to other types of content such as video content, textual content (e.g., annotations, sub-titles), image content, etc.