Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for editing a composite presentation in a media-editing application. The method receives a media file to import into the media-editing application from an external device. The method creates a set of media clip data structures to represent the media file. At least one of the data structures references the media file on the external device. Before the media file is imported from the external device, the method uses the media clip data structure to edit a composite presentation with the media file. After the media file is imported from the external device, automatically modifying the data structure to refer to a copy of the media file on a local device.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a media-editing application for creating and editing a media presentation that displays the results of edits as the edits are made to the media presentation. The media-editing application displays the movement of media clips of the media presentation as the media clips are being moved within the media-editing application to change the media presentation. Also, the media editing application in some embodiments can dynamically display the results of edits in a preview display area. That is, the media editing application has a preview generator that can generate previews of the media presentation on the fly as media clips are being dragged into and within the timeline. This allows the user of the media-editing application to see and hear the results of the operation while performing them.

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: 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 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 method for editing a composite presentation in a media-editing application. The method receives a media file to import into the media-editing application from an external device. The method creates a set of media clip data structures to represent the media file. At least one of the data structures references the media file on the external device. Before the media file is imported from the external device, the method uses the media clip data structure to edit a composite presentation with the media file. After the media file is imported from the external device, automatically modifying the data structure to refer to a copy of the media file on a local device.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for editing a composite presentation in a media-editing application. The method receives a media file to import into the media-editing application from an external device. The method creates a set of media clip data structures to represent the media file. At least one of the data structures references the media file on the external device. Before the media file is imported from the external device, the method uses the media clip data structure to edit a composite presentation with the media file. After the media file is imported from the external device, automatically modifying the data structure to refer to a copy of the media file on a local device.

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 method for editing a composite presentation in a media-editing application. The method receives a media file to import into the media-editing application from an external device. The method creates a set of media clip data structures to represent the media file. At least one of the data structures references the media file on the external device. Before the media file is imported from the external device, the method uses the media clip data structure to edit a composite presentation with the media file. After the media file is imported from the external device, automatically modifying the data structure to refer to a copy of the media file on a local device.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a media-editing application for creating and editing a media presentation that displays the results of edits as the edits are made to the media presentation. The media-editing application displays the movement of media clips of the media presentation as the media clips are being moved within the media-editing application to change the media presentation. Also, the media editing application in some embodiments can dynamically display the results of edits in a preview display area. That is, the media editing application has a preview generator that can generate previews of the media presentation on the fly as media clips are being dragged into and within the timeline. This allows the user of the media-editing application to see and hear the results of the operation while performing them.

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 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: For a media-editing application that creates a composite media presentation, some embodiments of the invention provide a method for reducing rendering operations by dividing the composite presentation into several segments and rendering the segments in a manner that allows for these segments to move with respect to each other without losing the rendered results. The media-editing application defines portions of a media presentation as segments. When the media-editing application renders a segment of the media presentation, the application computes an identifier that uniquely identifies the segment and then uses this identifier to store and later retrieve the rendered result for the segment. The application in some embodiments computes the identifier based on a set of attributes of the segment, and stores the results of rendering the segment at a location that is uniquely identifiable in a storage structure by the identifier.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing a list of routine identifiers to optimize processing of routines identified in the list. Some embodiments execute a set of routines in multiple passes where each pass comprises each routine in the set processing a single band of its source. The band size of the sources of the set is related to the size of a cache used during execution of the set. A band size of sources of the set is determined so that all data processed by and produced by any routine in the set can be stored to the cache while the routine processes one band of its source. Some embodiments use the list to combine two or more routines into a single routine where the list is modified accordingly. Some embodiments use the list for grouping and re-ordering routines identified in the list to send particular routines to an alternative processor for processing.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of processing audio data while creating a media presentation. The media presentation includes several audio streams. The method processes a section of a first audio stream and stores the processed section of the first audio stream. The method also processes a section of a second audio stream that overlaps with the processes section of the first audio stream. The method then processes the section of the second audio stream independently of the first audio stream. In some embodiments, the method processes the first audio stream section by applying an effect to the first audio stream section. Also, in some embodiments, the processing of the first audio stream section also entails performing a sample rate conversion on the first audio stream section.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing a list of routine identifiers to optimize processing of routines identified in the list. Some embodiments execute a set of routines in multiple passes where each pass comprises each routine in the set processing a single band of its source. The band size of the sources of the set is related to the size of a cache used during execution of the set. A band size of sources of the set is determined so that all data processed by and produced by any routine in the set can be stored to the cache while the routine processes one band of its source. Some embodiments use the list to combine two or more routines into a single routine where the list is modified accordingly. Some embodiments use the list for grouping and re-ordering routines identified in the list to send particular routines to an alternative processor for processing.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing a list of routine identifiers to optimize processing of routines identified in the list. Some embodiments execute a set of routines in multiple passes where each pass comprises each routine in the set processing a single band of its source. The band size of the sources of the set is related to the size of a cache used during execution of the set. A band size of sources of the set is determined so that all data processed by and produced by any routine in the set can be stored to the cache while the routine processes one band of its source. Some embodiments use the list to combine two or more routines into a single routine where the list is modified accordingly. Some embodiments use the list for grouping and re-ordering routines identified in the list to send particular routines to an alternative processor for processing.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of processing audio data while creating a media presentation. The media presentation includes several audio streams. The method processes a section of a first audio stream and stores the processed section of the first audio stream. The method also processes a section of a second audio stream that overlaps with the processes section of the first audio stream. The method then processes the section of the second audio stream independently of the first audio stream. In some embodiments, the method processes the first audio stream section by applying an effect to the first audio stream section. Also, in some embodiments, the processing of the first audio stream section also entails performing a sample rate conversion on the first audio stream section.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of processing audio data while creating a media presentation. The media presentation includes several audio streams. The method processes a section of a first audio stream and stores the processed section of the first audio stream. The method also processes a section of a second audio stream that overlaps with the processed section of the first audio stream. The method then processes the section of the second audio stream independently of the first audio stream. In some embodiments, the method processes the first audio stream section by applying an effect to the first audio stream section. Also, in some embodiments, the processing of the first audio stream section also entails performing a sample rate conversion on the first audio stream section.

Abstract: An interactive video display system with tight coupling between user-input and the images displayed to provide a feeling of real control by the user. A library of frames of video data is stored in randomly accessible data locations, such as an optical video disc. The video data in each frame in the library is assigned a virtual position in a pre-defined data space, such that the visual image in each frame is related to visual images in other frames by virtual position in the data space. User input is provided through track ball or mouse generating displacement signals. The input signal is translated to an updated virtual position in the data space relative to a previous virtual position and the next frame having the updated virtual position is displayed next.