Abstract: A self-improving approximator for use in media editing is disclosed. The approximator estimates location in the media file/video data domain of a user-selected word or text unit in the text script transcription of the corresponding audio of the video data. During editing, the approximator calculates and displays the estimated time location of user-selected text to assist the user-editor in cross referencing between the beginning and ending of user-selected passage statements in the text script and the corresponding video/media data in a rough cut or subsequent media work. The approximator enables simultaneous editing of text and video/media by the selection of either source component. The approximator self improves its accuracy based on differentials calculated between tracked user adjustments to media-text associations and initial approximations (estimates).

Abstract: A time approximator for use in video editing is disclosed. The time approximator estimates time location in the media file/video data domain of a user-selected word or text unit in the text script transcription of the corresponding audio of the video data. During video editing, the time approximator calculates and displays the estimated time location of user-selected text to assist the user-editor in cross referencing between the beginning and ending of user-selected passage statements in the text script and the corresponding video data in a rough cut or subsequent video data work. The time approximator enables simultaneous editing of text and video by the selection of either source component.

Abstract: A computer video editing system and method in a network of computers is disclosed. The system and method include a datastore or other source of subject video data, a transcription module and an assembly member. The transcription module generates a working transcript of the corresponding audio data of subject source video data. The working transcript includes original source video time coding for the passages (statements) forming the transcript. The assembly member enables user selection and ordering of transcript portions. For each user selected transcript portion, the assembly member, in real-time, (i) obtains the respective corresponding source video data portion and (ii) combines the obtained video data portions to form a resulting video work. The resulting video work is displayed to users and may be displayed simultaneously with display of the whole original working transcript to enable further editing and/or user comment. A text script of the resulting video work is also displayed.