Abstract: Disclosed is a media editing method that includes locally storing a first media object in a media composition, with a first digital source identifier being stored for the first media object. The method also includes receiving from a remote location a second media object including a second digital source identifier that corresponds to the first digital source identifier. The first and second media objects are then matched based on the digital source identifiers, and the second media object is inserted into the composition at a position that is based on this matching.

Abstract: A media editing system and method stores a plurality of versions of a media object, associates the versions of the media object with the media object, and displays to a user a list of identifiers of the versions of the media object in response to a user command that references part of a timeline. The position on the timeline corresponds with a position of the media object in the media composition. In response to a command from the user, one of the plurality of versions is selected to be a default version of the media object.

Abstract: A media editing system that includes storage for a machine-readable composition made up of scenes separated by transitions. The system can identify to an effect generator a scene in the composition and receive a modified version back from the effect generator. It can read machine-readable information associated with the modified version, and automatically reinsert the modified version into the machine-readable composition in synchronism with the position in the composition that the scene occupied, based on the machine-readable information. The system can also associate versions of the scene with the scene and display to a user a list of identifiers of the versions in response to user command that references a portion of a timeline, and respond to a selection command from the user to select one of the versions to be a default version for the composition.

Abstract: A mechanical user interface includes a supporting plate and a slider adapted to slide on the supporting plate. A position encoder is attached to the supporting plate to monitor movement of the slider. The position encoder provides an electrical output indicative of the position of the slider on the supporting plate. A sensor may also be provided to detect when the slider is at a zero position, thereby allowing absolute rather than relative, position data to be obtained. In a computerized film editing system, when the absolute position is less than a given threshold, the mechanical user interface may be used to advance film by a single frame. Otherwise the position may be translated to a frame per second rate.