Editors also have the ability to equalize tracks using Avid software. Nelson says he uses the technology in instances where it is necessary to speed up or slow narration. Editors find the tool simple to use, and it provides for smooth, elegant audio shifts. When it comes to the incorporation of music, audio scrubbing is a useful technique that allows the editor the ability to go frame by frame and hear exactly what each frame represents. In addition, the Media Composer series contains locators, which are beneficial in pieces that are particularly cut to music in that they allow an editor to mark out the beats as they listen.
Music often serves as a final touch, but incorporating music can also be an expensive proposition.
Library music, which is generally less costly than original music, is often the solution in many cases, though some believe it can compromise the originality of a piece. Choosing from a large library is one way to get around this. According to Nelson, one of the benefits to library music is that it is usually composed in such a way that it can be manipulated and adjusted to fit the piece of video. For instance, it may contain several repetitive bars that can be made shorter or longer depending on what the situation warrants. Kalbaugh's take on stock music is slightly different.