Abstract:
An editing apparatus forms an output video signal by effecting an editing processing on a plurality of video signals such as first and second input video signals. There are generated first and second video clips representing a starting position and an ending position set to the first input video signal, third and fourth video clips representing a starting position and an ending position set to a second input video signal, and fifth and sixth video clips representing a starting position and an ending position set to an output video signal. The first, second, third and fourth video clips are displayed on the basis of time information attached to each video clip so as to express a positional relationship of the first, second, third and fourth video clips on a time axis. Also, the fifth and sixth video clips are displayed.

Description:
This is a division of prior application Ser. No. 08/692,879 filed Aug. 1, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,603, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/224,736 filed Apr. 8, 1994, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an editing apparatus for use in an editing a video signal, for example. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Heretofore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,348 describes an editing apparatus. Also, there is proposed an editing apparatus which will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, this conventional editing apparatus is comprised of VTRs (video tape recorders)  2 ,  3 , an editor  1  for previously fine adjusting and controlling the VTRS  2 ,  3  and a VTR  6  for recording video signals from the VTRs  2 ,  3  in various manners before editing, a switcher  4  for selecting the video signals supplied thereto from the VTRs  2 ,  3 , a DME (digital multi-effector)  5  for effecting various video special effects on the video signal supplied thereto from the switcher  4  and supplying the thus processed video signal back to the switcher  4  and the VTR  6  for recording the video signal from the switcher  4 . 
     A fundamental processing of the conventional editing apparatus thus arranged as shown in FIG. 1 will be described below. The user can select where to use a material recorded on a video tape cassette set on the VTR  2  and a material recorded on a video tape cassette set on the VTR  3  or how to use the material of the video tape cassette set on the VTR  2  or the material of the video cassette tape on the VTR  3  while checking a menu picture displayed on a picture screen of a monitor  1 A of the editor  1 . The material of the VTR  2  will be referred hereinafter to as “roll A”, and that of the VTR  3  will be referred hereinafter to as “roll B”, respectively. 
     Further, the user can designate where to use the material of the roll A and the material of the roll B by inputting time codes or by designating time codes supplied thereto from the VTR  2  or  3  upon playback as an in-point IN and an out-point OUT when the user carries out a suitable operation, such as a depression of a switch or the like. The in-point IN represents a time code of the first the image of the material to be used, and the out-point OUT represents a time code of the last image of the material to be used. 
     The switcher  4  processes the video signals supplied thereto from the VTRs  2  and  3  in some suitable transition processing fashion, such as wipe, dissolve, etc. Further, the DME  5  (or switcher  4 ) effects some suitable processing, such as a designation of a processing on a time base, which will be referred to as a time line, or the like on the video signals supplied thereto, whereafter the video signal thus processed is recorded on the VTR  6  or previewed (i.e . . . , video signal thus processed is reproduced without being recorded). 
     The time line is used to obtain a video signal effect by designating some video special effect elements, such as a trajectory for drawing a curve on an image, a twist of an image or the like. 
     Operation of the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A through 2G. In this description of operation, let us assume that the switcher  4  processes a material Va recorded on the video tape cassette set on the VTR  2  and a material Vb recorded on the video tape cassette set on the VTR  3  in a transition processing fashion to output one video signal and that this outputted video signal is recorded by the VTR  6  or displayed on the monitor  1 A of the editor  1 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, of the material of the video tape cassette set on the VTR  2  shown in FIG. 1, the user can designate the material Va by designating the in-point IN and the out-point OUT. On the other hand, of the material of the video tape cassette set on the VTR  3  shown in FIG. 1, the user can also designate the material Vb by designating the in-point IN and the out-point OUT. 
     Under the control of the editor  1 , the VTR  2  is set in the playback mode so that the material Va is supplied to the switcher  4  and processed by the DME  5  variously. Then, the video signal thus processed is supplied to and recorded by the VTR  6  or displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  1 A of the editor  1  as an image. While constantly monitoring the time codes from the VTR  2 , the editor  1  reads a time code provided a little before the time code of the out-point OUT of the material Va and causes the VTR  3  to operate in the playback mode. The material Vb from the VTR  3  is supplied to the switcher  4 . 
     The switcher  4  switches the materials Va, Vb on the basis of a previously-set transition and supplies the material Vb to the DME  5 . The material Vb supplied to the DME  5  is processed by the DME  5  in various processing manners and then fed back to the switcher  4 . The switcher  4  supplies the material Vb supplied thereto from the DME  5  to the VTR  6 . The material Vb supplied to the VTR  6  is recorded by the VTR  6 . 
     For simplicity, various processing manners that can be considered when two materials are collected as one material by a transition processing, reviewed or recorded, such as pre-roll, post-roll, reading of time code, to generate time codes by the editor  1  or the like, need not be described herein and a processing based on the simplest manner will be described hereinafter. 
     Since the processing is made as described above, the material Va supplied from the VTR  2  is recorded on a magnetic tape along a time base in the video cassette tape set on the VTR  6  as shown in FIG. 2C, and then the material Vb supplied from the VTR  3  is recorded thereon. Therefore, in the preview mode, similarly to the reproduced signal which is played back from this magnetic tape, the material Va is displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  1 A of the editor  1  and changed into the material Vb in the form of a designated transition, whereafter the material Vb is displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  1 A of the editor  1 . 
     When the materials Va and Vb are both recorded on the video tape cassette set on the VTR  2  as shown in FIG. 2D, the material Vb (or Va) is reproduced by the VTR  2  and recorded on the video tape cassette set on the VTR  3 . Then, as shown in FIGS. 2E and 2F, the material Va is reproduced by the VTR  2  in a similar processing fashion, and then the material Vb (previously dubbed from the VTR  3 ) is reproduced by the VTR  3 . These materials Va, Vb are recorded by the VTR  6 . 
     Thus, the material Va supplied from the VTR  2  is recorded along a time axis on a magnetic tape of the video tape cassette set on the VTR  6  and then the material Vb supplied from the VTR  3  is recorded thereon as shown in FIG.  2 G. Accordingly, during the preview mode, similarly to the reproduced signal obtained by reproducing this magnetic tape, the material Va is displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  1 A of the editor  1  and changed into the material Vb in the form of the designated transition, whereafter the material Vb is displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  1 A of the editor  1 . 
     According to the above-mentioned conventional editing apparatus, when the user wants to confirm the whole edit processing along the time axis while any edit processing is carried out, the user must watch time codes of respective materials to be edited or the user must make a note of each edit processing. There is then the disadvantage that the edit processing cannot be controlled satisfactorily along the time axis. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an editing apparatus in which the aforesaid shortcomings and disadvantages encountered with the prior art can be eliminated. 
     More specifically, it is another object of the present invention to provide an editing apparatus in which a plurality of cues existing in an editing process can be controlled on a time axis with ease. 
     In order to achieve the aforesaid objects, according to the present invention, there is provided an editing apparatus which makes an output video signal by effecting an editing processing on a plurality of video signals. An output video signal is obtained by effecting a video special effect processing on first and second input video signals. There are generated first and second video clips representing a starting position and an ending position set to the first input video signal, third and fourth video clips representing a starting position and an ending position set to the second input video signal and fifth and sixth video clips representing a starting position and an ending position set to the output video signal. The first, second, third and fourth video clips are displayed on the basis of time information added to each video clip so as to express a positional relationship of the first, second, third and fourth video clips on a time axis. Also, the fifth and sixth video clips are displayed. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to identify the same or similar parts in the several views. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional editing apparatus; 
     FIGS. 2A through 2G are schematic diagrams used to explain operation of the conventional editing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, respectively; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram used to explain setup files and edit files of the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart to which reference will be made in explaining operation of the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a specific circuit arrangement of the switcher shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart to which reference will be made in explaining operation of the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIGS. 8A through 8D are schematic diagrams used to explain operation of the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 3, respectively; 
     FIG. 9 is a flowchart to which reference will be made in explaining subroutines of thee flowchart shown in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram used to explain operation of the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram used to explain display operation of video clips in the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram used to explain display operation of video clips in the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram used to explain display operation of video clips in the editing apparatus shown in FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 3, an editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, there is provided a control apparatus  20  which controls respective apparatus that are used to edit a video signal and an audio signal. As shown in FIG. 3, a fundamental portion of the control apparatus  20  is comprised of a CPU (central processing unit)  21 , a bus (formed of address bus, control bus and data bus)  22 , a RAM (random access memory)  23  for work area and a ROM (read only memory)  24  in which there is memorized program data which will be described later on. Accordingly, various ports and extension boards (memories, etc.) can, of course, be prepared or extended separately, though not shown. 
     The control apparatus  20  includes a pointing device  25 , such as a mouse, a track ball or the like, a keyboard  26  for operating the editing apparatus, a monitor  27 , a disk driver  28 , such as a hard disk apparatus which can be made freely detachable from the body unit, a silicon disk apparatus, a magneto-optical disk apparatus, a floppy disk apparatus or the like, connected thereto. 
     The control apparatus  20  further includes VTRs  30 ,  31  and disk recorders  32 ,  33 , such as a mass-storage hard disk apparatus including hard disk apparatus that is freely detachable from the body unit of the editing apparatus, a mass-storage silicon disk apparatus, a magneto-optical disk apparatus or the like, through a control interface, such as an RS-422 interface or the like. 
     The control apparatus  20  controls the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorders  32 ,  33  by transmitting effect information, cut information (dubbing), transition information, such as mix, wipe or the like, key information and a time code signal representing an address of video signal according to the interface format, such as the RS-422 interface or the like. Also, the control apparatus  20  controls switching of switcher  29 , such as mix, wipe and keys or various special effects of the DME (digital multi-effector)  35 . 
     The control apparatus  20  further includes the switcher  29  for switching video signals from the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorders  32 ,  33  and processing these video signals in a transition processing fashion, such as mix, wipe or the like, the DME  35  for processing the video signal supplied thereto from the switcher  29  in some suitable signal processing fashion, such as deform or the like, and a capture controller and memory  36  for compressing (e.g., decimating or the like) video signals supplied thereto from the switcher  29  on the basis of its control signal as a video clip of a frame picture therefrom and memorizing the same. The capture (i.e., used to capture image data) controller and memory  36  includes a mass-storage memory (e.g., RAM) and a compression circuit to thereby compress video signals supplied thereto from the switcher  29  or to memorize a video signal designated by the in-point IN and the out-point OUT together with an offset amount, as will be described later on. 
     Video signal output terminals of the switcher  29  are connected to video signal input terminals of the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorders  32 ,  33 . Video signal output terminals of the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorders  32 ,  33  are connected to video signal input terminals of the switcher  29 , respectively. 
     A fundamental function of the control apparatus  20  shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.  4 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, according to this embodiment, a CPU  21  is operated by a control program Prog loaded onto the ROM  24  or RAM  23  through the bus  22  from a disk driver  28  shown in FIG.  3 . As shown in FIG. 4, on the basis of the program Prog, setup files SET 1  to SETn and edit files EDL 1  to EDLn are made on the picture screen of the monitor  27  connected to the control apparatus shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The setup files SET 1  to SETn are setup data files that are used to set operation parameters of the respective elements shown in FIG. 3, such as the layout of the recorder, a cross-point or the like in accordance with objects in use. 
     Specifically, conditions of the respective elements shown in FIG. 3, e.g., various conditions of every equipments, such as connection, operation, mode or the like can be changed by executing the contents of the setup files SET 1  to SETn by the CPU  21 . 
     The edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are data files that are used to represent edit contents. In FIG. 4, the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are data files, each representing edit content in each object. 
     It is customary that the setup files SET 1  through SETn and the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are recorded on a disk set on the disk driver  28  shown in FIG. 3 in correspondence with each other. By way of example, the corresponding setup files SET 1  through SETn may be recorded on the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn. 
     With the above-mentioned arrangement, when a desired one of edit files EDL 1  through EDL 1  is selected on a selection menu picture for selecting the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn (which will be described later on), data of the selected one of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn is read out from the disk set on the disk driver  28  and editing corresponding to the contents of the selected one of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn can be carried out. Also, one of the corresponding setup files SET 1  through SETn is read out from the disk and data of the setup file thus read out in the setup files SET 1  through SETn is supplied to the RAM  23  shown in FIG.  3  and held in (i.e., held in a so-called resident state) the RAM  23 , thereby each equipment being is set up. 
     The edit files EDL 1  through EDLn and the setup files SET 1  through SETn are associated with each other on the program in advance, and an area to be used and a standby area are prepared in the RAM  23 , for example. Then, the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn and the setup files SET 1  through SETn are stored in the standby area under the condition that they are associated with each other as shown in FIG.  4 . When in use, the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn selected on the menu picture and the corresponding setup files SET 1  through SETn are stored in the area to be used, whereby the respective equipment in the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 can be set up at once. In this case, the respective equipment can be set up at high speed as compared with the above-mentioned method. 
     How to select the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn and how to set up the equipment by using the corresponding setup files SET 1  through SETn will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.  5 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, following the start of operation, a switching menu is displayed at step S 1 . Specifically, the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are displayed on the monitor  27  shown in FIG. 3 by some suitable means, such as user file names or the like. Then, the processing proceeds to the next decision step S 2 . 
     It is determined in decision step S 2  whether or not the user inputs data. If a YES is outputted at decision step S 2 , then the processing proceeds to step S 3 . More specifically, it is determined at decision step S 2  whether or not the user selected a desired one of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn displayed on the switching menu picture by the pointing device  25  or keyboard  26 . 
     In step S 3 , the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are switched, and the processing proceeds to step S 4 . Specifically, a designated one of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn is copied from the standby area to the area to be used in the RAM  23  as described above. 
     In step S 4 , the fact that the edit file was switched is informed to the user, and the processing proceeds to step S 5 . In step S 4 , the user can learn that the edit file has been switched when a cursor is being blinking (intermittently reversed) or being reversed at the displayed position of the file name or file number of the designated and switched one of the edit files EDL 1  to EDLn. 
     In step S 5 , the corresponding one of the setup files SET 1  through SETn is searched. Specifically, the corresponding setup files SET 1  through SETn in the standby area of the RAM  23  are searched. Then, the processing proceeds to step S 6 . 
     In step S 6 , the searched one of the setup files SET 1  through SETn is copied to the area to be used. Specifically, the setup files SET 1  through SETn that had been stored in the standby area of the RAM  23  are copied to the area to be used. Then, the processing proceeds to step S 7 . 
     In step S 7 , each equipment is variously set on the basis of the setup file thus read out, and the processing is ended. 
     As will be clear from the above description, according to this embodiment, while watching various editing setting pictures and equipment pictures displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  27 , the user can form the edit files EDL 1  to EDLn and the corresponding setup files SET 1  through SETn by some suitable means, such as the pointing device  25 , the keyboard  26  or the like. These files are stored in the disk of the disk driver  28  or the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn and setup files SET 1  through SETn thus formed are read out from the disk of the disk driver  28  when the control apparatus  20 , for example, is actuated. These data are stored in the standby area of the RAM  23  as described above. Then, when any one of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn is selected on the menu picture, the selected one of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn and the corresponding one of the setup files SET 1  through SETn are read out from the standby area of the RAM  23 , and copied to the area to be used. The user can set up the equipment in various manners by the setup files SET 1  through SETn copied to the area to be used. Then, the user can carry out the editing based on the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn. 
     When the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are formed, the setup files SET 1  through SETn also may be formed at the same time and the setup files SET 1  through SETn may be contained in the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn. 
     A specific circuit arrangement of the switcher  29  shown in FIG. 3 will be described below with reference to FIG.  6 . As shown in FIG. 6, the switcher  29  is comprised of a matrix switcher  50 , a first mixer/effector circuit (M/E)  51  and a second mixer/effector circuit (M/E)  52 . The VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorders  32 ,  33  shown in FIG. 3 are connected to input terminals  53 ,  54 ,  55  and  56  of the matrix switcher  50 , and the video signals therefrom are supplied to the above input terminals  53 ,  54 ,  55  and  56 . The matrix switcher  50  selectively supplies the video signals supplied to the input terminals  53 ,  54 ,  55  and  56  thereof to the first mixer/effector circuit  51 , the second mixer/effector circuit  52 , the DME  35  and the capture controller and memory  36  by turning on and off switches of respective cross-points (shown by xs in FIG. 6) on the basis of a control signal supplied thereto from the control apparatus  20 . 
     The first mixer/effector circuit  51  and the second mixer/effector circuit  52  are arranged in exactly the same fashion and selectively output the first and second input video signals together with various video effects, such as wipe effect, dissolve effect, fade effect, cut or the like. Alternatively, the first and second mixer/effector circuits  51 ,  52  output video signals fed directly to one input terminal thereof. 
     When the signal reproduced by the VTR  30  is recorded by the disk recorder  32  to form the same material as that of the video signal recorded by the VTR  30 , the switch at the cross-point  58  is turned on so that the video signal inputted from the input terminal  53  is transmitted through a bus line  57  to the disk recorder  32 . The video signal thus transmitted is recorded by the disk recorder  32 . At that time, although the bus line  57  is connected to the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorder  33 , when the video signal is supplied through the bus line  57 , the video signal thus transmitted is recorded only by the VTR or disk recorder that is placed in the recording mode. 
     Output signals from the first mixer/effector circuit  51 , the second mixer/effector circuit  52  and the DME  35  are inputted to input terminals  59 ,  60  and  61  of the matrix switcher  50 . The DME  35  is a video effector that can effect a three-dimensional deform processing on the input video signal so that an input image is deformed along a cylindrical surface or spherical surface. The matrix switcher  50  can supply the video signals inputted to the input terminals  50 ,  60 ,  61  thereof to a desired one of the first mixer/effector circuit  51 , the second mixer/effector circuit  52 , the DME  35  and the capture controller and memory  36  by turning on switches of desired cross-points on the basis of the control signal supplied thereto from the control apparatus  20 . 
     An example of operation of the switcher  29  will be described below, in which case the first and second video signals respectively reproduced by the VTRs  30 ,  31  are switched with a wipe effect, a third video signal reproduced from the disk recorder  32  is deformed so that an image represented by the third video signal is deformed along the spherical surface and then the third video signal thus deformed and the second video signal are synthesized so that the second video signal thus switched with the wipe effect being achieved represents a background. 
     The first video signal reproduced by the VTR  30  is inputted to the matrix switcher  50  from the input terminal  53  and the matrix switcher  50  supplies the input first video signal to one input terminal of the first mixer/effector circuit  51  by turning on the switch of the cross-point  62 . The second video signal reproduced by the VTR  31  is inputted to the matrix switcher  50  from the input terminal  54  and the matrix switcher  50  supplies the second video signal to the other input terminal of the first mixer/effector circuit  51  by turning on the switch of the cross-point  63 . The first mixer/effector circuit  51  outputs the first video signal during the first period and then outputs the second video signal instead of the first video signal as a wipe effect switching transient. The output video signal from the first mixer/effector circuit  51  is fed through the input terminal  59  back to the matrix switcher  50  which supplies the output video signal from the first mixer/effector circuit  51  to one input terminal of the second mixer/effector circuit  52  by turning on the switch of the cross-point  64 . 
     A third video signal reproduced by the disk recorder  32  is inputted from the input terminal  55  to the matrix switcher  50 . Then, the matrix switcher  50  supplies the third video signal to the DME  35  by turning on the switch of the cross-point  65 . The DME  35  effects a deforming processing on the third video signal supplied thereto so that an image represented by the third video signal is curved along the spherical surface. An output signal from the DME  35  is fed through the input terminal  61  back to the matrix switcher  50 , and the matrix switcher  50  supplies the output signal of the DME  35  to the other input terminal of the second mixer/effector circuit  52  by turning on the switch of the cross-point  66 . 
     The second mixer/effector circuit  52  synthesizes the third video signal supplied to the other input terminal thereof to the second video signal supplied to one input terminal thereof in a keying fashion. A keying signal used in this keying processing is supplied from the DME  35  to the second mixer/effector circuit  52 . 
     An output signal from the second mixer/effector circuit  52  is recorded by a VTR  67  and displayed on a monitor  68 . 
     Operation of the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 through 9, in that order. Specifically, let us describe how to edit the materials Va, Vb according to the transition processing and how to review or record the edited material when the materials Va, Vb are recorded on the video tape cassette of the VTR  30  (this is also true for the VTR  31 ) as shown in FIG.  2 D. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, following the start of operation, it is determined in decision step S 10  whether or not the roll number is designated. If a YES is outputted at decision step S 10 , then the processing proceeds to the next decision step S 20 . Specifically, the user designates the roll number on the picture displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  27  shown in FIG. 3 by using the pointing device  25  or the keyboard  26 . 
     The roll represents a material to be reproduced. A roll A means that the first tape selected on the playback side (VTRS  30  and  31 ) and a roll B means a second tape selected on the playback side (VTRs  30  and  31 ). Therefore, when the roll number is used as ID (identification) data which represents the VTR  30  or  31 , for example, if the user sets the ID data representing the same VTR  30  or  31  in both of the rolls A and B, then the materials Va, Vb are recorded on the video tape cassettes set in the VTR  30  or  31  as shown in FIG.  8 A. 
     The user may designate the rolls A and B or the roll A or the roll B in the VTR  30  or  31 , for example, on the menu picture. 
     Referring back to FIG. 7, it is determined in decision step S 20  whether or not the VTR is set in the recording mode. If a YES is outputted at decision step S 20 , then the processing proceeds to step S 30  (i.e., subroutine SUB). If on the other hand a NO is outputted at decision step S 20 , then the processing proceeds to step S 40  (i.e., subroutine SUB). The user can designate the recording mode on the picture screen of the monitor  27  by means of the pointing device  25  or the keyboard  26 . 
     Steps S 30  and S 40  will collectively be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.  9 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9, it is determined in decision step S 31  (S 41 ) whether or not the same roll number is designated on the rolls A and B. If a YES is outputted at decision step S 31  (S 41 ), then the processing proceeds to the next decision step S 32  (S 42 ). If on the other hand a NO is outputted at decision step S 31  (S 41 ), then the processing proceeds to step S 34  (S 44 ). 
     It is determined in decision step S 32  (S 42 ) whether or not the material Vb was already prepared. If a YES is outputted at decision step S 32  (S 42 ), then the processing proceeds to step S 33  (S 43 ). The above step of “to determine whether or not the material Vb was already prepared” is equivalent to the decision that it is determined whether or not the material Vb was already recorded or memorized in the VTR  31  or the disk recorders  32 ,  33  from the VTR  30 . 
     In step S 33  (S 43 ), the material Vb is buffered automatically, and the processing proceeds to step S 34  (S 44 ). The term “buffer” used herein means that the material Vb is recorded on or memorized in the VTR  31  or the disk recorders  32 ,  33  as shown in FIG.  8 C. Therefore, equivalently, the material Va is recorded on or memorized in the VTR  30 , the material Vb is recorded on or memorized in the VTR  31  or the material Va is recorded on or memorized in the VTR  30  and the material Vb is recorded on or memorized in the disk recorder  32  or  33  as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C. 
     In step S 34  (S 44 ), the material Vb is edited according to the previously-set transition, and the processing proceeds to step S 35  (S 45 ). 
     In step S 35  (S 45 ), edited data is previewed, and this subroutine SUB is ended. Then, the processing proceeds to step S 50  (or step S 70  when the processing proceeds from step S 40 ) of the program shown in FIG.  7 . That is, the materials Va, Vb are displayed on the monitor  68  shown in FIG.  3 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, it is determined in decision step S 50  whether or not a previewed result is “OK”. If a YES is outputted at decision step S 50 , then the processing proceeds to step S 60 . Specifically, when the user inputs data representing that the previewed result is satisfactory by means of the mouse (pointing device)  25  or the keyboard  26 , then the processing proceeds to the next step S 60 . 
     In step S 60 , the recording is executed, and the processing is ended. More specifically, according to this embodiment, the VTR  30  is set in the playback mode under the control of a control signal supplied thereto and reproduces the material Va. Simultaneously, while watching the time codes, the user sets the VTR  31  in the playback mode at a timing point a little before the transition period under the control of a control signal supplied thereto to thereby reproduce the material Vb at its portion a little before the in-point IN. In the transition period, the switcher  29  carries out the transition processing, such as wipe, dissolve or mix in response to a control signal supplied thereto. 
     Then, the materials Va, Vb are memorized in the disk recorders  32 ,  33 , for example. If the material Vb is previously bufffered or memorized in the disk recorder  32  or  33 , then the VTR  31  is set in the recording mode by a control signal supplied thereto, and the VTR  31  records the material Va supplied thereto from the VTR  30  or the material Vb supplied thereto from the disk recorder  32  or  33 . More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8D, the materials Va, Vb are edited and recorded by the VTR  31  or the disk recorder  32  or  33 . 
     Referring to FIG. 7, it is determined in decision step S 70  whether the previewed result is “OK”. If a YES is outputted at decision step S 70 , then the processing proceeds to step S 80 . In other words, if the user inputs data representing that the previewed result is satisfactory by means of the mouse (pointing device)  25  or the keyboard  26 , then the processing proceeds to the next step S 80 . 
     In step S 80 , the preview is executed and then the processing is ended. More specifically, according to this embodiment, the VTR  30  is set in the playback mode under the control of a control signal supplied thereto and reproduces the material Vb. Simultaneously, while watching the time code, the user sets the VTR  31  in the playback mode at a timing point a little before the transition period under the control of a control signal supplied thereto to thereby reproduce the material Vb from its portion a little before the in-point IN. In the transition period, the switcher  29  carries out the transition processing, such as wipe, dissolve or mix under the control of a control signal supplied thereto. 
     Then, the video signals of the materials Va, Vb are supplied to the monitor  68  and displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  68  as an image. If the material Vb was previously buffered or memorized in the disk recorder  32  or  33 , then a video signal from the material Va of the VTR  30  or a video signal from the material Vb of the disk recorder  32  or  33  is displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  68 . 
     Since one of the two edit materials is automatically buffered or memorized when the two edit materials are designated on the video tape cassette set on the VTR  30  or  31  or the same VTR  30  or  31  is designated on the two edit materials, the user can be prevented from being annoyed by a cumbersome job, such as recording or memorizing one of the two edit materials in other VTR or other disk recorder in a manual fashion. Also, it is possible to prevent the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn from being made twice. 
     While the two edit materials are designated on one VTR  30  or  31  as described above, the present invention is not limited thereto and three or four edit materials may be designated on the VTR  30  or  31 . In this case, there should be prepared the corresponding number of VTRs and disk recorders in which edit materials are to be memorized. 
     How to designate the edit materials Va, Vb will be described below with reference to FIG.  10 . 
     The edit material can be determined by designating the in-point IN and the out-point OUT as will be clear from FIGS. 8A through 8D. When the edit material is determined, the VTR  30  or  31  is set in the reproducing mode and a video signal reproduced by the VTR  30  or  31  is displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  27  or  37 . Also, the user designates (i.e., so-called mark-in and mark-out) the edit material at desired in-point IN and out-point OUT by some suitable means, such as the pointing device  25 , the keyboard  26  or the like. Then, a resultant time code is memorized in the control apparatus  20 . 
     When the edit material is memorized according to the buffering process or the in-point IN and the out-point OUT of the edit material are simply determined, it is possible to use a memory (not shown) of the capture controller and memory  36  and the RAM  23  shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorders  32 ,  33 . 
     Operation of the capture controller and memory  36  will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3,  6  and FIGS. 11 to  13 . Initially, let us describe the case that the in-point and the out-point used when the second mixer/effector circuit  52  selectively outputs first and second video signals with a wipe effect being achieved after the first and second video signals were reproduced by the VTRs  30 ,  31  are displayed on the monitor  37 . 
     The first and second video signals reproduced by the VTRs  30 ,  31  are inputted to one input terminal and the other input terminal of the second mixer/effector circuit  52  through cross-points  60  and  70  of the matrix switcher  50 , respectively. The second mixer/effector circuit  52  selectively supplies the first and second video signals inputted thereto with a wipe effect being achieved to the monitor  68 . 
     Initially, the user places the VTR  30  in the reproducing mode by inputting control data through the keyboard  26 , and turns on the switch of the cross-point  69  of the matrix switcher  50 . Further, the second mixer/effector circuit  52  is controlled such that the video signal reproduced from the VTR  30  is directly supplied to the monitor  68 . When video frame data which is suitable as the in-point and the out-point is reproduced, the user inputs a video clip command signal by means of the keyboard  26 . Then, the control apparatus  20  controls the matrix switcher  50  so that the video frame data obtained at that time is supplied through the cross-point  70  of the matrix switcher  50  to the capture controller and memory  36 . Also, the control apparatus  20  controls the capture controller and memory  36  so that the capture controller and memory  36  memorizes therein the video frame data. The video frame data representing the in-point and the out-point memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  is displayed by the monitor  37  in the forms shown by IV 2 , OV 2  in FIG.  11 . The control apparatus  20  is supplied with time codes through a control line from the VTR  30  and permits the video frame data shown by IV 2 , OV 2 , i.e., time codes corresponding to the in-point and the out-point to be memorized in the RAM  23 . 
     Similarly, the user places the VTR  31  in the reproducing mode by inputting control data through the keyboard  26 , and turns on the switch of the cross-point  70  of the matrix switcher  50 . Further, the second mixer/effector circuit  52  is controlled such that the video signal from the VTR  31  is directly supplied to the monitor  68 . When video frame data which is suitable as the in-point and the out-point is reproduced, the user inputs a video clip command signal by means of the keyboard  26 . Then, the control apparatus  20  controls the matrix switcher  50  so that the video frame data obtained at that time is supplied to the capture controller and memory  36  through a cross-point  71  of the matrix switcher  50 . Also, the control apparatus  20  controls the capture controller and memory  36  such that the capture controller and memory  36  memorizes therein the video frame data. The video frame data representing the in-point and the out-point memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  is displayed by the monitor  37  in the forms shown by IV 3 , OV 3  in FIG.  11 . The control apparatus  20  is supplied with time codes through a control line from the VTR  31  and permits the video frame data shown by IV 3 , OV 3 , i.e., time codes corresponding to the in-point and the out-point to be memorized in the RAM  23 . 
     Subsequently, the user places the VTRs  30  and  31  in the playback mode, and turns on the switches of the cross-points  69 ,  70  of the matrix switcher  50  to thereby supply the first and second video signals played back from the VTRS  30 ,  31  to the second mixer/effector circuit  52 . The second mixer/effector circuit  52  selectively outputs and supplies one of the first and second video signals with a wipe effect being achieved to the monitor  68 . While watching the picture screen of the monitor  68 , the user inputs the video clip command signal through the keyboard  26  when video frame data which is suitable as the in-point and the out-point is outputted from the second mixer/effector circuit  52 . Then, the control apparatus  20  controls the matrix switcher  50  such that the video frame data obtained at that time is supplied to the capture controller and memory  36  through a cross-point  72  of the matrix switcher  50 . Also, the control apparatus  20  controls the capture controller and memory  36  so that the capture controller and memory  36  memorizes therein the video frame data. The video frame data representative of the in-point and the out-point memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  is displayed by the monitor  37  in the form shown by “5115” in FIG.  12 . The control apparatus  20  is supplied with time codes through a control line from the VTRs  30 ,  31  and permits the video frame data shown by “5115” in FIG. 12, i.e., time codes corresponding to the in-point and the out-point, to be memorized in the RAM  23 . 
     The aforesaid operation is repeated until the in-point and the out-point set on the first video signal supplied to one input terminal of the second mixer/effector circuit  52 , the in-point and the out-point set on the second video signal supplied to the other input terminal of the second mixer/effector circuit  52  and the in-point and the out-point set on the output signal from the second mixer/effector circuit  52  reach desired in-points and out-points. After the above respective in-points and out-points reached desired in-points and out-points, the control apparatus  20  reads time code data representing cues out from the RAM  23  and controls operation of the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the second mixer/effector circuit  52  on the basis of the time code data thus read out. Then, only the output video signal representing an image ranging from the in-point to the out-point shown in FIG.  12  and in which the first and second images are switched by the video frame data shown by OV 2  and IV 3  in FIG. 11 between the in-point and the out-point is recorded by the VTR  67 , and the editing is ended. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, since the video frame data representing the in-points and the out-points set in the video signals reproduced by the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the video signal outputted from the second mixer/effector circuit  52  are displayed by the monitor  68 , cues used upon editing can be set with ease from a visual sense standpoint. Further, since the video frame data representing the in-points and the out-points set on the first and second video signals reproduced by the VTRs  30 ,  31  are displayed along the time axis as shown in FIG. 11, a time relationship of the video frame data can be understood with ease. Furthermore, since the time code values corresponding to the video frame data are displayed adjacent to the video frame data, a time relationship among the video frame data can be understood more easily. 
     Operation of the capture controller and memory  36  will be described next. By way of example, let us describe the case that the first video signal reproduced by the VTR  30  and the second video signal reproduced by the VTR  31  are switched by the first mixer/effector circuit  51  so as to achieve video special effects, such as wipe or the like, the video signal reproduced by the disk recorder  32  is supplied to and processed by the DME  35  in an image deforming fashion, and that the video signal, processed in an image deforming fashion by the DME  35 , is mixed to the video signal outputted from the first mixer/effector circuit  51  by a keying signal. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the first and second video signals reproduced by the VTRs  30 ,  31  are supplied to one input terminal and the other input terminal of the first mixer/effector circuit  51  through the cross-points  62 ,  63  of the matrix switcher  50 , respectively. The third video signal reproduced from the disk recorder  32  is supplied to the DME  35  through the cross-point  65  of the matrix switcher  50 . The first mixer/effector circuit  51  switches the inputted first and second video signals with a wipe effect being achieved and supplies the same to the input terminal  59  of the matrix switcher  50 . The DME  35  processes the third video signal supplied thereto in such a signal processing fashion as an image deforming or the like and supplies a video signal thus processed to the input terminal  61  of the matrix switcher  50 . 
     Initially, the user sets the VTR  30  in the playback mode by inputting control data through the keyboard  26  and turns on the switch of the cross-point  62  of the matrix switcher  50 . Further, the first mixer/effector circuit  51 , the cross-point  64  and the second mixer/effector circuit  52  are controlled such that the video signal from the VTR  30  is directly supplied to the monitor  68 . When video frame data which is suitable as the in-point and the out-point is reproduced, the user inputs a video clip command signal by means of the keyboard  26 . Then, the control apparatus  20  controls the matrix switcher  50  so that the video frame data obtained at that time is supplied to the capture controller and memory  36  through the cross-point  70  of the matrix switcher  50 . Also, the control apparatus  20  controls the capture controller and memory  36  so that the capture controller and memory  36  memorizes that video frame data. The video frame data representing the in-point and the out-point memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  are displayed by the monitor  37  in the forms shown by IV 2 , OV 2  in FIG.  11 . The control apparatus  20  is supplied with time codes through a control line from the VTR  30  and permits the video frame data shown by IV 2 , OV 2 , i.e., time codes corresponding to the in-point and the out-point, to be memorized in the RAM  23 . 
     Similarly, the user sets the VTR  31  in the reproducing mode by inputting control data through the keyboard  26 , and turns on the switch provided at the cross-point  63  of the matrix switcher  50 . Further, the first mixer/effector circuit  51 , the cross-point  64  and the second mixer/effector circuit  52  so that the video signal from the VTR  31  is directly supplied to the monitor  68 . When video frame data which is suitable as the in-point and the out-point are reproduced, the user inputs the video clip command signal by the keyboard  26 . Then, the control apparatus  20  controls the matrix switcher  50  so that the video frame data obtained at that time is supplied to the capture controller and memory  36  through the cross-point  71  of the matrix switcher  50 . Also, the control apparatus  20  controls the capture controller and memory  36  so that the capture controller and memory  36  memorizes therein that video frame data. The video frame data representing the in-point and the out-point memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  are displayed by the monitor  37  in the forms shown by IV 3 , OV 3  in FIG.  11 . The control apparatus  20  is supplied with time codes through a control line from the VTR  31  and permits the video frame data shown by IV 3 , OV 3 , i.e., time codes corresponding to the in-point and the out-point to be memorized in the RAM  23 . 
     In a like manner, the user sets the disk recorder  32  in the reproducing mode by inputting control data through the keyboard  26  and turns on the switch provided at the cross-point  65  of the matrix switcher  50 . Also, the DME  35 , the second mixer/effector circuit  52  and the cross-point  66  are controlled such that the video signal from the disk recorder  32  is directly supplied to the monitor  68 . When video frame data which are suitable as the in-point and the out-point are reproduced, the user inputs the video clip command signal by means of the keyboard  26 . Then, the control apparatus  20  controls the matrix switcher  50  so that the video frame data obtained at that time is supplied to the capture controller and memory  36  through the cross-point  73  of the matrix switcher  50 . Also, the control apparatus  20  controls the capture controller and the memory  36  so that the capture controller and the memory  36  memorizes the video frame data. The video frame data representing the in-point and the out-point memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  are displayed by the monitor  37  in the forms shown by IV 1 , OV 1  in FIG.  11 . The control apparatus  20  is supplied with time codes through the control line from the disk recorder  32 , and permits the video frame data represented by IV 1 , OV 1 , i.e., time codes corresponding to the in-point and the out-point, to be memorized in the RAM  23 . 
     Subsequently, the user sets in the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorder  32  in the reproducing mode and turns on the switches provided at the cross-points  62 ,  63  of the matrix switcher  50 , to thereby supply the first and second video signals reproduced from the VTRs  30 ,  31  to the first mixer/effector circuit  51 . The first mixer/effector circuit  51  switches the first and second video signal so as to achieve a wipe effect and supplies the switched video signal to the input terminal  59  of the matrix switcher  50 . When the cross-point  65  is turned on, the third video signal reproduced from the disk recorder  32  is supplied to the DME  35 , and the DME  35  processes the third video signal supplied thereto in an image deforming processing fashion. The DME  35  supplies the third video signal thus processed to the input terminal  61  of the matrix switcher  50 . Then, the output signal of the first mixer/effector circuit  51  and the output signal of the DME  5  are respectively supplied to one input terminal and the other input terminal of the second mixer/effector circuit  52  by turning on the switches provided at the cross-points  64 ,  66 . A keying signal that is used to mix the output signal of the DME  35  to the output signal of the first mixer/effector circuit  51  is supplied from the DME  35  to the second mixer/effector circuit  52 . Then, while watching the monitor  68 , the user inputs the video clip command signal through the keyboard  26  when the video frame data which are suitable as the in-point and the out-point are outputted from the second mixer/effector circuit  52 . Just then, the control apparatus  20  controls the matrix switcher  50  such that the video frame data obtained at that time are supplied to the capture controller and memory  36  through the cross-point  72  of the matrix switcher  50 . Also, the control apparatus  20  controls the capture controller and memory  36  such that the capture controller and memory  36  memorizes the video frame data. The video frame data representing the in-point and the out-point memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  are displayed by the monitor  37  in the forms shown by “5115” in FIG.  12 . The control apparatus  20  is supplied with time codes through the control lines from the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorder  32  and permits the video frame data shown by “5115” in FIG. 12, i.e., time codes corresponding to the in-point and the out-point, to be stored in the RAM  23 . 
     The aforesaid operation is repeated until the in-point and the out-point set on the first video signal inputted to one input terminal of the first mixer/effector circuit  51 , the in-point and the out-point set on the second video signal inputted to the other input terminal of the first mixer/effector circuit  51 , the in-point and the out-point set on the third video signal inputted to the DME  35  and the in-point and the out-point set to the output signal of the second mixer/effector circuit  52  reach desired points. After the above respective in-points and out-points reached desired points, the control apparatus  20  reads time code data representing respective cues from the RAM  23  and controls operation of the VTRs  30 ,  31 , the disk recorder  32 , the first mixer/effector circuit  51  and the second mixer/effector circuit  52  so that only the output video signal representing an image ranging from the in-point to the out-point shown in FIG.  12  and in which the first and second images are switched by the video frame data shown by OV 2  and IV 3  in FIG. 11 between the in-point and the out-point and in which the video signal between the video frames shown by IV 1  and OV 1  in FIG. 11 is mixed to the first or second video signal by the keying is recorded by the VTR  67 , and then the editing is ended. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, since the video frame data representing the in-points and the out-points that were respectively set on the video signals reproduced by the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorder  32  and the video signal outputted from the second mixer/effector circuit  52  are displayed by the monitor  68 , cues used upon editing can be set with ease from a visual sense standpoint. Further, since the video frame data representing the in-points and the out-points that were set to the first, second and third video signals reproduced by the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorder  32  are displayed along the time axis, a time relationship among the video frame data can be understood more easily. Furthermore, since the time code values corresponding to the video frame data are displayed adjacent to the video frame data, a time relationship among the video frame data can be understood more easily. 
     As shown in FIG. 10, when the in-point IN of the material Va or Vb is designated, image data obtained at a timing point a little before (on the time axis) the in-point IN can be memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  through the cross-points  70  to  73 . When on the other hand the out-point OUT of the material Va or Vb is designated, image data obtained at a timing point delayed (on the time axis) from the out-point OUT can be memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  through the cross-points  70  to  73 . At that time, time code data corresponding to respective video signals are supplied from the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorders  32 ,  33  through the control lines to the control apparatus  20  and then memorized in the RAM  23 . 
     In FIG. 10, reference symbol It represents an offset amount obtained at the in-point IN and reference symbol Ot represents an offset amount obtained at the out-point OUT. Therefore, image data is memorized in the capture controller and memory  36  during a period Vt whose duration is longer than that of the period that was designated in actual practice. 
     The in-point IN and the out-point OUT also can be determined by using the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn and the corresponding setup files SET 1  through SETn. When the edit material va or vb is determined from the material to be reproduced by the VTR  30 , for example, the VTR  30  is operated in the reproducing mode and image data is designated at the desired in-point IN and out-point OUT (i.e., mark-in and mark-out) as described above. 
     When the image data is designated at the desired in-point In and out-point OUT as described above (mark-in and mark-out), image data of the period Vt including the above offset amounts is memorized in the RAM  23  or the capture controller and the memory  36 . Thereafter, the user permits the image data of the period Vt shown in FIG. 10 to be displayed on the display monitor  37 , for example, by using the pointing device  25  or the keyboard  26 . 
     Since the image data obtained at that time is not reproduced from the VTR  30  but is the data read out from the capture controller and memory  36 , the user can accurately reproduce image data in a step-by-step playback fashion at a desired speed by using the pointing device  25  or the keyboard  26 . Therefore, the user can determine the in-point IN and the out-point OUT at high speed over and over while repeatedly determining the in-point IN and the out-point OUT in the rehearsal mode. 
     When the material is recorded or memorized (buffered) in VTRs or disk recorders, the material including the offset amount may be recorded or memorized in VTRs or disk recorders automatically. With this arrangement, the user may determine the in-point IN and the out-point OUT one more time after step S 33  (S 43 ) of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 was executed. 
     With reference to FIG. 12, how to memorize image data including the offset amount and how to designate the in-point IN and the out-point OUT one more time as shown in FIG. 10 will be described together with images displayed on the picture screen of the monitor  37 . 
     As shown in FIG. 12, time codes of every event are displayed on an area al, and connected states of equipments and so on are displayed on an area a 2 . 
     Image data that is being previewed is displayed on an area a 3 . As will be clear from FIG. 12, when image data is displayed on the area a 3 , the image data is compressed by the capture controller and memory  36  shown in FIG.  3  and then displayed on the area a 3 . A number P 2  that is assigned to the image displayed on the area a 3  is displayed on the lower portion of the area a 3  and a time code Tc also is displayed on the same lower portion. 
     Image data edited by the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn, i.e., the materials Va, Vb in this embodiment (in this case, three edit materials (at the edit unit) are displayed) are respectively displayed on an area a 4 . In this embodiment, images obtained at in-points IN and images obtained at out-points OUT of the respective edit materials (shown by “5201”, “5115”, “3028”, respectively) are displayed on the area a 4 . Furthermore, the areas a 5  to a 7  of the respective edit materials include time code display areas Ta 1  to Ta 3  for displaying thereon time codes. 
     Of the above three edit materials, a time code Tin of the in-point IN and a time code Tout of the out-point OUT are displayed only in the time code display area Ta 2  of the edit material displayed on the area a 6 . 
     This means that the editing is now performed, i.e., the in-point IN and the out-point OUT are now being designated one more time. As described above, when the edit material is designated, image data is memorized under the condition that the offset amount (or offset amount of several seconds before and after the in-point IN and the out-point OUT) is added to the in-point IN and the out-point OUT designated in actual practice by the mark-in and mark-out. 
     As shown in FIG. 12, memorized image data of the in-point IN and the out-point OUT (in this embodiment, images of the in-point IN) together with the offset amount are displayed on an area a 8 . This example shown in FIG. 12 illustrates that the edit material at the in-point IN is edited, and also illustrates image data v 1  through v 6  obtained before and after the in-point IN. Numerical values ranging from −2 to +3 shown under the respective image data v 1  through v 6  are indexes that can teach the order of the respective image data v 1  through v 6  from a time standpoint where the in-point IN thus memorized (marked-in) is assumed to be “0”. 
     Only the image data v 3  is shown hatched in FIG. 12 because the image data v 3  is image data thus memorized (marked-in). The user, however, can select (referred to as a recalling) desired image data from the image data vl through v 6  (image data v 1  and v 6  are headed and followed by other image data in actual practice, though not shown) by using some suitable means, such as the pointing device  25 , a cursor key of the keyboard  26  or the like. Selected one of the image data v 1  through v 6  is shown hatched in FIG.  12 . Then, the user can change and determine the in-point IN by inputting data representing that the desired image data was selected. The keyboard  26  may include some independent keys for moving image data in the positive or reverse direction in a step-by-step picture fashion, such as an FS (forward space) key, a BS (back space) key or the like. 
     When the in-point IN and the out-point OUT are designated one more time, the user can select the editing of the in-point IN or the out-point OUT by clicking the pointing device  25  or by operating the return key of the keyboard  26  at the position of the cursor after the user moved the cursor to the area of the in-point IN or the out-point OUT of desired one of the image data of the area a 5  to a 7 . 
     According to this embodiment, when the in-point IN and the out-point OUT are temporarily determined by the above-mentioned mark-in and mark-out, image data obtained before and after the in-point IN and the out-point OUT thus temporarily designated are memorized in the capture controller and memory  36 . Then, the image data obtained before and after the in-point IN and the out-point OUT thus temporarily designated are compressed and displayed on the monitor  37  so that the user can designate the in-point IN and the out-point OUT on the picture screen of the monitor  37  one more time by using the pointing device  25  or the keyboard  26 . Therefore, a frequency with which the VTRs  30 ,  31  are used can be reduced, and the editing apparatus becomes easier to handle and the user can edit image data with high accuracy. 
     How to delete, position-exchange, copy and move edit data of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn will be described with reference to FIG.  13 . In FIG. 13, image data displayed on the monitor  37  will be referred to similarly to FIG. 12, and like parts corresponding to those of FIG. 11 are marked with the same references and therefore need not be described in detail. 
     As shown in FIG. 13, leading image data P 1  through P 6  of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are displayed on an area a 9 . At that time, image data obtained at the in-point IN and the out-point OUT of the edit data are respectively displayed on the areas a 5  through a 7  of the area a 4  located at the lower portion of the area a 9  similarly to FIG.  12 . 
     The reason that the time codes Tin and Tout are displayed on the time code area Ta 2  of only the area a 6  is that the user had already selected the area a 6  of the area a 4  by the pointing device  25  or the keyboard  26 . 
     According to this embodiment, edit data of one of the selected areas a 5  through a 7  can be deleted, copied, moved and exchanged in position by directly selecting one of the areas a 5  through a 7 . When the user wants to delete edit data, the user can delete desired edit data by clicking the area of desired edit data by using the pointing device  25  or by operating the return key of the keyboard  26  at the position of the cursor after the user moved the cursor to one of the areas a 5  through a 7  of the desired edit data to be deleted. 
     When the user wants to copy edit data, the user moves the cursor or the like to one of the areas a 5  through a 7  of the desired edit data to be copied, clicks the area of the desired edit data by using the pointing device  25  and moves the cursor (or pointer) to the desired one of the areas a 5  to a 7  under the condition that the user keeps clicking the pointing device  25  and then releases the pointing device  25  from being clicked within the areas a 5  to a 7 , thereby the desired edit data is copied. 
     When the user wants to move edit data, the user moves the cursor or the like to one of the areas a 5  to a 7  of desired edit data to be moved, clicks the selected area of the desired edit data by using the pointing device  25  and moves the cursor (or pointer) to the desired one of the areas a 5  to a 7  under the condition that the user keeps clicking the pointing device  25  and releases the pointing device  25  from being clicked within the areas a 5  to a 7 , thereby edit data is moved. 
     When the user wants to exchange edit data in position, the user moves the cursor to one of the areas a 5  to a 7  of desired one edit data and clicks the selected area of the desired edit data by using the pointing device  25  at the position of the cursor. Thereafter, the user moves the cursor to the desired one of the areas a 5  to a 7  and clicks the desired one of the areas a 5  to a 7  by using the pointing device  25  or the like, thereby the edit data is exchanged in position. 
     From an internal processing standpoint, when “delete” is effected, corresponding areas of the capture controller and memory  36  are deleted simply and also data associated with corresponding edit data of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are deleted. 
     When edit data is copied, edit data of the corresponding areas of the capture controller and memory  36  are stored in the designated area one more time, and data associated with corresponding edit data of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are written in a memory area corresponding to an area in which edit data is to be copied. 
     when edit data is moved, edit data of the corresponding areas of the capture controller and memory  36  are stored in the designated area one more time, and data associated with corresponding edit data of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are written in a memory area corresponding to an area in which edit data is to be moved. 
     When edit data is exchanged in position, two edit data of the corresponding area of the capture controller and memory  36  are stored in their areas one more time, and data associated with the two edit data corresponding to the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are written in their memory areas. 
     The user can temporarily confirm various processings, such as “delete”, “copy”, “move”, “position exchange” or the like by changing the contents of data stored in the memory (not shown) of the capture controller and memory  36 , and then change the contents of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn in actual practice. 
     As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the user can change the contents of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn by deleting, copying, moving and position-exchanging image data of the edit unit displayed on the picture screen by means of the pointing device  25  or the keyboard  26 , the user can edit image data without being annoyed by a cumbersome job, such as of reviewing the in-point and the out-point by operating the VTRs  30 ,  31  in the playback mode, confirming and inputting the memory address by the keyboard  26  or the like. Therefore, an efficiency in editing can be improved. 
     How to display on a time axis transition points obtained when various video special effects are achieved by various equipments shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.  11 . 
     As shown in FIG. 11, time codes of the recording recorders, e.g., the VTRs  30 ,  31  and the disk recorders  32 ,  33  are described on the leftmost portion of the diagram. As shown in FIG. 11, time codes have markers Ma affixed thereto, and lines are extended from the markers Ma in order to indicate a time. A DME column and switcher columns also are provided from the time code column leftwardly, in that order. First and last image data of image data that are processed in time periods indicated by the time codes are illustrated in the respective columns. Specifically, image data Iv 1  and Ov 1  are displayed on the DME column in accordance with the time codes, image data Iv 2 , Ov 2  are displayed on the switcher column in accordance with the time codes, and image data Iv 3 , Ov 3  are displayed on another switcher column in accordance with the time codes. 
     Time bars b 1 , b 2  and b 3  representing time periods of image data are displayed on the left of the image data Iv 1 , Ov 1 , Iv 2 , Ov 2  and Iv 3 , Ov 3 , respectively. As shown in FIG. 11, the transition points of the processing done by various equipments shown in FIG. 3 are represented by the time codes and the markers Ma. Also, the image data Iv 1 , Ov 1 , Iv 2 , Ov 2 , Iv 3 , Ov 3  of the transition points are illustrated on the columns of the processing equipment. Furthermore, the time bars b 1 , b 2  and b 3  representing the duration of the image data are displayed on the left-hand side. Therefore, the user can visually understand the situation that the editing apparatus is placed, such as when the editing apparatus is in use or the like. 
     The display shown in FIG. 11 may be carried out by designating the in-point and the out-point during the time the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are executed. Alternatively, the display may be carried out at the same time when the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn are executed. 
     When the monitor  37  displays the above-mentioned time codes and image data, information representing the editing processing executed with the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn is transmitted to the capture controller and memory  36  every moment. On the basis of the information supplied thereto, the capture controller and memory  36  memorizes the time code, the marker Ma, the bar graph b 1 , the image data Iv 1  Ov 1 , Iv 2 , Ov 2 , Iv 3 , Ov 3  in the memory thereof and reads them out therefrom and supplies them to the monitor  37 . 
     According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the processing state that was executed can be displayed so as to be easy to see together with the image data, efficiency in the editing can be improved considerably. 
     Since a time of each effect is reflected in real time on the control apparatus  20  when changed, the user can confirm other effects which should follow. Further, if the user knows in advance a relationship of effects which should follow, then the user can automatically link the effects in such relationship by registering that relationship from the picture. 
     According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the user can change the contents of the edit files EDL 1  through EDLn by deleting, copying, moving and position-exchanging image data displayed on the picture screen at the unit of the edit files, the user can carry out the editing without being annoyed by a cumbersome job, such as reviewing image data by operating the VTRs  30 ,  31  in the playback mode, confirming and inputting the memory address by the keyboard  26  or the like. Therefore, an efficiency in the editing can be improved. 
     According to the present invention, since the display means displays the first and second points of image data provided as the predetermined unit, the designating means designates the image of the first and second points of the predetermined unit displayed on the display means and control means displays the time code data of the image data of the first or second point designated by the designating means, the conditions of related equipments and the identification numbers, the efficiency in the editing can be improved and therefore the editing apparatus becomes easier to handle. 
     Further, according to the present invention, since the designating means moves the image data of the first and second points displayed on the display means along the time axis, copies the same to other time position and deletes the same, the user can carry out the editing more easily with the above-mentioned effects being achieved. 
     Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the displayed conditions of the first and second designated image data are changed when the image data of the first and second points displayed on the display means are designated by the designating means, the editing becomes more understandable and easier with the above-mentioned effects also being achieved. 
     Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications could be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.