Digital nonlinear editing (NLE) is a computer-based way to edit video or audio in which you can access and revise any part of a project without working through the finished program from beginning to end. Editors arrange media references in a project; in common nondestructive workflows, changes to the project do not alter the original source files.
What “nonlinear” means
Nonlinear editing gives the editor random access to media and edit points. You can work on a shot intended for the end of a video, then move to its opening, without first completing everything in between. The order in which you edit does not have to match the order in which the audience will see the finished program.
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The term describes how edits can be accessed and revised, not a particular visual layout. Many NLEs present clips on a timeline or in a sequence, but the important distinction is that an editor can jump to different parts and change decisions without rebuilding the program from its beginning.
How a digital NLE project works
- Bring media into the project. Import video and audio or link to files stored on a drive.
- Select and arrange ranges. Choose the portions to use, then place them in a timeline or sequence.
- Revise the edit. Move, trim, remove, or replace clips and adjust the project as needed.
- Export the result. The editor renders or exports the assembled program as a finished file or other delivery format.
The project records edit decisions and refers to the media used. Apple explains that in Final Cut Pro, clips in a project refer to source media; trimming or deleting a project clip changes project information rather than the underlying media file. Project formats differ, so this does not mean every editor stores all decisions in one literal edit decision list (EDL) file. See Apple’s Final Cut Pro glossary and the Broadcast and Multimedia course text for these workflow concepts.
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Nonlinear editing versus linear editing
| Aspect | Digital nonlinear editing | Traditional tape-to-tape linear editing |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Jump to different media or edit points without traversing the finished sequence. | Assemble the recorded program in sequence on tape. |
| Revisions | Change a project decision or replace a section without recreating the whole program. | Changing an earlier section can require recording later material again. |
| Source handling | Often uses digital files and project references; source files can remain intact. | Traditional assembly records the edit onto a new or master tape. |
| Output | Render or export the project to a finished file or delivery medium. | Record the assembled sequence onto tape. |
This is a comparison of access and assembly workflows. It does not mean every nonlinear workflow is automatically nondestructive, or that modern linear systems cannot use computers. Apple describes nonlinear editing as changing edits without recreating the whole program, while NAXA’s nonlinear-editing glossary contrasts random-access file workflows with sequential tape editing.
Nonlinear and nondestructive are related, but different
Nonlinear means you can access and revise parts of an edit out of sequence. Nondestructive means the editing operations leave the original media unchanged, with decisions stored in the project instead. Modern NLE workflows commonly offer both, but one term does not guarantee the other. Apple defines these as separate terms in its Final Cut Pro glossary.
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What NLE can refer to
NLE can mean “nonlinear editor,” the editing system or software, as well as the broader nonlinear editing method. Examples include Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, and EDIUS. These are examples, not a ranking or recommendation; each application’s particular features may differ. Adobe’s guide to non-linear video editing introduces the method and Premiere, while NAXA lists several editing applications in its glossary entry.
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Offline editing is a post-production stage that may use copies or proxies before the project is conformed to original media for online finishing. It is not another name for nonlinear editing. Proxy media refers to lower-resolution or otherwise easier-to-play representations that can make editing demanding footage more manageable; available features depend on the software. Apple defines offline editing separately in its glossary, and the course text describes the use of lower-resolution copies in an editing workflow.
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