Definition
What is a clip in video editing?
A clip is a discrete item of media used in an edit, such as a video shot, an audio recording, an image, or a selected portion of a larger source file. A single source file can produce many timeline clip instances.
Editors commonly set In and Out points to choose the usable part of a source clip, then place that selection into a sequence. The timeline instance can be trimmed, moved, or transformed without changing the source file, and the same original can be reused at different points.
The word can describe a camera recording, a project-panel item, or its occurrence on the timeline, so context matters. A timeline clip has added editorial meaning: its position, duration, effects, speed changes, and relationship to neighboring clips.
Example in the edit
From a ten-minute interview file, the editor selects a 12-second answer and adds it to the timeline. That 12-second use is a clip, even though its source recording is much longer.
Why editors use it
Understanding clips makes non-destructive editing intuitive. It allows editors to reuse source material freely while controlling exactly what viewers see and hear.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Clip
Is a clip the same as a video file?
Not always. A file may be one source clip, but an editor can make multiple clips from different portions or uses of that same file.
What are In and Out points?
They mark where the selected portion of a source clip starts and ends for previewing or adding it to a sequence.
Can a clip contain audio and video?
Yes. Many camera clips contain linked picture and production audio, although editors can separate, replace, or use only one part.