Hands on with Avid ScriptSync

With Avid’s new version of Media Composer 2.7 they are introducing a feature called ScriptSync. The basic idea behind ScriptSync is that Avid will take an imported script, “listen” to the take, and then line the script accordingly. This idea of script-based editing comes from feature film editing and job of the script supervisor who will physically “line” the script on set so the editor will know what the takes are, what is covered, who is on and off camera for each line as well as any other information that might benefit the editor. To have an electronic lined script there in the editing application in theory gives the editor much easier access to the individual takes. You have a little picture tile for each take, a line that runs the length of the take and marks that can be double clicked to load a particular take at a specified line in the script. It’s a great idea. The down side comes in setting up that script. It can be quite a labor-intensive process to do it all manually with clicks and drags and button pressing. It’s a fine task for an assistant editor but may be just too time-consuming for the lead editor.

In comes SriptSync. It uses a kind of phonetic voice recognition to line the script for you. My first though when I heard about this was of IBM’s Via Voice software and the long process that it took to “train” it to understand one single voice and how it really wasn’t all that accurate. If that was the kind of technology used in ScriptSync, it would be a dud. But this phonetic type voice recognition is miles ahead of what something like Via Voice uses and it works quite well. I was able to do a small test with a beta version and was very impressed with its accuracy. The scene in which I used was set in a kitchen with two adults and a couple of kids. ScriptSync was accurate in the majority of the takes and was even able to put proper marks on some of the overlapping dialog. If there was an ad-lib or something not in the script then the line just didn’t get a mark. With Script-based editing you have a long vertical line that shows the length of the take and tiny horizontal marks at the dialog. ScriptSync wouldn’t make the vertical lines, I had to drag them out myself but after marking the length of the take you choose ScriptSync from the drop down menu, select a the options you want and off it goes. It’s quite speedy and as I said before, surprisingly accurate.

I think one of the best uses for ScriptSync will be for lining transcripts from on camera interview subjects. Any editor who has ever gotten a notebook filled with lots of interviews can see the benefit of having that script on-screen in front of you with the ability to click any line and have that clip appear in the source monitor at that selected line. ScriptSync can work with many different text files, not just a Hollywood formatted screenplay, as it has options to deal with how the file is formatted. Is ScriptSync going be the killer feature that gets a lot of Xpress Pros to upgrade and/or brings new people to Media Composer? Only time will tell but those who try it in 2.7 will find them with a new tool that makes life a little bit easier.

Avid has over 200 patents, including on such things as database-based media management, script-based editing and other cool stuff.

I'm an early FCP adopter (check my Mac and Windows alpha CD), and believe in its features, starting with the first meaningful combination of editing and compositing in a single interface.

But I also believe in Avid's technology. It's what keeps Avid in such a dominant position in the collaborative editing environments (like Hollywood) that its products were designed for.

Not making an anti-FCP comment (see three sentences ago). Just making an observation about Avid's technology.

This piece of software sounds great. Now, I'd love to see Apple put something like this in a future Final Cut release.  

-Paul Escandon

Outdoor Channel
Post Production/Editor/Motion Graphics

Oremus Productions
Producer/Director
http://www.oremusproductions.com