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How to Edit a TV News VOSOT

VOSOT means voice over sound on tape. The anchor or reporter talks over edited video and an edited sound bite. It's used to tell a story quickly but, unlike a straight VO, the viewer hears from a person involved in the story. It may be crime scene video and an interview with the investigator or video of a carnival with interviews of children enjoying the rides.

Instructions

    • 1

      Get your video into the system. If you edit on a non-linear system like Edius, you'll need to create a project and ingest the video in real time. If you edit tape to tape, grab the tape you'll be editing onto and lay down a countdown.

    • 2

      Look over the shots to remind yourself of what was gathered. This is especially helpful if you didn't shoot the video. Pay attention for video that stands out as especially good.

    • 3

      Get a copy of the written VOSOT from the producer or reporter. They would have already watched the interview and picked a SOT.

    • 4

      Edit the VO first. Typically you want to start with an establishing shot. That's a wide shot of the scene or event.

    • 5

      Drag your first clip from the bin and drop it on to the time line if you're editing on non-linear. Trim it to be 4 to 5 seconds in length. If editing tape to tape, set your in-point on the record deck. Cue up the play deck to your first shot and set your in and out-points. Hit "Edit."

    • 6

      Continue laying down shots until you have at least 40 seconds of video. That's the standard for VO's. If the script is longer, add a few seconds of pad video.

    • 7

      Cue the record deck up to the chosen SOT. Or, drag it in from the bin. Turn the volume down so there's two seconds of pre-roll. Then, turn the volume up and let the SOT play out. At the end of the desired statement, turn the volume back down and let it run for a few more seconds. This will ensure it doesn't go to black.

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