MULT ICAM Mixing Live vs. Cutting in Post Before non-linear systems were around, on-line edit suites with many tape machines running in sync were used to simulate a live multi-camera environ- ment. Threaded up on each of the tape machines were the individual reels or each of the cameras takes. The machines were then run in sync and each source would be cut on a vision switcher. The fact that one was working in an edit suite provided the flexibility of stop-starting or running continuous. This was the only way to do a Multicam edit outside of a live studio environment. So the advantage of doing a multi-camera edit in post is clear. In this environ- ment one can stop-start. When doing it live you only have one shot at it. No matter how good one is as a live director/switcher the fact of the matter is one can achieve better results cutting in post than in a live environment. Preparation Just to hammer home the point, the success of a multi-camera shoot begins in the acquisition stage. Let all cameras roll continuous. No stop-starting.