Clips Are Linked to Media Files

There are multiple types of clips that can be stored in a bin, as explained in Table 1-1.

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Table 1-1 Available Clip Types

The unique property of master clips is that a master clip points back to a media file, and that media file has a duration equal to the duration of the master clip.

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Essence Is the Core of a Media File

Aside from metadata, media files also contain essence. Essence is the part of the media file that is not metadata—it’s the actual audio or video data.

The MXF OP-Atom standard specifies that each audio and video track be contained in a separate file: one media file for each channel of audio, and another media file for the video essence. This is called separation of essence.

A master clip having the tracks V1 and A1-2, therefore, would reference three media files when all the media is online, as shown in Figure 1.20.