Library vs. Editdesk
The Library in Smoke is where you import your clips from various file or tape sources. The library acts as a safe for your clips and they are protected there from edits. The Editdesk is your desktop workspace where all editing is done. You can imagine an invisible wall between the Library where your clips are stored and the Editdesk where you are free to edit and modify clips and sequences, and create new material. You move clips that you want to work on from the Library, over this wall and on to the Editdesk. This allows you to only load material for the given sequence you are working on. The Editdesk is saved via auto save or you can save the Editdesk back to the Library at any time and with your organization. But if you delete a clip from the Editdesk and you didn’t save it in to the library, then it will be deleted forever. But if your clip is saved into the Library, then it is safe forever. Or until you delete it from the Library. If you make a modification to a clip or sequence on the Editdesk, the original clip or sequence is safe and sound in the Library.
Editdesk Sources
The Smoke UI is broken up into 4 sections. 1. Editdesk library (Yellow) 2. Source Area (Pink) 3. Tools (Blue) 4. Record Area. (Red)
You can view your clips as a list by twirling down the arrow.
Or expand the information and see all of the properties about your clip
You can also ALT-Click and hover your cursor over a clip in Proxy View and See more clip info.
You can use the Editdesk panel on the left (which can also be moved to the right side if desired) and add Folders and regroup and organize your Source Areas (Bins) as you see fit, and then view them as needed in list or proxy view.
One of the nice things I love about the Editdesk is that it is open to a free form organizational structure… or a dis-organizational structure. Sometimes my Source Areas get very messy when I work fast, as I am constantly moving clips around and creating new material in the Modules. (Action, Text, CC, FlameFX, etc) I am working like one would work at a table with postcards or pictures and having it all spread out in front of me. Many editors are very quirky about their organization. Smoke allows you to be very freeform or very organized with folders and Source Areas labeled and neatly listed.
Source Information In Your Sequence
You can view your source clips in relation to your edit sequence in multiple ways as well. One is the standard FCP/AVID/Premiere layout of Source/Record. There are easy to use editorial functions between the viewers.
You can also see your source clips larger and in Smokes standard single viewer layout. [F6] This view also shows you the source clips timeline.
You can toggle between source and record by using the hotkeys. [F6 - Source] & [F5 - Record] This allows you to easily see your source and edit without using the src/rec dual view. You also get lots of information about your clip if you expand it. (seen above) [F5 - Record] view below.
And if you need to see your video, either source or record, bigger or full screen, then that is an easy hotkey away. [CTL+ESC] This works if you don’t have a handy broadcast monitor available, or just need to check a few pixels.
There are a lot of other aspects to working with sources and working with the Editdesk. But you can see from the images, that the flexibility to work how you want to work is one of Smoke’s greatest features. I often have had 10+ Source Areas, with 50 clips visible in each one. You have to shrink them down fairly small, but for a quick glance to find the shot you need, it works well. And once you select your shots you have the larger big player view. I am more of a visual shot selector than one that goes by Timecode. Most of my work isn’t logged, so the best way for me to get familiar with my video is to be able to see as much as possible and scrub through the shots. So for creative editorial and offline editing, Smoke’s Editdesk design works very well.
