Abstract

An audio/video editing system presents different menus of editing functions on a display screen and changes the menus as well as performing different editing functions in response to the touching of selected areas of the display screen by an operator. An arrangement of light emitting diodes and photodetectors provides a network of beams across the face of the display screen. Selected beams are interrupted when the operator points his finger at particular characters being displayed on the screen. The display menus and editing functions are controlled by an edit controller which includes a central processing unit having a memory loaded with data from a computer file system, a character generator for providing the various menus on the display screen and a plurality of intelligent line controllers coupled to a plurality of source tape recorders, a record tape recorder and a switcher capable of coupling a different one of the source recorders to the record recorder. Each intelligent line controller which includes its own processing unit and memory controls the flow of data between the central processing unit and the various recorders and the switcher in addition to converting the data between parallel and serial forms. A separate interface coupled between each of the intelligent line controllers and an associated one of the recorders or the switcher includes processors which convert the data into a form usable by the recorder or switcher.