Editing Film score (section)

===Syncing===
When writing music for film, one goal is to sync dramatic events happening on screen with musical events in the score. There are many different methods for syncing music to picture. These include using sequencing software to calculate timings, using mathematic formulas and free timing with reference timings. Composers work using [[SMPTE timecode]] for syncing purposes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artsites.ucsc.edu/EMS/music/equipment/video/smpte/smpte.html|title=SMPTE}}</ref>

When syncing music to picture, generally a leeway of 3–4 frames late or early allows the composer to be extremely accurate. Using a technique called Free Timing, a conductor will use either ('''a''') a stopwatch or studio size stop clock, or ('''b''') watch the film on a screen or video monitor while conducting the musicians to predetermined timings. These are represented visually by vertical lines (streamers) and bursts of light called punches. These are put on the film by the Music Editor at points specified by the composer. In both instances, the timings on the clock or lines scribed on the film have corresponding timings which are also at specific points (beats) in the composer/conductor score.

====Written click track====
A written [[click track]] is a method of writing bars of music in consistent time values (e.g. 4 beats in :{{frac|02|2|3}} seconds) to establish a constant tempo in lieu of a metronome value (e.g. 88 bpm). A composer would use a written click if he or she planned to conduct live performers. When using other methods such as a metronome, the conductor has a perfectly spaced audible click playing. This can yield stiff and lifeless performances in slower more expressive cues. A standard bpm value can be converted to a written click where X represents the number of beats per bar and W represents time in seconds by using the following equation:

<math display="block">\frac{60}{bpm}(x)=W</math>

Written clicks are expressed using {{frac|1|3}} second increments, so the next step is to round the decimal to either 0,{{frac|1|3}}, or {{frac|2|3}} of a second. The following is an example for 88 bpm:

<math display="block">\frac{60}{88}(4)=2.72</math>

''2.72 rounds to 2.66, so the written click is 4 beats in :{{frac|02|2|3}} seconds.''

Once the composer has identified the location in the film with which to sync musically, he or she must determine the musical beat this event occurs on. To find this, conductors use the following equation, where bpm is beats per minute, ''sp'' is the sync point in real-time (i.e. 33.7 seconds), and B is the beat number in {{frac|1|3}} increments (i.e. {{frac|49|2|3}}).

<math display="block">\frac{bpm(sp)}{60}+1=B</math>