What does the term 'ingest' refer to in video production?

The term 'ingest' in video production refers to the process of capturing and importing media into editing software like Adobe Premiere. This is a crucial step in video production, as it involves bringing raw footage and media files from different sources, such as cameras, storage devices, or cloud services, into the editing environment. Proper ingestion allows editors to organize their media efficiently, making it easier to access and utilize during the editing process.

Ingesting media often includes not just the transfer of video files but may also involve setting up file structures, creating proxies for smoother editing, and sometimes even applying metadata to help categorize and locate footage later on. This process lays the foundation for all subsequent editing, making it pivotal to the overall workflow in video production.