I'm not sure if this information is entirely relevant, but I wanted to show another approach to re-recording that may help with discussions/ideas. I'm not saying I advocate these methods 100%. I'm just explaining neutrally.
In
Worms Armageddon PC re-recording, Deadcode implemented (without knowing about tool-assisted speed-running beforehand) switching between these types of modes on the fly.
First, the replay file (input video) is played back in
Playback mode. From here, the user can press the
R key to switch to
Redubbing mode. This restarts the playback in this other mode.
As the replay is played back in
Redubbing mode, input from the original replay file is written (redubbed) to a new replay file frame-by-frame. In this mode, the user can press the
T key (to
Take control) at any time to switch to
In Control mode. Also,
M can be pressed to mark a frame to automatically fast-forward to that frame upon redub, like saving states. Obviously, this wouldn't work in a more complex movie (hours long).
While
In Control, any input given by the user is written to the newly-redubbed replay file.
R can be pressed at any time to redub a new replay and take control of it at the desired frame.
With this method, at the end of a TASing session, the user ends up with precisely 1.0 buttloads of unfinished replays which can be browsed through in case they wanted to use some method they had ditched several re-records ago.
---
The "Append" mode adelikat explained above is very interesting. I can see it being very useful in many games, especially for luck manipulation. I agree that "Append" is a misleading term here. What about "Add Simultaneous Input Mode"? That's probably pretty long, but it explains what it is better.