You can use clips as source clips, clip instances, subclips, or duplicate clips. You can edit all types of clips in sequences in the same way. The clip types differ in the following ways:

Source (master) clip

The clip originally imported into the Project panel. It is listed in the Project panel only once by default. If you delete a source clip from the Project panel, all of its instances are also deleted.

Clip instance

A dependent reference to a source clip, used in a sequence. Each time you add a clip to a sequence, you create another instance of the clip. A clip instance uses the name and source file reference used by its source clip. While clip instances are not listed in the Project panel, they are differentiated in the Source Monitor menu if you open instances there. The Source Monitor menu lists instances by name, sequence name, and In point.

Subclip

A section of a master clip that references the master clip’s media file. Use subclips to organize and manage your projects, especially when you need to use only sections of long master clips. (See About subclips.)

Duplicate clip

An independent copy of a source clip, which you create manually using the Edit > Duplicate command. You can also create a duplicate clip by importing the same file more than once. Unlike a clip instance, a duplicate clip maintains its own reference to the original clip’s source file on disk and exists as an additional clip in the Project panel. A duplicate clip is not deleted when you delete its original from the Project panel. Master and duplicate clips can be renamed independently.