Exp Media and Music- Final Cut Intro

Multimedia Lab Proficiency

Multimedia Lab Use Guidelines

Creating a Final Cut Project

Final Cut needs to have a Scratch Disk set every time it is opened. The Scratch Disk is s global setting in Final Cut. It is not set for each project. When switching between projects remember to change the Scratch Disk.

Set your Scratch Disk

1. After opening Final Cut a dialog box will open asking to “Set Your Scratch Disks”.
2. Click the Set button, browse to your folder in the User Drive and select it.
3. Click Choose to make it the default location to store all your content.

For more info see Scratch Disk - FCP

File Management

• REMEMBER: there's a difference between CLIPS and MEDIA. The MEDIA files are the actual information that you filmed in the camera. They are stored on your User Drive folder under "Capture Scratch". The clips are like pointers or representations that symbolize the information.
• This means that you can change the length of a clip in your timeline without altering the media. You can also cut a clip into several pieces and use them in different parts of your film. The media will remain intact.
• This also means that you must preserve the relationship between the clip and the media. Final Cut Pro has to be able to find the media that goes with your clip. If for some reason you change the location of the media, Final Cut will not be able to to locate it, and the clip will go blank and say "off-line". It's possible to reconnect it if you've labeled things correctly--ask a lab aide for help.
• Your PROJECT file (which you named) contains all the information about the clips you've logged and transferred, and the work you've done in the timeline. It is like a RECIPE that tells Final Cut Pro what ingredients you used and how you put them together.
• Your User Drive folder should include:

• Your project file.
• Capture Scratch
• Audio Render files
• Video Render files

Saving the Project

1. Click in the Timeline
2. Go to File > Save Project As and navigate to your project folder.
3. Give the project a meaningful name.

Changing Sequence Settings

The default Sequence Preset is Apple ProRes 422(LT) 1920 x 1080 60i 48kHz.

1. Click in the open sequence in the Timeline.
2. Go to Sequence > Settings.
3. Click the Load Sequence Preset button in the bottom left corner.
4. A new window will open. Select the appropriate preset and click OK.

Creating New Sequences

1. Go to File > New > Sequence
2. A new sequence will be created in the Browser.
3. Name the sequence.

Nested Sequences

Sequences can be added to other sequences. This can help in organization. For example you can edit multiple sequence for different sections other the project. The can then be combined in a master sequence.

In an existing sequence a group of consecutive items can be nested.

1. Select all of the clips to be nested with the Selection Tool.
2. Go to Sequence > Nest Items.
3. In the new window name the new sequence. The setting should match your existing clips.
4. Click OK.

Final Cut Pro Editing

Editing Basics

In and Out Points

1. Double click on a clip in the Browser. Click on the icon and not the name. The clip will open in the viewer.
2. In the viewer play the clip and cue it to where you want the in point.
3. Click the Mark In button or press the I key.
4. In the viewer play the clip and cue it to where you want the out point.
5. Click the Mark Out button or press the O key.
6. Drag the clip to the Canvas or to the Timeline.

Insert vs Overwrite

FCP has and Insert and Overwrite editing modes.

• Insert edits will move the clips that are to the right of the Playhead to the right.
• Overwrite will overwrite the clips to the right of the Playhead. This is also referred to as Assemble edit.
  • When Overwrite is used on a track with clips it will replace any existing clips.
  • When Overwrite is used on an empty track above a clip it will not affect the other tracks.

• When dragging a clip to the Canvas, drag the clip to the Insert or Overwrite box.
• When dragging a clip to the Timeline a Down Arrow is an Overwrite edit and a Left Arrow is an Insert edit.

Adjusting Audio Levels

The levels of audio clips can be adjusted in the Timeline.

Creating Keyframes

1. Click the Toggle Clip Overlays button in the lower left of the Timeline window (it looks like a mountain).
2. Select the Pen Tool in the tool bar (press the P key on the keyboard.)
3. Click on the pink line on top off the waveform to create a Keyframe.
4. Click and drag to create a Keyframe and change the levels.

Adjusting Keyframes

1. To adjust Keyframes select the Selection Tool (press the A key on the keyboard.)
2. Click on the Keyframes to adjust the levels ( up or down) or the place in time (left or right).

Opacity Levels

The opacity of a clip can be adjusted similar to they audio levels are adjusted.

Creating Keyframes

1. Click the Toggle Clip Overlays button in the lower left of the Timeline window (it looks like a mountain).
2. Select the Pen Tool in the tool bar (press the P key on the keyboard.)
3. Click on the black line on top off the video to create a Keyframe.
4. Click and drag to create a Keyframe and change the levels.

Adjusting Keyframes

1. To adjust Keyframes select the Selection Tool (press the A key on the keyboard.)
2. Click on the Keyframes to adjust the levels ( up or down) or the place in time (left or right).

Motion Keyframing

In the Canvas

1. In the Canvas click the square looking icon in the top on the window and set it to Image and Wireframe.
2. Set the Canvas size to 50%
3. Click the Add Motion Keyframe in the bottom right of the window. There should new be a green X over the clip in the Canvas window.
4. With the Selection Tool click on the video clip in the Canvas window and move it.
5. Move the Playhead ahead in time. and then move the video clip again.
6. Repeat the process to Keyframe the desired motion over time.

In the Viewer

1. Double click on a clip in the Timeline to open it in the viewer.
2. Click on the Motion tab.
3. The various motion settings can be keyframed with the Pen tool or by clicking the Ins/Del Keyframe button (diamond).

Linking

Normally the video and audio tracks of a clip are linked together. If you need to edit them separately they need to be unlinked.

Unlinking

1. With the Selection Tool select the clip in the Timeline.
2. Go to Modify > Link. There should be a check mark next to Link. After you select it the check mark will be turned off.
3. In the Timeline click in the background.
4. Select the audio or video track of the clip. It will be selected but the formally linked tracks.

Linking

1. With the Selection Tool select the video track of the clip in the Timeline.
2. Hold the Shift key and select the audio tracks of the clips.
3. Go to Modify > Link. There should not be a check mark next to Link. After you select it the check mark will be turned on.
4. In the Timeline click in the background.
5. Select the audio or video track of the clip. It will be selected all of the tracks of the clips.

Change Speed

1. In the Timeline right click on a clip.
2. Select Change Speed and a new window will open.
3. Change the settings as needed.
   1. Rate changes the speed.
   2. Check the Reverse box for reverse.
4. Click OK

Exporting

Export QuickTime

The Export QuickTime option is for exporting the sequence as the same format as the Sequence settings. This is a fast way to expert the video.

1. Select File > Export QuickTime Movie (Command + E).
2. Leave the settings at Current Settings.
3. Choose to export both audio and video, or one, or the other.
4. Check the box Make Movie Self Contained.
5. Name the movie and save into your folder.

Share

The Share menu is a way to export multiple version of a sequence, burn a DVD or upload to YouTube. All of the presets in Compressor are available from the Share menu.

1. Select a sequence or a clip in the Browser.
2. Go to File > Share (Shift+ Command + E).
3. Select where to save by choosing the Destination Folder by clicking the Choose button at the top of the window.
4. From the file type drop down menu select Quicktime H.264 – Exports a high quality H.26 file. Video settings: frame size, same as source, frame rate same as source

For more info see Share - FCP

MIsc Info

Finding Sources form the Internet

Downloading From Youtube

Youtube Downloading

Downloading from the Internet

Archive.org is a source for found footage. Download the highest resolution mp4 file and then use a Droplet to convert it to DV NTSC.

Screen Recording

On MML-Jeuet their is an application called Screenflow is for recording the computer screen in real time. This can be used to record videos which are available on line as streams but not for downloading

Capturing form VHS/DVD

• The 4 MML stations closest to the door have S-video and audio cables that are connected to the DV deck. A VCR or DVD player can be connected as needed.
• The other 8 main MML stations have VCR's connected to the DV decks.
• The Teaching Station has a DVD player connected to the DV deck.
• Jeunet has a VCR and DVD player connected to a video convertor.

Capturing VHS to Quicktime

Capturing VHS/DVD on Jeunet

Quicktime Editing

You can edit your video files in Quicktime to get smaller clips from a longer file.

1. Open the video file in QuickTime Player 7.
2. Set the playhead to the where you want the in-point and press the "i" key.
3. Set the playhead to the where you want the out-point and press the "o" key.
4. Go to Edit > Copy.
5. Go to File > New Player.
6. Go tot Edit > Paste.
7. Go to File > Save As and a dialogue window will open. Choose "Save as Self-Contained Movie" and choose a location to save the file.

Quicktime Editing

Droplets

Droplets are an easy way to use Compressor presets without opening Compressor. In the right side of the dock there is a folder with a red D icon which contains a variety of droplets.

1. Open the droplet you need to use.
2. Drag your source files to the Source Files well in the droplet window.
3. The default destination for the new files is the current location of the source files. Click Choose to select a different location.
4. Click Submit to convert the files.
5. Open Batch Monitor to monitor the progress of the conversion. In the Dock click on the Application Aliases folder and go to Media Utilities > Batch Monitor.