Apple Final Cut Pro - X User Guide

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Final Cut Pro X

User Guide

KKApple Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

Your rights to the software are governed by the accompanying software license agreement. The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of Final Cut Pro software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Apple is not responsible for printing or clerical errors.

Note: Because Apple frequently releases new versions and updates to its system software, applications, and Internet sites, images shown in this manual may be slightly different from what you see on your screen.

Apple

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019-2282/2012-01-31

Contents

13 Chapter 1:  What’s new in Final Cut Pro?

13What’s new in Final Cut Pro 10.0.3?

14What’s new in Final Cut Pro 10.0.1?

15Chapter 2:  Final Cut Pro basics

15What is Final Cut Pro?

16Final Cut Pro workflow overview

18 Final Cut Pro interface overview

21Media files and clips

22Events and projects

24 Chapter 3:  Import media

24Importing overview

25If it’s your first import

25 Import from connected devices

25 Import from file-based devices

30 Import spanned clips

33Import from iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

34Import from a digital still camera

35Import from tape-based devices

37If your device isn’t recognized

38Import from other applications

38Import from iMovie

39Import from iPhoto and Aperture

40Import from iTunes

40 Import from disks

40 Import from a hard disk

42 Access media on an archive or disk image

45Organize files while importing

46Import while recording

48About memory cards and cables

49Supported media formats

3

51 Chapter 4:  Analyze media

51 Analyzing media overview

51 Video and still-image analysis options

53 Audio analysis options

53 Analyze your media

55 View analysis keywords on clips

57 Chapter 5:  Organize your media

57Events and clips overview

58Organize Events

58Create a new Event

58Rename an Event

59Merge or split Events

60Copy or move clips between Events

60Copy or move Events

62Sort Events

63Delete clips or Events

64Organize clips

64View and sort clips

68Rename clips

70Rate clips as Favorite or Rejected

72Add keywords to clips

74Add or edit clip notes

76Organize clips by roles

76Find clips in the Event Browser

79Save searches as Smart Collections

81Organize Keyword and Smart Collections

82 Chapter 6:  Play back and skim media

82Playback and skimming overview

83Play back media

85 Skim media

87Use the J, K, and L keys

88Play back media in a loop

88Play video full screen

89View playback on a second display

90View playback on an external video monitor

91Playback and background rendering

91 Play your projects on other devices

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92 Chapter 7:  Create and manage projects

92 Create a new project

94 Preview and open a project

94 Modify a project’s name and properties

98 Organize projects in the Project Library

101Save projects

102Chapter 8:  Edit your project

102Editing overview

102Select clips and ranges

102About selections and filmstrips

103Select one or more clips

105 Select a range

108Add and remove clips

108Adding clips overview

109Drag clips to the Timeline

110Append clips to your project

110Insert clips in your project

113Connect clips to add cutaway shots, titles, and synchronized sound effects

117Overwrite parts of your project

118Replace a clip in your project with another clip

121Add and edit still images

122Add clips using video-only or audio-only mode

123Remove clips from your project

124Solo, disable, and enable clips

126Find a Timeline clip’s source clip

126Arrange clips in the Timeline

134Cut and trim clips

134Trimming overview

134Cut clips with the Blade tool

138Extend or shorten a clip

145Make roll edits with the Trim tool

147Make slip edits with the Trim tool

151Make slide edits with the Trim tool

154Show detailed trimming feedback

155View and navigate

155Zoom and scroll in the Timeline

157Adjust Timeline settings

159Navigate within your project

161Navigate using timecode

162Use the Timeline Index to view, navigate, and search your project

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5

 

 

166Add and remove markers

166Markers overview

167Add and remove markers

168Edit and move markers

170Jump between markers

170Correct excessive shake and rolling shutter issues

172 Chapter 9:  Add and adjust audio

172Audio overview

173Add audio

173Add music and sound

174Record audio

175Add and adjust audio effects

175Add audio effects

177Adjust audio effects

181Adjust audio effects using keyframes

192Adjust and enhance audio

192Adjust volume

194Enhance audio

197Fade audio in or out

201Pan audio

204Configure audio channels

205Match audio equalization settings

206Preserve pitch when retiming clips

206Audio tools and techniques

206View and correct audio levels

208About audio waveforms

208View audio waveforms at the audio sample level

210Ways to view audio clips

213Solo and mute audio clips

214Sync audio and video automatically

216Use roles to organize clips and export audio files

217 Chapter 10:  Add transitions, titles, effects, and generators

217Transitions, titles, effects, and generators overview

218Add and adjust transitions

218Transitions overview

219How transitions are created

220Set the default duration for transitions

221Add transitions to your project

224 Delete transitions from your project

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224 Adjust transitions in the Timeline

227Adjust transitions in the Transition inspector and Viewer

228Adjust transitions with multiple images

229Create specialized versions of transitions in Motion

229Add and adjust titles

229Titles overview

230Add titles to your project

232Adjust titles

234Remove titles from your project

235Find and replace text in your project

236Adjust built-in effects

236Built-in effects overview

236Resize, move, and rotate clips

238Trim clips

240Crop clips

241Pan and zoom clips

243Skew a clip’s perspective

244Work with built-in effects

250Add and adjust clip effects

250Clip effects overview

251Add effects to your project

252Adjust effects in Final Cut Pro

255Change clip effect order

257Turn off or remove an effect from a clip

257Create specialized versions of the video effects in Motion

258Add generators

258Generators overview

259Use a placeholder

260Use a timecode counter

261Use a shape

262Use a background

263Create specialized versions of the generators in Motion

264Use onscreen controls

264Onscreen controls overview

264Show or hide onscreen controls

265Onscreen control examples

270Use the Video Animation Editor

270Video animation overview

271Adjust video effects using keyframes

281Adjust effect curves using fade handles or keyframe animation

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285 Chapter 11:  Advanced editing

285Group clips with compound clips

285Compound clips overview

286Create and break apart compound clips

291Manage compound clips

294Add storylines

298Fine-tune edits with the Precision Editor

302Create split edits

308Make three-point edits

308Three-point editing overview

311Three-point edit examples

317Try out clips using auditions

317Auditions overview

318Create auditions to try out clips

320Add and remove clips in auditions

322Use auditions to try out clips in your project

326Retime clips to create speed effects

326Retiming clips overview

326Change clip speed

332Reverse or rewind clips

334Create instant replays

335Create freeze frames

336Reset retimed clips to play at normal speeds

336Edit with mixed-format media

339Use roles to manage clips

339Roles overview

340View and reassign roles

344Create custom roles and subroles

347View clips by role in the Timeline

350Use roles to export media stems

350Use XML to transfer projects and Events

351Edit with multicam clips

351Multicam editing overview

352Multicam editing workflow

354Import media for a multicam edit

354Assign camera names and multicam angles

355Create multicam clips in the Event Browser

361Cut and switch angles in the Angle Viewer

371Sync and adjust angles and clips in the Angle Editor

379Edit multicam clips in the Timeline and the Inspector

381Multicam editing tips and tricks

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382 Chapter 12:  Keying and compositing

382 Keying

382Keying overview

383Use chroma keys

394Use luma keys

401Finalize the key

405Compositing

405Compositing overview

405Use alpha channels

407Use Compositing settings

409 Chapter 13:  Color correction

409Color correction overview

410Analyze and balance color automatically

410Color balance overview

410Analyze a clip for color balance

412Balance a clip’s colors

412Match color between clips automatically

414Adjust color manually

414Manual color correction overview

414Color correct the whole image

417Target a specific color using a color mask

419Target specific areas using shape masks

422Add shape masks to a color mask

423Apply multiple color corrections

424Add a transition between color corrections

425Save and apply color correction presets

426Turn iMovie adjustments on or off

426Measure video levels

426Video scopes overview

427Use the video scopes

428Waveform Monitor display options

431Vectorscope display options

432Histogram display options

434 Chapter 14:  Share your project

434 Sharing projects overview

436 Share with other applications

436Use the Media Browser to share your project with iLife and iWork

437Play your project in iTunes, on mobile devices, or with Apple TV

438Email your project

439Publish your project to Podcast Producer

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440 Burn your project to a disc or create a disk image 444 Share on the web

444Publish your project to YouTube

445Publish your project to Facebook

446Publish your project to Vimeo

447Publish your project to CNN iReport

448Export your project

448 Export your project as media files

454 Export an image from your project

454Export your project as an image sequence

455Export your project for web streaming

456Export your project using Compressor

459Status of shared projects

459Shared projects overview

461Visit and announce shared projects

462Remove shared projects

462About Share Monitor

463 Chapter 15:  Manage media files

463Media management overview

464Where your media and project files are located

466Manage your media files

466View a clip’s information

467Relink clips to media files

473Transcode media files

476View background tasks

477Delete render files to free up disk space

478Manage your Events and project files

478Before you move or copy Events and projects

478Consolidate a project’s media files

479Back up projects, your Project Library, and Events

482Edit your project on a different computer

487Use SAN locations for Events and projects

488Create and manage camera archives

492Solutions to common media management issues

492Alert icons

494Common media management issues

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Contents

 

 

496 Chapter 16:  Preferences and metadata

496Preferences and metadata overview

496Final Cut Pro preferences

496Change preference settings

497Editing preferences

498Playback preferences

500 Import preferences

502 Work with metadata

502 Display and change metadata

504 Modify metadata views

506 Batch rename clips

509 Chapter 17:  Keyboard shortcuts and gestures

509 Keyboard shortcuts and Multi-Touch gestures overview

509 Keyboard shortcuts

526 Multi-Touch gestures

526 Customize keyboard shortcuts

526 View keyboard shortcuts in the Command Editor

530Modify keyboard shortcuts in the Command Editor

531Export and import command sets in the Command Editor

532Chapter 18:  Glossary

Contents

11

 

 

What’s new in Final Cut Pro?

1

 

 

 

What’s new in Final Cut Pro 10.0.3?

Final Cut Pro 10.0.3 includes major new features and enhancements, detailed below.

Multicam editing

You can now use multicam clips to edit footage from multicamera shoots or other synchronized footage in real time. Working with multicam clips in Final Cut Pro is a flexible and fluid process.While the active angle plays in the Viewer, you can also

view all angles playing simultaneously in the Angle Viewer and easily cut and switch between them. You can create multicam clips from diverse media sources and modify existing multicam clips during the editing process.

For more information, see “Multicam editing overview” on page 351.

A/V output

You can now connect your computer to an external video monitor for audio and video (A/V) output. In addition to showing you how video and audio look and sound on an

NTSC/PAL or HD broadcast monitor, this feature also allows you to test output with more sophisticated devices such as vectorscopes and waveform monitors.

A/V output is available only with OS X Lion v10.7.2 or later and requires compatible third-party video interface hardware and software. FireWire DV devices are not supported. For more information, contact the device manufacturer or go to the

Final Cut Pro X Resources webpage at http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/resources.

For more information, see “View playback on an external video monitor” on page 90.

Manual relinking of clips to media files

Now you can manually relink Event clips and project clips to media files. Manual relinking gives you more control over your post-production workflow.

For more information, see “Relink clips to media files” on page 467.

13

Other notable features

ÂÂ Layered graphics files, such as Adobe Photoshop (PSD) files, can now be edited so that each layer appears as a connected clip in the Timeline.

ÂÂ Advanced Keyer controls are now available.

ÂÂ Keyframing controls are improved in the Video and Audio Animation Editors.

What’s new in Final Cut Pro 10.0.1?

Final Cut Pro 10.0.1 includes a number of new features, enhancements, and changes.

The most significant features are introduced below.

Roles

You can use the new roles metadata labels to organize clips in your Events and projects, control the appearance of the Timeline, and export separate video or audio files (also known as media stems) for broadcast delivery, audio mixing, or post-production. For example, you can export roles as media stems in a combined,

multitrack QuickTime file, or as separate audio or video files. During the export process you can assign mono, stereo, or surround output for your audio channels.

For more information, see “Roles overview” on page 339 and “Export your project as media files” on page 448.

Storage area network (SAN) locations

You can now add network volumes as storage locations for Events and projects. When you remove SAN locations in Final Cut Pro, other users on the network can work with the Events and projects stored on those locations.

For more information, see “Use SAN locations for Events and projects” on page 487.

XML export and import

Final Cut Pro now supports XML import and export so that you can transfer your project and Event information to and from systems and third-party applications that don’t recognize Final Cut Pro projects and Events.

For more information, see “Use XML to transfer projects and Events” on page 350.

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Chapter 1    What’s new in Final Cut Pro?

 

 

Apple Final Cut Pro - X User Guide

Final Cut Pro basics

2

 

 

 

What is Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro X is a revolutionary application for creating, editing, and producing the highest-quality video. Final Cut Pro combines high-performance digital editing and native support for virtually any video format with easy-to-use and time-saving features that let you focus on storytelling.

In Final Cut Pro, you can:

ÂÂ Edit everything from uncompressed standard-definition video to HDV, DVCPRO HD, and uncompressed high-definition video—as well as file-based formats such as AVC-Intra, AVCHD, and XDCAM HD.

ÂÂ Play back and skim resolution-independent media up to 4K resolution. You can also play your video full screen or on a second display.

ÂÂ Assemble clips with ease using the Magnetic Timeline, which fluidly adjusts clips around the clip you’re dragging to eliminate gaps, collisions, and sync problems.

ÂÂ Edit quickly with the complete set of professional editing and trimming tools. Fine-tune edits with the inline Precision Editor.

15

ÂÂ Have Final Cut Pro analyze your video and nondestructively fix common problems such as camera shake, excess hum, or loudness. You can also have Final Cut Pro detect the presence of people or the shot type, and automatically apply keywords such as One Person or Wide Shot.

ÂÂ Organize your media using Keyword Collections, which automatically group clips based on keywords, and Smart Collections, which automatically group clips based on criteria you specify.

ÂÂ Try out clips in your project using auditions—sets of alternate takes, effects, or text treatments—and then choose the best clip for the edit.

ÂÂ Create compound clips to group any combination of clips, and nest clips within other clips.

ÂÂ Use connected clips and storylines to add cutaway shots, superimposed titles, and sound effects to your project. Connected clips and storylines always stay in sync.

ÂÂ Add special effects to video, audio, and photos, and adjust them using keyframes and onscreen controls. You can also change clip speed to create fast-motion or slow-motion effects.

ÂÂ Automatically balance and match color, or use the color correction tools to precisely control the look of any clip in your project.

ÂÂ Publish your project directly to websites such as YouTube and Facebook, or send your project to iTunes for syncing with Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

Final Cut Pro workflow overview

To give you an idea of the possibilities, the overall process for putting together a movie with Final Cut Pro is described below. You don’t have to do every step, and you might do others that aren’t listed.The workflow isn’t necessarily linear.You could, for example, go all the way through editing and adding effects, and then import more new media for your project.

Import your media into Final Cut Pro

To use Final Cut Pro, you need to transfer your media (video, audio, and still images) from your recording device to your computer or an external disk. You can import media from many kinds of cameras and other devices, or from other applications such as iMovie.

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Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics

 

 

Organize your media

Final Cut Pro automatically organizes your imported media into Events. An Event is like a folder that contains all the media recorded on a certain date. In Final Cut Pro, your media appears as clips, which link to the media files stored on a disk.You can reorganize your clips by creating or renaming Events and moving clips between Events. For example, you could create an Event for all the media shot for a specific client.

As you review your footage, you can easily rate clips as Favorite or Rejected. These ratings make it easier to focus on your best footage. Final Cut Pro also offers other useful organizing tools, such as Keyword Collections and Smart Collections.

Create a project and add clips to it

Your project is the movie you create using clips from your Events and from the

Final Cut Promedia browsers. Start creating your movie by adding clips to the Timeline.

You make all your edits in the project; your original media files remain untouched (this is known as nondestructive editing).

Arrange and edit your clips

Now your movie can really begin to take shape. To assemble a rough cut, rearrange and trim clips in the Timeline.You can also try out different clips using auditions.

Use connected clips and storylines to add cutaway shots, titles, background music, and sound effects to your project. Create compound clips to group any combination of clips and nest clips within other clips. You can simplify a complicated project by creating a separate compound clip for each major section.

Add effects and transitions

Add special effects from the ample collection of video and audio effects in the Final Cut Pro media browsers. Give your movie titles and credits, and apply video or audio transitions. Adjust clip speed settings to create fast-motion or slow-motion effects.

To further polish your project, you can fine-tune cuts and transitions with the Precision Editor, keyframe video and audio effects, correct color, and composite motion graphics.

Share your movie

When your project is finished, you can publish your movie right from Final Cut Pro to the web, or send it to iTunes, iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Apple TV. You can also burn a disc to give to others.

Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics

17

 

 

Final Cut Pro interface overview

The Final Cut Pro window has three main areas:

 

Event Browser: Access all

 

Viewer: Play back

 

the source media you import.

 

clips and projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magnetic Timeline: Edit your movie in this area.

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Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics

 

 

Organize media in the Event Library and Event Browser

All your imported media is available in the Event Library. (An Event is like a folder that contains clips.)

When you select an Event in the Event Library, its clips appear in the Event Browser on the right.

Event Library: Select an Event to view its media on the right.

Event Browser: View and sort the clips in the selected Event.

You can reorganize your media however you like at any time, and you can use the

Event Library and the Event Browser to manage, rate, sort, and add keywords to your imported media. For more information, see “Events and clips overview” on page 57.

Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics

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Play back clips and projects in the Viewer

The Viewer is where you play back your video, including clips and projects with up to 4K resolution. You can play back Events, projects, or individual clips in full-screen view or on a second display. For information about ways to play media, see “Play back media” on page 83.

Resolution-independent playback:

Play back video files up to 4K.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onscreen controls:

Full-screen playback:

 

 

 

 

Adjust effects such as

Play your video full screen,

 

 

Transform, Crop, and Distort.

or on a second display.

 

You can also use onscreen controls, superimposed over the video in the Viewer, to adjust settings for a wide array of effects and transitions.

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Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics

 

 

Edit your project in the Magnetic Timeline

The bottom portion of the Final Cut Pro window contains the Timeline, where you create your movie by adding and arranging clips and making all your edits. The

Timeline in Final Cut Pro“magnetically”adjusts clips to fit around clips that you drag into place. If you drag clips out of place, the surrounding clips close up to fill the space.

A Final Cut Pro project holds all of the information for your final movie, including your editing decisions and links to all the source clips and Events. For more information about editing your project, see “Adding clips overview” on page 108 and “Arrange clips in the Timeline” on page 126.

Toolbar: Perform

 

Connected clips: Add titles and

common tasks by

 

cutaway shots. In the Magnetic

clicking a button.

 

Timeline, everything stays in sync.

 

 

 

 

Primary storyline: Add and arrange clips to construct your movie.

Audio clips: Add music and sound effects as connected clips.

Media files and clips

After you’ve imported media into Final Cut Pro, clips representing the source media files appear in the Event Browser. A large Event may hold many clips.

Media files are the raw materials you use to create your project. A media file is a video, audio, still-image, or graphics file on your hard disk that contains footage transferred from a camcorder or recording device or originally created on your computer. Media files can contain multiple video and audio components. Because media files— especially video files—tend to be quite large, projects that use a lot of footage require one or more high-capacity hard disks.

Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics

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Clips represent your media, but they are not the media files themselves.The clips in a project simply point to (link to) the source media files on your hard disk.When you modify a clip, you are not modifying the media file, just the clip’s information in the project. This is known as nondestructive editing, because all of the changes and effects you apply to clips in Final Cut Pro never affect the media itself.Trimmed or deleted pieces of clips are removed from your project only, not from the source clips in your

Event Library or from the source media files on your hard disk.

Media files on your hard disk

Toy1.mov

Event clips

Toy1

 

Project 1

 

Project 2

 

 

 

Project 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toy1

Toy1

Toy1

Events and projects

In Final Cut Pro X, you use Events to collect and organize media. Events are like folders that contain unedited media imported from a camera or some other source.

You use projects to edit and construct movies and share them with your audience. A project is a record of the work you do in the Timeline and the editing decisions you make. When you add a clip from an Event to a particular project, you create a link between the source Event clip and the corresponding project clip (and, by extension, between the Event and the project). However, neither the Event nor the source clip is contained within the project. You can use that Event clip in other projects, and your project can use clips from other Events.

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The illustration below shows the relationship between Events and projects:

Final Cut Pro X keeps track of the links between project clips and their source Event clips, but projects and Events remain independent.

Event

Project

Event

Event

Project

 

Event

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Import media

3

 

 

 

Importing overview

Importing media into Final Cut Pro is the first step toward making your movie.With

Final Cut Pro, you can:

ÂÂ Import from a file-based (tapeless) camera or device

ÂÂ Import from iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

ÂÂ Import from a tape-based camcorder or device

ÂÂ Import from iMovie

ÂÂ Import from iPhoto and Aperture ÂÂ Import from iTunes

ÂÂ Import from a hard disk

ÂÂ Import from a camera archive

During import, you assign your media to an Event. You can also transcode your media and analyze your media for a variety of issues, such as identifying shaky video, the presence of people and shot type, and problematic audio issues.

When you import clips (video, audio, or still images), Final Cut Pro assigns one of five default roles to the video and audio components of each clip: Video, Titles, Dialogue,

Music, and Effects. For more information, see“View and reassign roles” on page 340.

If you want to quickly back up your media (instead of taking the time to import it), you can create an archive.

24

If it’s your first import

The first time you open Final Cut Pro, it contains no media, no projects, and a single

Event. Buttons appear in the Event Browser to help you quickly import Events from iMovie, media from your hard disk or a connected external storage device, or media directly from a connected camera.

Import media into an empty Event

Do one of the following:

mm To import Events from iMovie: Click the Import iMovie Events button and follow the instructions for importing iMovie Events.

mm To import media files:Click the Import Files button and follow the instructions for importing media files.

mm To import files from a connected camera or device:Click the Import From Camera button and follow the instructions for importing files from a connected file-based camera or device, from a tape-based camera or device, or from a camera archive.

Import from connected devices

Import from file-based devices

File-based camcorders and cameras can record video, audio, and still images. These kinds of devices, which record to flash-based storage media, hard disk drives (HDD), and so on, usually connect to your computer via a USB cable. Some devices have removable memory cards that you can insert into your computer instead.

Chapter 3    Import media

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If your file-based device provides a clip-spanning feature, you can import all of the media as one spanned clip.

To check whether your camera is compatible with Final Cut Pro, go to the Final Cut Pro X Supported Cameras webpage at http://help.apple.com/finalcutpro/cameras.

Import from a file-based camcorder, camera, or device

1 Do one of the following:

ÂÂ Connect your camcorder, camera, or device to your computer, using the cable that came with the device, and turn it on.

If you’re using a camcorder, set it to PC Connect mode. (The name of this transfer mode may be different on your device.) Your camcorder may automatically go into “connect” mode if you turn it on in playback mode while it’s connected to your computer. For more information, see the documentation that came with your camcorder.

Note: Connecting a DVD camcorder to your Mac can cause the DVD Player application to open. If that happens, simply close DVD Player.

ÂÂ Remove the memory card from your camcorder or device and insert it into the card slot on your Mac (if it has one) or into an external card reader.

For more information about memory cards, see “About memory cards and cables” on page 48.

2In Final Cut Pro, do one of the following:

ÂÂ Choose File > Import from Camera (or press Command-I).

ÂÂ Click the Import from Camera button on the left end of the toolbar.

The Camera Import window appears, displaying all the media on your device.

If your media does not appear in the Camera Import window, try importing the media as files.

3If necessary, select your camcorder, camera, or device from the list of devices on the left.

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Chapter 3    Import media

 

 

The media on the device appears at the bottom of the Camera Import window. You can preview the media by either playing it using the playback controls or skimming it by moving the pointer forward or backward over a filmstrip.

Playback controls

The media on the

 

 

Change the way clips appear

 

device appears here.

 

 

using these controls.

4Do one of the following:

ÂÂ To import all clips:Click Import All.

ÂÂ To import only some of the clips:Select each clip you want to import by Commandclicking each thumbnail, and click Import Selected (the Import button changes its name).

∏∏Tip: To select several clips located together, you can drag around the clips to enclose them with the selection rectangle.

ÂÂ To import a portion of one clip:Drag inside the clip to select the range that you want, and click Import Selected.

∏∏Tip: You can also select a clip, press the Space bar to play the clip, and press either I to set a start point or O to set an end point.

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5In the window that appears, choose how you want to organize the imported media in your Event Library:

ÂÂ To add the imported clips to an existing Event:Select “Add to existing Event,” and choose it from the pop-up menu.

ÂÂ To create a new Event: Select “Create new Event” and type a name (for example,

“Chris and Kim Wedding”) in the text field; then choose the disk where you want to store the Event from the “Save to” pop-up menu.

To learn more about Events, see “Events and clips overview” on page 57.

6If you want to organize your media, transcode your media, analyze the video, or analyze the audio, select the relevant checkboxes.

If you don’t set Final Cut Pro to analyze your media during the import process, you can analyze it later (if necessary) in the Event Browser.

7Click Import.

Final Cut Pro imports your media in the background. If you selected any options in the previous step, Final Cut Pro transcodes and optimizes the files after the import process is complete. You can view the progress of the background tasks in the Background Tasks window.

8To begin working with your clips, close the Camera Import window so you can access the Event Browser.

You can create an archive from your file-based camera or device, recording everything on the tape from beginning to end and saving the captured clips as an archive. For more information, see “Create and manage camera archives” on page 488.

Reimport a clip

Two situations warrant reimporting a clip:

ÂÂ If the clip was not completely imported:If you cancel or quit Final Cut Pro before an import is finished, a Camera icon appears on the bottom-left corner of the clip.

This icon indicates that Final Cut Pro is using the media on the camera for playback

(instead of using the QuickTime file that was created during import).

Camera icon

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To play a clip with a Camera icon, Final Cut Pro locates the media on either a connected camera or in a connected, available camera archive. (See “Access media on an archive or disk image” on page 42 for more information.) If Final Cut Pro can’t locate the media in one of those locations, the clip will go offline and display the Missing Camera alert icon.

ÂÂ If the clip’s source media file is not available:If a clip’s source media file is moved or deleted, or the volume it is located on is disconnected from the computer, a Missing

File icon is displayed on the clip. To restore the clip, you can reimport it.

See “Alert icons” on page 492 for more information about alert icons.

When you reimport a clip, Final Cut Pro automatically connects to the necessary camera or camera archive. There is no need to manually mount a camera archive before reimporting.

1Do one of the following:

ÂÂ Connect the camera that contains the clip to your computer, and turn it on. This will bring the clip online, but the clip will still display the Camera icon in the lower-left corner.

ÂÂ Insert the memory card that contains the clip in your computer or connected card reader.

See “About memory cards and cables” on page 48 for more information.

ÂÂ Make sure the camera archive that contains the clip is located in one of the

Final Cut Pro camera archives.

See “Create and manage camera archives” on page 488 for more information.

2In Final Cut Pro, do one of the following:

ÂÂ To reimport one clip:Select the clip in the Event Browser.

ÂÂ To reimport all clips in an Event:Select the Event the clip belongs to in the Event Browser sidebar.

3Choose File > Import > Reimport from Camera/Archive. The clip or clips are reimported.

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Import spanned clips

Some file-based camcorders or devices that have more than one memory card slot can record one shot over multiple memory cards. The resulting shot is called a spanned clip.

A good way to import a spanned clip into Final Cut Pro is to attach your camera or card reader to your local system and create a camera archive for each memory card. You can store the camera archives on your local system or on an external storage device until you are ready to import the spanned clip. (Even if you are importing the spanned clip immediately, it’s useful to make the camera archive so you have a backup of the footage that makes up the spanned clip.) Then, when you’re ready to import, you can mount all of the camera archives and import the spanned clip.

Create a camera archive for each memory card

1Connect your camcorder or camera to your computer and turn it on, or connect your card reader and memory card to your computer. If you’ll be saving the camera archives to an external storage device, connect that as well.

2In Final Cut Pro, do one of the following:

ÂÂ Choose File > Import from Camera (or press Command-I).

ÂÂ Click the Import from Camera button on the left end of the toolbar.

The Camera Import window appears.

3Select a memory card to archive from the list of cameras on the left.

4Click the Create Archive button at the bottom-left corner of the window.

5In the“Create Camera Archive as”field, type a name for the archive.

6Choose a location to save the archive from the Destination pop-up menu, and click OK.

Note: It is recommended that you save your archive to a disk or partition different from the one where you store the media files used with Final Cut Pro.

7Repeat steps 3-6 to create camera archives for each of the memory cards that contain a portion of the spanned clip.

The camera archives appear in the Camera Archives list in the Camera Import window.

See “Create and manage camera archives” on page 488 for more information about creating camera archives.

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