Apple FINAL CUT SERVER User Manual
Final Cut Server
User Manual
K
Apple Inc.
Copyright © 2008 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 Server
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
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publication or for providing paid for support services.
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without the prior written consent of Apple may
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Note:
Because Apple frequently releases new versions
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Apple Inc.
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408-996-1010
www.apple.com
Apple, the Apple logo, DVD Studio Pro, Final Cut,
Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Studio, FireWire, iDVD, Keynote,
Mac, Macintosh, Mac OS, Pages, QuickTime, Soundtrack,
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Production stills from the film “Koffee House Mayhem”
provided courtesy of Jean-Paul Bonjour. “Koffee House
Mayhem” © 2004 Jean-Paul Bonjour. All rights reserved.
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© 2006 Jean-Paul Bonjour. All rights reserved.
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1
Contents
Preface 7 Welcome to Final Cut Server
7
About Final Cut Server
9
Resources for Learning About Final Cut Server
11
Contacting AppleCare Support
Chapter 1 13 About Final Cut Server
14
The Final Cut Server Client Workflow
15
Installing the Final Cut Server Client
15
The Final Cut Server Main Window
17
Views for Assets and Productions Panes
20
Search Options and Saved Searches
21
Asset Info Window
22
Final Cut Pro Project Info Window
22
Final Cut Studio Project Info Window
23
Production Info Window
24
Annotations Window
25
Downloads & Uploads Window
25
Search All Jobs Window
26
Search Devices Window
27
Preferences Window
28
Using Shortcut Menus in Final Cut Server
28
Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Final Cut Server
Chapter 2 29 Uploading Files to Final Cut Server
29
About Creating Final Cut Server Assets
30
Types of Files That Can Be Uploaded to Final Cut Server
30
About Metadata and Metadata Sets
31
Strategies for Uploading Media and Project Files
Uploading Media Files
32
37
Uploading Final Cut Pro Projects
40
Uploading Final Cut Studio Projects
3
Chapter 3 49 Organizing and Searching the Final Cut Server Catalog
49
An Overview of the Final Cut Server Asset Catalog
54
Organizing Assets with Productions
58
Using Metadata to Organize and Search Assets
60
Searching in Final Cut Server
68
Displaying Search Results
69
Tracking the Status of an Asset or Production with Metadata
71
Adding and Changing Asset Metadata
72
Searching Devices and Jobs
Chapter 4 77 Working in Final Cut Server
78
Final Cut Server Client Actions
79
About the Asset Info Window
83
Viewing an Asset
85
Adding Versions for a Media or Project Asset
87
Locking and Unlocking an Asset
92
Writing Annotations on a Video Asset
96
Duplicating an Asset
97
Using the Edit-in-Place Feature
97
Monitoring Jobs
10 0
Setting Final Cut Server Client Preferences
Chapter 5 103 Working with Media Assets
10 3
About Caching
10 5
Checking Out, Editing, and Checking In a Media Asset
10 7
Preparing Media Assets To Be Used on a Computer That Is Not Connected to the
Final Cut Server Network
111
Exporting Media Assets
Chapter 6 113 Working with Final Cut Pro Projects
11 4
About Final Cut Pro Projects
11 5
Using Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Server Together
117
Moving Final Cut Pro Projects Between Final Cut Server and Final Cut Pro
11 8
Checking Out a Final Cut Pro Project
12 0
Editing a Checked Out Project in Final Cut Pro
121
Checking In a Final Cut Pro Project
12 3
Making Versions of Final Cut Pro Project Assets
12 4
Working on Final Cut Pro Projects While Away from the Final Cut Server Network
12 7
Exporting a Final Cut Pro Project
4
Contents
Chapter 7 129 Working with Final Cut Studio Projects
12 9
About Editing Final Cut Studio Project Assets
13 0
Checking Out, Editing, and Checking In Bundle Assets
13 2
Checking Out, Editing, and Checking In Final Cut Studio Projects and Their Media Files
13 7
Exporting a Project Asset and Its Media
Chapter 8 141 Using Status Metadata in the Final Cut Server Workflow
141
Using Status Metadata to Track Assets and Productions
14 6
About the Review and Approve Feature
14 7
Using the Review and Approve Feature
Chapter 9 153 Exporting, Archiving, and Deleting Completed Assets and Projects
15 3
Outputting a Final Project
15 6
Archiving and Restoring Media Assets
15 8
Deleting Assets from Final Cut Server
Glossary 161
Index 165
Contents
5
Welcome to Final Cut Server
This chapter covers the following:
Â
About Final Cut Server (p. 7)
Â
Resources for Learning About Final Cut Server (p. 9)
Â
Contacting AppleCare Support (p. 11)
Final Cut Server is powerful media asset management and workflow automation
software. Final Cut Server can manage your assets and refine the processes in your
organization’s workflow, freeing you from the repetitive tasks of managing media and
projects. It can be customized by your Final Cut Server administrator to automate
common tasks. Whether you’re running a small production studio or are part of a larger
workgroup, Final Cut Server can streamline your organization’s workflow.
About Final Cut Server
Final Cut Server works similarly to other client-server computer networks. A client
computer sends a request to the server computers. Upon receiving the request, the
server computer performs a job to process the request and then sends the result (or
message of completion of the job) back to the client computer. Jobs can include
uploading, copying, transcoding, cataloging, and otherwise tracking media files. Media
can be stored on the server computer’s internal and external drives as well as on many
supported network devices. Larger facilities may use an Apple Xsan storage area
network (SAN) for asset and production storage.
Preface
The Final Cut Server client is the focus of this user manual. The Final Cut Server client is
software that communicates with the Final Cut Server server. The client allows you, one
of multiple users, to access the assets shared across your organization’s system. In your
Final Cut Server client, you can quickly search your organization’s asset catalog and
transfer media files between your local computer and the devices on which the assets
are stored. You can run the Final Cut Server client on Mac OS X v10.4 and Windows XP
or Windows Vista operating systems.
7
The Final Cut Server client provides many features to help you manage your media.
These features all use Final Cut Server assets. When you upload a media or project file
to Final Cut Server, an asset is created for it. This asset contains metadata, the original
file (called the primary representation file), and proxy copies of the primary
representation file that are used within Final Cut Server.
Final Cut Server can help you do the following tasks:
Â
Find the assets you need.
As the number of assets in your Final Cut Server catalog
increases, creating and managing searches becomes more important.
Final Cut Server provides multiple ways to search and organize the assets in your
organization’s Final Cut Server catalog.
Â
Have immediate access to media.
Final Cut Server provides immediate access to media
from the Final Cut Server client software. You can easily get information and view a
media asset from the client software. If you want to edit the media asset, you can
check out a Final Cut Server–managed copy of the file to your local computer, edit it,
and then check it back in to Final Cut Server. Because Final Cut Server is managing
the checked out file, the new edits are tracked by Final Cut Server.
Â
Track the status of media.
Final Cut Server provides metadata fields and saved
searches to help you track assets as they move through your organization’s workflow.
Your Final Cut Server administrator can further customize the metadata fields to
increase the effectiveness of asset tracking for your organization.
Â
Perform powerful media conversion.
Final Cut Server uses Compressor, a powerful
transcoding application that is part of Final Cut Studio, to convert media from one
video format to another when uploading, exporting, and copying media files.
Â
Work while not connected to the Final Cut Server network.
You can check out
Final Cut Server–managed project and media files and then edit them while not
connected to the Final Cut Server network. When you later connect to the
Final Cut Server network, you can check the edited files back in to Final Cut Server.
When you check in the files, the assets that track the files are updated with the new files.
This user manual covers what users can do with the Final Cut Server client. For
information about administering and customizing Final Cut Server, read the
Final Cut Server Setup and Administration Guide
system administrators.
8 Preface
, a document written for Final Cut Server
Welcome to Final Cut Server
Resources for Learning About Final Cut Server
There are a variety of resources for you to use when learning about your
Final Cut Server system.
Final Cut Server Printed Documentation
This guide is one of two printed documents that are included with Final Cut Server.
Â
Final Cut Server User Manual:
Final Cut Server client for the day-to-day use of the system, such as browsing assets,
managing jobs, and managing productions.
Â
Final Cut Server Setup and Administration Guide:
configure, and administer most components of the Final Cut Server system. It does
not describe day-to-day use of the system, such as browsing assets and managing
jobs, productions, and orders, which are described in the
Final Cut Server Onscreen Manual
An onscreen version of the
client’s Help menu.
The content of the onscreen versions of this documentation is identical to the printed
version. The onscreen version, however, is fully hyperlinked and enhanced with many
features that make locating information quick and easy:
Â
The access page provides quick access to various features, including the index and
other relevant documents and websites.
Â
A comprehensive bookmark list allows you to quickly choose what you want to see
and takes you there as soon as you click the link.
This user manual describes how to use the
This guide describes how to install,
Final Cut Server User Manual.
Final Cut Server User Manual
is available for all users from the
In addition to these navigational tools, the onscreen document gives you other means
to locate information quickly:
Â
All cross-references in the text are linked. You can click any cross-reference and jump
immediately to that location. Then, you can use the Preview Back button to return to
where you were before you clicked the cross-reference.
Â
The table of contents and index are also linked. If you click an entry in either of these
sections, you jump directly to that section of the document.
Â
You can search the text for specific words or phrases.
Preface
Welcome to Final Cut Server
9
Apple Websites
There are a variety of Apple websites that you can visit to find additional information.
Final Cut Server Website
Go here for general information and updates as well as the latest news on
Final Cut Server.
To access the Final Cut Server website, go to:
Â
http://www.apple.com/finalcutserver
There are also a variety of discussion boards, forums, and educational resources related
to Final Cut Server on the web.
Apple Service and Support Website
Go here for software updates and answers to the most frequently asked questions for all
Apple products, including Final Cut Server. You’ll also have access to product specifications,
reference documentation, and Apple and third-party product technical articles.
To access the Apple Service and Support webpage, go to:
Â
http://www.apple.com/support
To access the Final Cut Server support page, go to:
Â
http://www.apple.com/support/finalcutserver
To access the Apple discussion pages, go to:
Â
http://discussions.info.apple.com
10 Preface
Welcome to Final Cut Server
Contacting AppleCare Support
Information about the support options available from Apple is included in your
Final Cut Server box. Several levels of support are available.
Whatever your issue, it’s a good idea to have the following information immediately
available when you contact Apple for support. The more of this information you have
to give to the support agents, the faster they will be able to address your issue.
 The Final Cut Server Support ID number found on the front of the serial number
sheet included in your Final Cut Server box.
Note: The 11-digit Support ID number is different from the product serial number
used to install Final Cut Server.
 The version of Leopard or Leopard Server you have installed. To find the version,
choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
 The version of Final Cut Server you have installed that you have a question about. To
find the version of Final Cut Server on your computer, choose Final Cut Server >
About Final Cut Server.
 The model of computer you are using.
 The amount of RAM installed in your computer. You can determine this by choosing
Apple menu > About This Mac.
 What other third-party hardware is connected to or installed in the computer, and
who the manufacturers are. Include hard drives, graphics cards, and so on.
To access AppleCare Support for Final Cut Server, go to:
 http://www.apple.com/support/finalcutserver
There is also an item in each Final Cut Server client’s Help menu that will take you
directly to the AppleCare website.
To go to the AppleCare website from within a Final Cut Server client:
m Choose Help > Final Cut Server Support.
Preface Welcome to Final Cut Server 11
1 About Final Cut Server
This chapter covers the following:
 The Final Cut Server Client Workflow (p. 14)
 Installing the Final Cut Server Client (p. 15)
 The Final Cut Server Main Window (p. 15)
 Views for Assets and Productions Panes (p. 17)
 Search Options and Saved Searches (p. 20)
 Asset Info Window (p. 21)
 Final Cut Pro Project Info Window (p. 22)
 Final Cut Studio Project Info Window (p. 22)
 Production Info Window (p. 23)
 Annotations Window (p. 24)
 Downloads & Uploads Window (p. 25)
 Search All Jobs Window (p. 25)
 Search Devices Window (p. 26)
 Preferences Window (p. 27)
 Using Shortcut Menus in Final Cut Server (p. 28)
 Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Final Cut Server (p. 28)
1
This chapter provides an overview of the Final Cut Server client, including information
about the Final Cut Server workflow, how to install the Final Cut Server client, and
descriptions of the Final Cut Server user interface. You can use this chapter to orient
yourself while learning to use Final Cut Server. You’ll find more information about the
features described in this chapter in the following chapters.
13
The Final Cut Server Client Workflow
Final Cut Server makes it easy for users to find, access, and track media and project files,
as well as transcode media and easily check in and check out assets for editing.
While different organizations perform each of these tasks slightly differently, the typical
Final Cut Server workflow involves four steps.
Step 1: Organize existing media and upload new media
The project you’re working on might use media that has already been uploaded to
Final Cut Server, or it may require new media. Media can be uploaded using an
automated scan set up by your administrator or uploaded manually by any person in
your organization.
Step 2: Edit the media and project
This step of editing within your organization can include creating and editing a
Final Cut Pro project, creating and revising artwork and graphic overlays or motion
effects, or other workflows your organization uses to create projects for client review.
The final part of this step involves putting all the finished pieces together into a review
copy of the project.
Step 3: Review and approve the project
This step may involve your coworkers or clients logging into Final Cut Server and
viewing the project or sending copies of the project out for review. If your
Final Cut Server administrator has configured your system to automatically send out
Review and Approve emails, they are used in this step.
Step 4: Output and archive the final media and project
This step includes creating backup copies of the assets and archiving the final assets in
Final Cut Server.
Final Cut Server can be customized to meet the specific needs of your organization’s
workflow. For more information, contact your Final Cut Server administrator.
14 Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server
Installing the Final Cut Server Client
Your Final Cut Server administrator will provide you with a URL from which you can
download a copy of the Final Cut Server client to your computer. Your administrator
will also give you a user name and password for the Final Cut Server client.
After downloading the Final Cut Server client, a login screen appears. You can log in
to Final Cut Server using the user name and password provided by your
Final Cut Server administrator.
You can log out of the Final Cut Server client by choosing Log Out from the Server
pop-up menu, or by clicking the close button in the Final Cut Server main window.
After the Final Cut Server client is installed on your computer, you can open it by
double-clicking the application icon that appears in the location where you installed
the application.
The Final Cut Server Main Window
After logging in to Final Cut Server, you’ll see the Assets pane of the Final Cut Server main
window. The Assets pane may be empty or filled with media that has been scanned by
your Final Cut Server administrator or uploaded by other Final Cut Server users.
The Server pop-up menu
The Window pop-up
menu
The Assets and
Productions panes each
has a Toolbar.
Click this button to
show or hide the
Information pane.
Note: The screen shots shown in this manual show a default Final Cut Server system.
Because your Final Cut Server administrator can configure different media types and
metadata fields, your system may look different than the system shown on these pages.
The Help pop-up menu
Click this button to open
the Downloads &
Uploads window.
Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server 15
The Assets pane and Productions pane are the two views of the Final Cut Server main
window. An asset is used by Final Cut Server to track every file that is uploaded to the
server or scanned. The Assets pane shows all the assets that Final Cut Server is
managing. Productions are used to group assets. The Productions pane shows all the
productions that have been created by you or other people who use your
Final Cut Server system.
You switch between the Assets and Productions panes by clicking either Assets or
Productions at the top left of the Final Cut Server main window.
Assets Pane
After clicking Assets, all of the assets that exist in Final Cut Server are listed in the main
part of the window. You can move through the assets by clicking the page controls in
the top-right corner of the Assets pane. The Toolbar includes the Lock button, the
Check Out button, and the New Production from Selection button. After selecting an
asset, these buttons become active.
The Lock button
Click Assets to see the
Assets pane.
The Information pane
shows information about
any jobs that are in
progress.
The Check Out
button
The New Production
from Selection button
Move through multiple
pages of assets using
these controls.
Assets are
here.
To learn more about media assets, see Chapter 5, “Working with Media Assets,” on
page 103. To learn more about Final Cut Pro project assets, see Chapter 6, “Working
with Final Cut Pro Projects,” on page 113. To learn more about Final Cut Studio project
assets, see Chapter 7, “Working with Final Cut Studio Projects,” on page 129.
16 Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server
Click Productions to see
the Productions pane.
Productions Pane
The Productions pane varies somewhat from the Assets pane. Its Toolbar has a New
Production button.
The Production Toolbar has
a New Production button.
Productions
are shown
here.
To learn more about productions, see “Organizing Assets with Productions” on page 54.
Views for Assets and Productions Panes
The Assets and Productions panes can be displayed as lists or thumbnails. You can
change the view by clicking the List View button or Thumbnail View button.
Thumbnail View button
List View button
Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server 17
This video asset is
represented with a
thumbnail image.
Thumbnail View
Thumbnail view displays a thumbnail image of the asset. The thumbnail image can be
a frame from the video file that was uploaded, the graphics or image file that was
uploaded, or an icon representing the type of asset or application the asset was
created in. Thumbnail view is useful when you want to browse a number of assets or
productions in a compact format without other information.
This Final Cut Pro project
asset is represented with
Thumbnail view selected
a Final Cut Pro icon.
List View
List view displays the asset Title and other metadata in columns. This view is useful
when you want to view asset or production information or sort by any field.
List view selected
18 Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server
Final Cut Server marks assets and productions with icons to identify them. In
Thumbnail view, the icons appear on the asset or production tile, just above the
thumbnail image or icon. In List view, the icons appear to the left of the Title column
and in the State column.
The icons you’ll see on assets and productions include:
Icon Description
Final Cut Pro project asset
Media (video) asset
Media (graphic or still image) asset
Media (audio) asset
Asset (generic) or bundle asset
Asset checked out by me
Asset checked out by another user
Asset locked by me
Asset locked by another user
Asset archived (yellow) indicates you can restore this asset from its
archive
Asset archived (white) indicates you do not have permission to
restore the asset from its archive
Unlinked Final Cut Pro project element
Primary representation for this asset is missing from its device
Final Cut Server cache is out of date
For specific information about these icons, see the chapter that describes the type of
asset or the state that the icon describes.
Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server 19
Search Options and Saved Searches
A search field is at the top of the Assets and Productions panes. You can use this search
field to find a specific asset or production, or to limit the number of assets or
productions shown.
Close the disclosure
triangle to show only the
simple search settings.
Clicking the search disclosure triangle reveals advanced searching options. The Assets
and Productions panes have different advanced search options.
Open the disclosure
triangle to show the
advanced search settings.
When you create searches that you will repeat, you can save the search so you can use it
in the future. Final Cut Pro comes with several default saved searches, called Smart
Searches, which are stored in the column on the left of the main Final Cut Server window.
Asset and production
Smart Searches are
saved here.
For more information on searching, see Chapter 3, “Organizing and Searching
the Final Cut Server Catalog,” on page 49.
20 Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server
Asset Info Window
The info window contains a large amount of information about the asset. When you
double-click an asset that is listed in the Assets pane or in a production (or Control-click
an asset and then choose Get Info from the asset’s shortcut menu), the asset’s info
window appears.
The left side of the asset info window displays the asset’s thumbnail image and general
asset metadata. The right side of the asset is organized into multiple panes that list
specific types of information. You can view the information in each pane by clicking the
pane’s button.
Click the Metadata
button to display the
metadata pane.
The asset’s thumbnail
image and general
asset metadata
The Metadata pane
 Metadata pane: This pane lists metadata for the primary representation file (the file
that was originally uploaded to Final Cut Server) and metadata for the asset.
 Resources pane: This pane lists information about the primary representation and
proxy files that were generated for the asset. It also displays other information about
where the asset is used.
 Versions pane: This pane lists information about versions of the asset that have
been saved.
 Locks pane: This pane lists locks that have been applied to the asset.
 Review & Approve pane: This pane shows the asset’s status and is used for the Email
Notification feature.
For more information about the Metadata, Resources, Versions, and Locks pane, see
“About the Asset Info Window” on page 79. For more information about the Review &
Approve pane, see “About the Review and Approve Feature” on page 146.
Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server 21
Final Cut Pro Project Info Window
You can view a Final Cut Pro project’s info window by double-clicking a Final Cut Pro
project asset (or Control-click the asset, then choose Get Info from the shortcut menu).
When Final Cut Pro projects are uploaded to Final Cut Server, an asset is created for the
project file. In addition to the panes included in the asset info window, the
Final Cut Pro project asset info window includes an Elements pane. This pane lists the
media assets that are used in the Final Cut Pro project file.
Click Elements to view
the Elements pane.
The Elements pane lists
the media that is used in
the Final Cut Pro project.
For more information about Final Cut Pro project assets, see Chapter 6, “Working with
Final Cut Pro Projects,” on page 113.
Final Cut Studio Project Info Window
You can view a Motion, Soundtrack Pro, or DVD Studio Pro project asset’s info window
by double-clicking a Final Cut Pro project asset (or Control-click the asset, then choose
Get Info from the shortcut menu).
When Final Cut Studio project files are uploaded to Final Cut Server, the asset that is
created for the Final Cut Studio project represents only the project file. Unlike
Final Cut Pro project assets, the Final Cut Studio project asset does not contain a list of
the media linked to the project.
22 Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server
A Final Cut Studio project asset info window includes Metadata, Resources, Versions,
Locks, and Review & Approve panes. You can view the information in each pane by
clicking the pane’s button.
For more information about Final Cut Studio project assets, see Chapter 7, “Working
with Final Cut Studio Projects,” on page 129.
Production Info Window
In Final Cut Server, you can use productions to group related assets. If you click to open
the Productions pane at the top left of the Final Cut Server main window and then
double-click one of the productions (or Control-click the production, then choose Get
Info from the shortcut menu), that production’s info window is displayed.
The Assets pane shows all of the assets contained in the production; the Metadata
pane shows the production’s metadata.
You can click either of
these buttons to display
more information about
the production.
Each of these assets is
part of the production.
To learn more about productions, see “Organizing Assets with Productions” on page 54.
Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server 23
Annotations Window
You can mark a single video asset with comments in the Annotations window. Because
comments added in the Annotations window stay with the video asset in
Final Cut Server, annotations are useful for internal reviews and communication with
other Final Cut Server users.
To view the Annotations window, open a video asset’s info window and click the
Annotations button.
Click the Annotations
button in a video asset’s
info pane to open the
Annotations window.
You can preview the
clip here.
You can add text in the
Annotation field.
Annotations that have
been added to a video
asset appear here.
24 Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server
Downloads & Uploads Window
This window helps you more closely monitor the status of files that you are uploading
to or downloading from Final Cut Server.
You can open the Downloads & Uploads window by clicking the Downloads and
Uploads button in the Final Cut Server main window (or by choosing Downloads &
Uploads from the Window pop-up menu).
For more information about the Downloads & Uploads window, see “The Downloads &
Uploads Window” on page 98.
Search All Jobs Window
The Search All Jobs window is opened from the Server pop-up menu (located at the
top-left corner of the Final Cut Server main window). It shows a list of recent jobs that
were initiated by all Final Cut Server users.
The Search All Jobs
window shows a list of
the most recent jobs
initiated by all Final Cut
Sever users.
For more information about the Search All Jobs window, see “Searching for a Job” on
page 74.
Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server 25
Search Devices Window
The Search Devices window is opened from the Server pop-up menu in the
Final Cut Server main window. In it, you can search a device directly, viewing all the
assets (files that have been uploaded to Final Cut Server) as well as other files that have
not been uploaded to Final Cut Server and are stored on the device.
Warning: Use the Search Devices window with caution. Devices can contain files that
both have and have not been added to the Final Cut Server catalog. Working with
files in the Search Devices window could result in making duplicate copies of an asset
in your Final Cut Server server system, or in deleting all copies of a file from a device.
For more information about the Search Devices window, see “Searching Devices” on
page 72.
26 Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server
Preferences Window
Your Final Cut Server administrator is responsible for configuring most of the
preferences that affect you while working with your Final Cut Server client. However,
there are a few settings that you specify for your Final Cut Server client. These include
search display preferences, the location and size of the Final Cut Server cache, and the
location to which you can save alias copies of prepared media files.
You can open the Preferences window by choosing Preferences from the Server
pop-up window.
For more information about the preferences for your Final Cut Server client, see
“Setting Final Cut Server Client Preferences” on page 100.
Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server 27
Using Shortcut Menus in Final Cut Server
You can take many actions in Final Cut Server by making choices from shortcut menus.
You can view a shortcut menu’s items by Control-clicking an asset, a Final Cut Pro
project, or another area of Final Cut Server.
The asset shortcut menu
Mac users using a multi-button mouse can also use right-click to access shortcut menus.
Note: If you’re a Windows user, note that a right-click on a Windows system is the
equivalent of a Control-click on a Mac. To display the shortcut menu on your Windows
system, right-click.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Final Cut Server
Many of the standard Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts are available in Final Cut Server. In
addition, application-specific keyboard shortcuts are available for the Final Cut Server
Annotations window.
28 Chapter 1 About Final Cut Server
2 Uploading Files to Final Cut Server
2
This chapter covers the following:
 About Creating Final Cut Server Assets (p. 29)
 Types of Files That Can Be Uploaded to Final Cut Server (p. 30)
 About Metadata and Metadata Sets (p. 30)
 Strategies for Uploading Media and Project Files (p. 31)
 Uploading Media Files (p. 32)
 Uploading Final Cut Pro Projects (p. 37)
 Uploading Final Cut Studio Projects (p. 40)
Before you can manage and track your files in Final Cut Server, you first need to upload
the files. This chapter describes how to upload three different types of files to
Final Cut Server: media files, Final Cut Pro project files, and Final Cut Studio projects
and their linked media files.
About Creating Final Cut Server Assets
The first step in building a Final Cut Server asset catalog is to upload media to
Final Cut Server. You can manually upload media files, Final Cut Pro projects, and other
Final Cut Studio project files to Final Cut Server. Additionally, your Final Cut Server
administrator can set up automated processes to automatically upload files. Even if
your Final Cut Server administrator has created useful automated upload workflows,
you will often manually upload files to Final Cut Server.
When a file is uploaded to Final Cut Server, an asset is created. The asset is used by
Final Cut Server to track the media or project file that you uploaded. The asset contains
the original file and the metadata from the file. Depending on the type of file that has
been uploaded, the asset may also contain several proxy files, including a Clip Proxy
(for video files) and a Thumbnail and Poster frame proxy (for all media files). More
information about proxy files is included later in this chapter.
Because media assets, Final Cut Pro project assets, and Final Cut Studio (Motion,
Soundtrack Pro, and DVD Studio Pro) project assets are managed differently in
Final Cut Server, how to work with each type of asset is explained throughout this manual.
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Types of Files That Can Be Uploaded to Final Cut Server
Final Cut Server can manage many types of files, including the following:
Media Category Supported File Types
Video Final Cut Pro projects (.fcp) and many of the video file formats
available for output from Final Cut Pro and Compressor, including
.mov and .mpeg
You can also upload QuickTime reference movies.
Audio Soundtrack Pro files (.stap and .stmp) and other audio files, including
.aif, .ac3, uncompressed audio files, .mp3, .mp4, .m4a, and .wav
Motion graphics Motion projects (.motn)
DVD DVD Studio Pro project files (.dspproj), iDVD (.dvdproj) projects
Still images and graphics Photoshop files (.psd) and other graphic and image files including
.tif, .jpeg, .png, .bmp, and .gif
Text files Pages files (.pages), Keynote files (.key), and other document files
including .doc, .txt, and .pdf
About Metadata and Metadata Sets
Metadata is an important part of the assets and productions included in the
Final Cut Server catalog. Because you search for asset and production metadata, it is
important that you add as much metadata as possible when you are uploading the
original file.
When you upload a media or project file, all the supported metadata contained in the
file is uploaded with the file and applied as file metadata in Final Cut Server. The
Upload window also prompts you to provide a metadata set. A metadata set is a
collection of metadata groups and fields. The metadata set that you choose for the
asset determines what metadata can be added to the asset.
Note: Common metadata, including XMP and QuickTime, is supported by Final Cut Server.
If you have specific questions about the metadata supported by Final Cut Server, contact
your Final Cut Server administrator.
30 Chapter 2 Uploading Files to Final Cut Server
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