FCP  FAQ

R

ronik15

Well-known member
Does someone wanna help me to do a FAQ for the FCP section? Of course, I'll wait for the Jarred's agreement to lock this topic at the top of the section!
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

Yes... indeed Ronik that is a very good idea and go ahead.. thanks!
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

FAQ of Final Cut Pro

First of all, I did this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) with the help of your answers. Here are the most asked questions :

24P
24P is the simplest way to shoot if your project will be on tape. It's useful when you want to edit on a 29.97fps timeline. So for 24P, you have to capture and edit using these settings :
Sequence Preset : Standard DV NTSC
Capture Preset : Standard DV NTSC

24P adv
24P adv is for pure 24fps. It's useful when you want your footage to be transfered on film or DVD. So for 24P adv, you have to capture and edit using these settings :
Sequence Preset : DV NTSC 48 kHz - 23.98
Capture Preset : Dv NTSC 48 kHz Advanced (2:3:3:2) Pulldown Removal

30P
30P is more used in sports because the subject move very fast and a 30P footage is less blurry and has less strobing because there are more frames per seconds than 24P. The main difference with 60i is that it is progressive and not interlaced. So for 30P, you have to capture and edit using these settings :
Sequence Preset : Standard DV NTSC
Capture Preset : Standard DV NTSC

True 16:9 (Anamorphic)
If you shot your project with the anamorphic adapter, you'll want to set your Capture presets and sequence presets to Anamorphic.

Squeeze Mode (DVX100a)
If you shot your project in squeeze mode, you'll want to set your Capture presets and sequence presets to Anamorphic.

4:3 to 16:9
If you shot your project in 4:3 and you want to add letterbox with FCP for the
16:9 look, you just have to go to Effects - Video - Matte - Widescreen

Tutorials
Here are some links of tutorials for Final Cut Pro.

Free online tutorials
- http://www.lafcpug.org/tutorials.html
- http://www.creativecow.net/articles/finalcutpro.html
- http://www.rippletraining.com/free_tutorials_final_cut_pro.html
- http://www.geniusdv.com/final_cut_pro_tutorials.php

CD/DVD tutorials
http://www.rippletraining.com/engine/tutorials_on_cd_dvd.html
http://www.vtc.com/products/finalcutpro4.htm

Books tutorials
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/e...creenwrit-20&keyword=final cut pro&mode=books


That's it for the moment, it's only a kind of rough copy so if you have any suggestions on what I should add or if you want to report mistake, send me a PM.
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

SITES
http://www.lafcpug.org/
http://www.lynda.com/
http://www.dvguys.com/
http://www.rippletraining.com/
http://www.computer-training-software.com/finalcut-pro-t.htm
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html
http://www.adamwilt.com/
http://www.creativecow.net
http://www.uemforums.com/2pop/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php
http://www.fcpugnetwork.org/
http://www.dvcreators.net
http://www.vtc.com
http://www.quicktiming.org/codec.php
http://www.applemotion.com
http://www.intelligentassistance.com/
http://www.finalcutpronews.com
BOOKS
1. Creative Titling With Final Cut Pro
answers most (all) titling questions
2. Final cut pro HD on the spot
 great book that would solve alot of the simple questions asked on these forums
3. Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
answers most (all) effects questions
4. Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro HD: Final Cut Pro HD
5. Apple Pro Training Series: Advanced Editing and Finishing Techniques in Final Cut Pro 4: Advanced Finishing Techniques in Final Cut Pro 4
great starting points as these are the textbooks for the FCP certification test
6. Apple Pro Training Series: Soundtrack: Soundtrack
7. Using Soundtrack
answers most SoundTrack questions
8. Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4
9. Final Cut Pro 4 Editing Fundamentals by Tom Wolsky
10. NEW Final Cut Pro HD Hands-on Training by Larry Jordan
these three are great books that cover loads of info and tips on FCP as well editing in general
11. Nonlinear: A Field Guide to Digital & Video Editing
this one answers most techy questions about formats and broadcasting standards
12. Photoshop for Nonlinear Editors
answer most questions about still and graphics
13. Producing Great Sound for Digital Video
14. Audio Postproduction for Digital Video
answers most sound questions
15. Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro for Avid Editors
helps with Avid converts
16. Behind the Seen: How Walter Murch Edited Cold Mountain Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and What This Means for Cinema
17. In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing
 both offer insight into editing in general
18. Apple Pro Training Series: Motion
19. Motion for Mac OS X : Visual QuickStart Guide
great starting points for Motion
20. Color Correction For Digital Video: Using Desktop Tools to Perfect your Image
21. Video Color Correction for Non-Linear Editors: A Step-By-Step Guide with CDROM
answer most color questions
22. Apple Pro Training Series: DVDSP3
23. DVD Studio Pro 3: In the Studio
great starting points for DVD authoring
MAGAZINES
 videography, DV, Video Maker, Camcorder and Computer, MAC addict, emedia, Broadcast engineering, Studio & Creative Mac design
PLUGINS and EXTRAS
most AE plugins that work in AE3 will work in FCP NONE of the built in AE plugins work in FCP
http://www.nattress.com
http://www.kafwang.com/EUREKA/EurekaMain.html
http://www.chv-plugins.com/index.html
http://www.riverrockstudios.com/riverrock/pages/FCP.html
http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/
http://www.borisfx.com/
http://www.buena.com/
http://www.revisionfx.com/
http://www.virtix.com/fcp/
http://www.lyric.com/fcp-plugins/
http://www.pluginz.com/default.php?from=rlist&genre=6&category=62&type=2
http://www.synthetic-ap.com
http://www.fxscript.org
http://homepage.mac.com/tomhenderson/beziermatte/
http://www.mattias.nu/
http://www.digitalfilmtools.com/55mm-4/55mm.htm
http://www.cgm-online.com/eiperle/cgm_e.html
http://www.joesfilters.com
http://www.dvgarage.com/
http://www.trapcode.com/
http://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/
http://www.genarts.com/download-sapphire-ae-mac.html
http://66.193.230.226/~stib/
http://www.petewarden.com/index.htm
http://www.digitaljuice.com
http://www.automaticduck.com
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

Ronik, this is great already. Thanks!

One question: I know the book "Color Corr for Digital Video" is heavily oriented toward Avid. Do you find it's easy to apply the info to FCP?
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

I didn't have the chance to read it! There are so many books out there I can't buy them all!
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

Re: FCP  FAQ

I'm preping for FCP Level 2 cert test. The Apple Pro Training Series book for FCP-HD is mostly color correction. Very good info. If you want to learn color correction in FCP-HD specifically, get this book!
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

Ben, if you mean the Advanced book, I have it. But I don't think it's as well written as the basic one. Question is, if I own the APTS book, is there reason to buy the Color Correction for DV?
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

Ronik--

I have shot footage in 24p mode, and brought it into FCP 4. I have had to control click every new sequence to adjust the time base from 23.98 to 29.98. I did this all thinking it's what I needed to do to have optimal image quality on a tv or during digital projection. Is this true? Should I really have shot in 24A mode? All these settings are confusing.
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

Shoot 24p (F5), capture normally (29.97) and just edit at 29.97
Use 24pa (F6) if you really need to go to film or 2fps DVD.
Note that even with 23.98 sequence you can print to video fine. Set playback prefs to add 2:3:2:3 pulldown.
What's not the best for quality is letting FCP change 23.98 o 29.97 since it doesn't match a normal 2:3 pulldown.
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

Sorry, dude. Although I appreciate the help, I went to the site and got hopelessly confused. I'm a fairly intelligent person, but all the tech talk just makes my head spin. All I want--and the reason I bought the dvx100A in the first place--is to benefit from the use of 24p. I shot the footage in 24p. From what you're telling me, the fact that I had to convert the sequence from 23.98 to 29.98 means my footage will not look as good as it could have if I had shot 24pa. I guess my problem is that I funddamentally do not understand the pulldown stuff. Thanks for the reply, though.
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

Okay, let throw this out there. Ultimately this footage is headed to a dvd. BUT...there is this thing called "24fps DVD." Aren't all dvd's 24fps? And does this mean that my footage will look better on a 24fps dvd than another type of dvd? Ugh.
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

DVD supports both 29.97, standard video and 24fps video.
DVD's made from films are usually 24fps. The DVD player handles adding pulldown when it plays out to a standard TV. Pulldown is just the process of adjusting the timing of converting 24fps to 29.97 fps. It does this
by duplicating fields (odd/even lines of a frame)
Any video tape you have from film is made by this same process (also called telecine)
Your DVX100 does this while it's shooting. By shooting 24p mode it is adding 2:3 pulldown (time adjusting to 29.97) on the fly. As mentioned you can just capture and edit this at 29.97 and will still appear as 24fps just like a movie still looks like film motion even when it's transferred to video.


The DVX100 is a prosumer camera and people who want to make the most of it will have to do a little homework. This is all covered in the page provided. For details on 2:3 process check Adam Wilt's site.
 
Re: FCP  FAQ

If you export through compressor to DVD studio then it will make a 24fps DVD from your 23.98 sequence.
It's set by default to check the fps coming in and adjust accordingly.
If you wish to go to tape just set prefs for playback to high quality and to add 2:3:2:3 on playback.
Use print to tape to output back to your camera firewire.
To go to film contact the company that will filming it out and see what format and other settings they need.
 
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