Final Cut Express 4 User Manual K Apple Inc. Copyright © 2007 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 Express 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. The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Use of the "keyboard" Apple logo (Shift-Option-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Apple is not responsible for printing or clerical errors. 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All rights reserved. http://www.kontentfilms.com 1 Contents Preface 25 25 26 Final Cut Express 4 Documentation and Resources Onscreen Help Apple Websites Part I Chapter 1 29 29 30 35 35 36 36 37 39 39 43 47 49 An Introduction to Final Cut Express About the Post-Production Workflow The Industry Workflow The Post-Production Workflow Video Formats About Nonlinear and Nondestructive Editing Video Formats Compatible with Final Cut Express Audio Formats Compatible with Final Cut Express Video Format Basics Understanding Projects, Clips, and Sequences The Building Blocks of Projects Working with Projects About the Connection Between Clips and Media Files Filenaming Considerations Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Part II Chapter 4 55 55 57 59 63 63 Learning About the Final Cut Express Interface Overview of the Final Cut Express Interface Basics of Working in the Final Cut Express Interface Using Keyboard Shortcuts, Buttons, and Shortcut Menus Customizing the Interface Undoing and Redoing Changes Entering Timecode for Navigation Purposes 3 Chapter 5 65 65 66 67 69 70 79 79 80 81 83 84 85 87 88 91 93 93 94 95 96 97 98 100 101 103 103 110 113 113 115 116 126 130 131 Browser Basics How You Use the Browser Learning About the Browser Working in the Browser Using Columns in he Browser Customizing the Browser Display Viewer Basics How You Can Use the Viewer Opening a Clip in the Viewer Learning About the Viewer Tabs in the Viewer Transport Controls Playhead Controls Marking Controls Zoom and View Pop-Up Menus Recent Clips and Generator Pop-Up Menus Canvas Basics How You Use the Canvas Opening, Selecting, and Closing Sequences in the Canvas Learning About the Canvas Edit Overlay in the Canvas Transport Controls Playhead Controls Marking Controls Zoom and View Pop-Up Menus Navigating and Using Timecode in the Viewer and Canvas Navigating in the Viewer and Canvas Working with Timecode in the Viewer and Canvas Timeline Basics How You Use the Timeline Opening and Closing Sequences in the Timeline Learning About the Timeline Changing Timeline Display Options Navigating in the Timeline Zooming and Scrolling in the Timeline Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 4 Contents Chapter 10 137 137 137 139 140 Customizing the Interface Changing Browser and Timeline Text Size Moving and Resizing Final Cut Express Windows Using Window Layouts Working with Shortcut Buttons and Button Bars Part III Chapter 11 147 147 148 149 149 153 154 155 155 156 156 159 160 163 164 165 165 166 167 171 171 Setting Up Your Editing System Connecting DV Video Equipment Components of a Basic Final Cut Express Editing System Setting Up a Final Cut Express Editing System Connecting Your Camcorder Opening Final Cut Express and Choosing Your Initial Settings Confirming Remote Device Control Between Final Cut Express and Your DV Device About FireWire Determining Your Hard Disk Storage Options Working with Scratch Disks and Hard Disk Drives Data Rates and Storage Devices Determining How Much Space You Need Choosing a Hard Disk Types of Hard Disk Drives Fibre Channel Drive Arrays and RAIDs Storage Area Networks External Video Monitoring Using an External Video Monitor While You Edit Connecting DV FireWire Devices to an External Monitor Using Digital Cinema Desktop Preview About the Display Quality of External Video Troubleshooting External Video Monitoring Problems Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Part IV Chapter 14 175 175 177 178 178 179 179 182 Capturing and Importing Capturing Your Footage to Disk Overview of the Capturing Process Overview of the Capture Window Transport Controls Jog and Shuttle Controls Marking Controls Capture Tab Capture Buttons Contents 5 182 182 183 184 184 185 190 192 193 193 194 194 195 197 198 198 199 200 201 202 202 Chapter 15 205 205 206 209 211 214 219 219 220 222 224 233 233 234 234 236 236 237 237 Preparing to Capture Organizing and Labeling Your Tapes Logging Your Tapes Choosing a Filenaming Scheme Determining How Much Disk Space You Need Capturing Individual Clips in the Capture Window Using Capture Now Automatically Creating Subclips Using DV Start/Stop Detection Adding Markers to Clips in the Capture Window Marker Controls in the Capture Window Setting Markers Recapturing Clips Using Capture Project About the Additional Items Found Dialog Finding Your Media Files After Capture Where Are Captured Media Files Stored? Consolidating Media Files to One Folder Modifying a Media File's Reel Name Property Avoiding Duplicate Timecode Numbers on a Single Tape Logging Tapes with Duplicate Timecode Numbers Avoiding Multiple Occurrences of the Same Timecode Number on a Single Tape Importing Media Files into Your Project What File Formats Can Be Imported? Importing Media Files About Importing Video Files About Importing Audio Files Importing Still Images and Graphics Ingesting Media Files About File-Based Media Working with AVCHD Footage Sample Media File Workflow Working with the Log and Transfer Window Working with HDV About HDV HDV Formats Supported by Final Cut Express About MPEG-2 Compression HDV Apple Intermediate Codec Editing Workflow Connecting an HDV Device to Your Computer Choosing an Easy Setup Capturing HDV Video to the Apple Intermediate Codec Chapter 16 Chapter 17 6 Contents 238 239 240 Editing Video Using the Apple Intermediate Codec Outputting HDV to Tape or Exporting to a QuickTime Movie HDV Format Specifications Part V Chapter 18 245 245 246 247 248 251 253 254 254 255 257 259 261 261 261 262 263 264 264 264 264 267 269 270 271 272 274 275 275 277 277 280 283 Organizing Footage and Preparing to Edit Organizing Footage in the Browser Using Bins to Organize Your Clips Creating New Bins Opening Bins in the Browser Opening Bins in a Separate Window or Tab Moving Items Between Bins Sorting Items in the Browser Using Column Headings Searching for Clips in the Browser and Finder Revealing a Clip's Media File in the Finder About Search Options Searching for Items in the Browser Manipulating Items in the Find Results Window Using Markers Learning About Markers What Can You Do with Markers? Differences Between Sequence and Clip Markers Types of Markers Working with Markers Viewing Markers in the Viewer or Canvas Viewing Markers in the Browser Adding Markers in Clips and Sequences Deleting Markers in Clips and Sequences Navigating with Markers Renaming Markers, Adding Comments, and Changing the Kind of Marker Moving a Marker Aligning Items in the Timeline by Their Markers Extending a Marker's Duration Editing Markers into Sequences Exporting Markers with Your QuickTime Movies Creating Subclips Learning About Subclips Techniques for Breaking Large Clips into Subclips Automatically Creating Subclips Using DV Start/Stop Detection Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Contents 7 Part VI Chapter 21 289 290 290 290 291 291 293 293 295 295 295 296 297 297 297 299 300 300 301 301 303 303 303 304 306 306 307 309 309 309 310 313 313 314 315 317 318 319 319 Rough Editing Working with Projects, Clips, and Sequences Working with Projects Working with Multiple Projects in the Browser Choosing Whether the Last Previously Opened Project Opens on Launch Viewing and Changing the Properties of a Project Backing Up and Restoring Projects Learning About the Different Types of Clips Types of Clips Sequences as Clips Viewing and Changing the Properties of a Clip Changing Clip Properties in the Browser Viewing and Changing Clip Properties in the Item Properties Window Changing the Properties of Affiliate Clips Creating and Working with Sequences Creating and Deleting Sequences Opening and Closing Sequences Duplicating a Sequence Copying a Sequence into Another Project Nesting a Sequence Basic Sequence and Timeline Settings The Fundamentals of Adding Clips to a Sequence Creating a Rough Edit Basic Steps Involved in a Rough Edit How Clips Appear in the Timeline Undoing and Redoing Actions Overview of Ways to Add Clips to a Sequence Methods for Adding Clips to Sequences Determining What Parts of Clips You Want in Your Sequence Preparing a Sequence Order in the Browser Sorting to Create a Sequence Order Visually Storyboarding in the Browser Setting Edit Points for Clips and Sequences About In and Out Points Learning About the Out Point Inclusive Rule Things to Keep in Mind When Setting an Out Point Setting Clip In and Out Points in the Viewer Specifying an Edit Point Using Timecode Setting In and Out Points to Include a Whole Clip Reviewing Your Edit Points Chapter 22 Chapter 23 8 Contents 320 321 326 327 328 330 331 332 Chapter 24 335 336 336 338 339 339 340 341 341 343 344 345 346 346 349 349 353 353 354 355 358 361 361 361 362 364 365 365 367 368 370 371 Setting Sequence In and Out Points in the Canvas or Timeline Options for Setting Sequence In and Out Points Setting Sequence In and Out Points Setting In and Out Points to Match a Clip or Gap Setting In and Out Points Based on a Selection in the Timeline Navigating to In and Out Points Moving In and Out Points Clearing In and Out Points Working with Tracks in the Timeline Adding and Deleting Tracks Adding Tracks Deleting Tracks Specifying Destination Tracks in the Timeline Understanding Source and Destination Controls Setting Destination Tracks Changing Source and Destination Control Connections Disconnecting Source and Destination Controls Resetting Destination Tracks to the Default State Locking Tracks to Prevent Edits or Changes Disabling Tracks to Hide Content During Playback Customizing Track Display in the Timeline Resizing Timeline Tracks Saving Track Layouts Creating a Static Region in the Timeline Drag-to-Timeline Editing Overview of the Drag-to-Timeline Editing Process Dragging Clips to the Timeline Doing Simple Insert and Overwrite Edits in the Timeline Automatically Adding Tracks to Your Sequence While Dragging Three-Point Editing Understanding Three-Point Editing Overview of the Three-Point Editing Process Different Ways to Do Three-Point Editing About Edit Types in the Edit Overlay Performing the Different Types of Edits Performing an Insert E ...