Final Cut Pro Work Space

1. Canvas - The Canvas displays and provides controls for playback and editing of
the current sequence
2. Browser - The Browsers Project tab displays all items used in a project including
sequences, video clips, still images, and audio clips. The Effects tab gives quick access
to the effects available in Final Cut Pro.
3. Timeline - The timeline is used to build your sequences. Each sequence has a
timeline display where clips are arranged and edited in multiple layers.
4. Viewer - The viewer allows you to edit and work with individual clips. Video,
Audio, and Control tabs allow you to work directly with those elements, set edit
points, create sub-clips, etc.. The Filters tab is used to control settings of any filters
you add to a clip. Use the Motion tab to adjust various aspects of a clips motion
such as scaling, rotation, opacity, etc..
5. Tools and Audio Meters - The tool bar allows quick access to the most common
tools in Final Cut Pro. See the tool breakdown on the next page for details.
For a detailed anatomy of interface elements, see:
Brenneis, Lisa. (2004) Final Cut Pro for Mac OS X. Berkeley, CA : Peachpit Press.
TR899.B694 2004

Breakdown of Final Cut Pro Tools

Tool Iinformation from:

Brenneis, Lisa. (2004) Final Cut Pro for Mac OS X. Berkeley, CA : Peachpit Press.
TR899.B694 2004
page 322

Final Cut Pro Preferences

Audio/Video Settings
Each time you start a
project, be sure to check your
Audio/Video Settings.
Most of the time, selecting a
preset will work fine but you
can edit one to specify settings.
If working with miniDV format
in The Studio, generally youll
want to select the DV NTSC 48
KHz preset.
As a general rule, youll want
your sequence and capture
settings to match.
Hint: Changes made effect
new sequences so if you
change your sequence preset,
delete the default sequence
and create a new one for the
change to take effect.

System Settings
The first tab in System
Settings will show you where
your files are being saved.
Check the location here if
youre looking for your
project files.
Hint: If you are working on a
new workstation with a
project that has been saved
using the media manager,
new files captured or
rendered will go to the
location specified in this area.
You can change the location
to have files go directly to
your project folder.

Log & Capture

The Log and Capture window allows

you to capture audio and video from
external sources. Select what type of
capture (audio, video, or both) in the
Clip Settings Tab.
The Capture Settings tab provides
quick access to the capture presets
you find in the Audio/Video Settings
area. Be sure this setting matches
your current sequence setting.
FireWire NTSC is the Device Control
setting you want if working with a
miniDV camera or deck. Switch to
Non-Controllable Device if coming
from an analog source such as a VCR.
To start capturing your material, start
your tape and press the Capture
Now button. When finished, press
the escape key and your footage will
be available in the Browser.

The Media Manager can be used for many things

such as reducing a projects size by deleting
unused media, copying a project to a new location,
creating a version of a project at a different
resolution, etc..
The most common use for people in The Studio is
to create a copy of a project - with all media and
render files used - to store in a
new location for
further editing. The settings
shown here are the safest way to
ensure that you dont loose
anything you might later need.
To make a copy and move your
project, select all items in the
browser then go to the Media
Manager. Use the settings shown
in this image to make a full copy
with all media and render files.
Create a folder for your new
project and browse to that folder
in the Media Destination area.
When prompted to give your
project file a new title, be sure to
save it to the folder you created
as well.

Media Manager

Getting Started in The Studio

tips for new Final Cut Pro users

Plan time to learn the software before you are under a project deadline.
Trying to complete a project on-time while learning a new program can be stressful.
Tips for learning the software:
Work through a Final Cut Pro tutorial
Just start a new Final Cut project and try some editing
Instead of trying to completely learn everything about the program at once, figure
out the specific skills needed for your project and focus on those. You wont
necessarily need to know how to work with every tool, effect, or option.
Schedule a consultation with a Studio staff member to show you the basics and
point you to good resources.
Plan your project well by knowing what you want the final product to be. This planning should
happen long before editing and even before you shoot the video.
Tips for planning your project:
Attend our SDV110 class - Introduction to Digital Video: iMovie. This class covers
the 4 steps of a video project and discuss planning and shooting for your project.
Write an outline, script, or storyboard so youll know what materials youll need in
your Final Cut project and you wont waste time capturing materials you dont need.
If using Studio equipment, sign up for certification classes and reserve the
equipment in advance.
Watch and review your footage before you begin editing to make sure its what you
need and that the quality is acceptable for the project.
Schedule a consultation with a Studio staff member for assistance and tips for
planning a video project.
Organize your editing sessions. Editing takes time, appropriate equipment, and possibly storage
for the large video files.
What to do if working in The Studio:
Make reservations for a workstation. Remember to request any equipment youll
need such as VHS decks, miniDV decks, or DVD burners.
If you plan to work on your project over some time, plan a storage solution. Files on
computers in The Studio are deleted nightly.
Request long-term storage on our server through our website. The Studio
does have spaces up to 15GB for 3-week checkout periods. Remember 15GB
will not hold a 2 hour video so plan appropriately. Checkout is based on availability.

Consider purchasing an external firewire hard drive or other storage device

for working with video projects.
Creating your Final Cut Pro project:
Launch Final Cut Pro
Check Audio/Video Settings and System Settings to ensure your project is set up correctly
and going to the right location.
Save and name your project.
Go to the Log & Capture function to capture video and/or audio clips.
Import any digital files you plan to use.
Begin editing - Save Frequently.
If you do not finish in one session, use the Media Manager tool to save your project in a
new location for future work.
Export your project to the desired format (DVD, web video, CD, miniDV tape, VHS, etc.).

Final Cut Pro 6

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

www.nobledesktop.com

General

Navigation

New Project..........................................................................................Shift- -N
New Sequence.............................................................................................. -N
Save All.............................................................................................. Option- -S
Print to Video........................................................................................Control-M
Arrange Windows to Standard Layout.................................................... Control-U

To navigate using timecode.................... enter a timecode value and press return

Rewind.............................................................................................................. J
Rewind Faster.......................................................................... press J repeatedly
Stop ..................................................................................................................K
Fast Forward...................................................................................................... L
Fast Forward Faster................................................................. press L repeatedly
Slow Motion Forward........................................................................Hold K and L
Slow Motion Backward..................................................................... Hold J and K
Forward One Frame................................................................... Hold K and tap L
Reverse One Frame................................................................. Hold K and tape J
Go Back One Frame...............................................................................left arrow
Go Back One Second.....................................................................Shift-left arrow
Go to In Point..............................................................................................Shift-I
Go to Next Keyframe..................................................................................Shift-K
Go to Previous Keyframe........................................................................ Option-K
Go to Out Point......................................................................................... Shift-O
Looping Playback................................................................................... Control-L
Play Every Frame.....................................................................................Option-\
Play Reverse...................................................................................... Shift-Space
Play to Out.................................................................................................Shift-P
Select In to Out...................................................................................... Option-A

Browser
Import File..................................................................................................... -I
Open Bins (List View)...........................................................................right arrow
Close Bins (List View).............................................................................left arrow
Open Bin in New Tab............................................Option-Enter (on Number Pad)
Close Tab................................................................................................... Ctrl-W
New Bin........................................................................................................ -B
Show/Hide Browser....................................................................................... -4
Show Effects................................................................................................. -5
Show Favorites.............................................................................................. -6
Item Properties............................................................................................. -9
Toggle Browser View................................................................................. Shift-H
View Item in Editor.......................................................................... Option-return
View Item in New Window...................................................................Shift-return
Logging Columns (Layout view).............................................................. Option-B
Find ............................................................................................................. -F
Find Next (in Find Results)...............................................................................F3

timeline
Snapping.......................................................................................................... N
Linked Selection......................................................................................... Shift-L
Lock/Unlock Video Track.....................................................F4 plus track number
Set Video Destination..........................................................F6 plus track number
Clear Video Destination............................................................................Shift-F6
Lock Audio Track................................................................F5 plus track number
Set Audio Destination 1.......................................................F7 plus track number
Set Audio Destination 2.......................................................F8 plus track number
Clear Audio Destination 1.........................................................................Shift-F7

1. Clear Audio Destination 2

Shift-F8
Toggle Clip Overlays...............................................................................Option-W
Toggle Timeline Track Height......................................................................Shift-T
Zoom In (Timeline Only)................................................................Option-Plus (+)
Zoom Out (Timeline Only)............................................................Option-Minus (-)
Add Edit...................................................................................................... Ctrl-V
Clear In....................................................................................................Option-I
Clear Out............................................................................................... Option-O
Clear In and Out......................................................................................Option-X
Add Video Transition..................................................................................... -T
Add Audio Transition.......................................................................... Option- -T
Fit Sequence to Window.............................................................................Shift-Z
Go to Beginning of Media............................................................................ home
Go to End of Media........................................................................................ end
Lock All Video Tracks...............................................................................Shift-F4
Lock All Audio Tracks...............................................................................Shift-F5
Mark Audio In..................................................................................... Option- -I
Mark Audio Out..................................................................................Option- -O
Render All: Audio and Video................................................................... Option-R
Ripple Cut..................................................................................................Shift-X
Select In to Out...................................................................................... Option-A

Viewer
Fit to Window.............................................................................................Shift-Z
Toggle Wireframes.............................................................................................W
Mark Clip...........................................................................................................X
Mark In...............................................................................................................I
Mark Out.......................................................................................................... O
Go to Previous Edit................................................................................. up arrow
Go to Next Edit................................................................................... down arrow
Play In to Out..............................................................................................Shift-\
Play Forward......................................................................................... Spacebar
Open Text Generator..............................................................................Control-X
Close Tab..............................................................................................Control-W
Show/Hide Viewer......................................................................................... -1

Markers
Add Marker.......................................................................................................M
Delete Marker.................................................................................... -Tilde (~)
Delete All Markers....................................................................... Control-Tilde (~)
Edit Marker....................................................................................... Option- -M
Next Marker............................................................................... Shift-down arrow
Previous Marker............................................................................. Shift-up arrow

Canvas
Insert Clip........................................................................................................F9
Overwrite Clip.................................................................................................F10
Replace Clip..................................................................................................F11
Superimpose Clip...........................................................................................F12
Fit to Fill.................................................................................................Shift-F11
Insert Clip with Transition.........................................................................Shift-F9
Overwrite with Transition........................................................................Shift-F10
Mark Video In.........................................................................................Control-I
Mark Video Out..................................................................................... Control-O
Show/Hide Canvas........................................................................................ -2

log and capture

Show Log and Capture.................................................................................. -8
Go to In Point..............................................................................................Shift-I
Go to Out Point......................................................................................... Shift-O
Log Clip...........................................................................................................F2
Capture Now..............................................................................................Shift-C
Batch Capture........................................................................................Control-C
Stops Capture................................................................................................ Esc

motion tab
Go to Previous Keyframe........................................................................ Option-K
Go to Next Keyframe..................................................................................Shift-K
Add Motion Keyframe.............................................................................Control-K

effects
Render All.............................................................................................. Option-R
Render Selection (In to Out).......................................................................... -R
Make Favorite Effect................................................................................Option-F
Make Freeze Frame (in Viewer)................................................................. Shift-N

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Final Cut Pro

Capturing: Don't call it Digitizing!
If you are shooting DV, it's already digital. What you need to do is 'CAPTURE'
the digital footage onto your HD.
As with everything FCP, there are at least a couple of methods to accomplish
this. The methods seem to parallel certain personality types, so read the
following, and pick the method that works best for you.
There is one rule that is not subject to discussion or personality type:
YOU MUST LABEL EACH REEL OF TAPE CLEARLY AND DISTINCTLY, AND YOU MUST ENTER
THAT NAME INTO THE 'REEL...' FIELD IN THE LOG & CAPTURE WINDOW.
No ifs, ands, or buts. A cassette without a label might as well be blank, and
if you are the stubborn personality type that must learn by experience, soon
you will record over a very important tape because you didn't label it.
Luckily, FCP won't let us get by without entering a reel number, but it will
let us get by with using the default 'Reel 001' for every tape. Please be
vigilant and enter a unique reel number every time.

The default Reel 001; use this only for your Reel #1!

A note on methods:
I prefer to use and teach a two-handed, keyboard in the left hand, mouse in the
right approach to editing in FCP. If you are more comfortable using the mouse
alone to begin with, here is a substitution chart:

Keyboard
Space Bar

Mouse
Play button

Letter I

Mark In

Letter O

Mark Out

F2

Log Clip

cmd-S

File > Save

Preparing to Capture:
Put your first tape in deck/camera.

Open Log & Capture under the File menu.

Enter the Reel name on the Logging tab, and put a check in the 'Prompt' box.

Method 1: Classic Log & Capture

Best for Slated, Multiple-Take Narratives.

Spacebar
mark the
slate as
press F2
dialog.

to start the tape rolling, press 'I' at your chosen In point. I would
In point after the slate to conserve scratch disk acreage, using the
a reference for naming the clip. When you come to the end of the take,
(Log Clip). Pressing F2 sets the Out point and opens the Log Clip

You will get this dialog window after pressing the Log Clip button (or F2)
if you have put a check in the 'Prompt' box.

Name it correctly, write any comment in the Log Note box, and check the 'Mark
Good' box for the takes you like best, then OK. The tape should continue to
roll, and after the next slate, mark the next In point; F2 at the end of the
take, name this take, or allow FCP to increment the take number automatically
if it is another take of the same scene.

The red line through the clip icons indicates

that they are 'offline' (not captured yet).

This method doesn't capture any clips to the HD; it creates a comprehensive
LOG, in the Browser, of all the shots on your reels.
When you have finished Logging, you can select the takes with which you want to
begin editing, and Batch Capture only those (see below). All the takes you have
marked as good will have a check mark by them in the 'Good' column of the
Browser for easy reference.

Some of FCP's many Browser columns. Good takes can be marked during or after logging.

Batch Capture
With clips selected in the Browser, go to File>Batch Capture. Choose 'All
Selected Clips', and OK.

All the information about the clips you want to capture is presented in this Batch Capture dialog.

Handles

Specify extra seconds to be added to the head and tail of each clip as it is
captured. This makes up for reaction time as you press your In and Out points.
Your logging should be fairly loose anyway, with at least several extra seconds
at head and tail.

Source:
www.kenstone.net under A Guide to Setting Up Your Project In Final Cut 5.

Final Cut Pro Export Format

We need to compress and encode our video for the web. Let's go back to File, Export,
and choose Using Quicktime Conversion. I'll name the file, make sure the format is
Quicktime movie, and I'll click on options. I'll click on the settings, and under
compression type I'll select H264. This is the latest quicktime compression.
Another popular compression setting is Sorenson Video. I'll keep the settings as is and
click ok.

Final Cut Pro Web Export Size

Now I'll click Size. I'll click the dimensions tab and click on custom. Web videos are
seldom encoded at the videos original size, because the larger the size the longer it takes
to watch and download.
The resolution of fullsize standard definition video is 720 X 480. Were going to export at
480 X 360, which retains the aspect ratio of our movie video. I'll click OK.

Final Cut Pro Web Export Audio

Now we'll encode the audio. Make sure Sound is checked and click on settings. Under
format I'll select IMA 4:1.
Under rate I'll select 22.05. These settings will help shrink the file size. And I'll hit OK.
And OK one more time.

Completing Web Export

And finally hit save. You have to wait a few minutes for the movie to export. And there's
our video ready for the web.
Exporting to Studio Pro
Highlight Sequence to be exported in Browser, go to Export Using Compressor. Select
AIFF for Audio and MP2 for video.