What You Should Know About Final Cut Pro

Becca Marcus

Media Cloisters, Vassar College

1. Why and How to begin to use FCP

FCP is great for basic and advanced editing. Why use FCP and not iMovie? FCP is a more advanced program, but iMovie is found on most personal laptops. Depends on user preference. Opening the program:  Final Cut Can be found under the Applications folder within the "Save Here" directory.

2. Organizing

“Successful editing is 80% organization and 20% editing”

Once you open FCP, it is important to configure your project correctly. Because the Media Cloisters computers are communal, it is very easy for files and projects to get mixed up and lost. To prevent that, always make sure you direct the computer to your specific file location. You should do this every time you open FCP

In the Final Cut Pro menu, select System Settings.

A window will open that shows where the Scratch Disks are set. This is the location where you will be storing all your files.

Hit the “Set…” button on the top of the list.

A finder window will open asking you to choose a folder.

Create your own folder with your Vassar email username, within the hard drive, if you do not already have one made. This will set the scratch disk for your

editing session and ensure that all of your files will be organized properly.

Once you have set your scratch disks, you are ready to begin your project. Before you begin you may see a tab that says “Untitled” or you may see someone else’s project that automatically loaded when FCP was opened. If this is the case, close the project by going to File> Close Project. Choose “No” when it asks if you would like to save changes. To start a new project go to File> New Project.

Save your blank new project into the folder that you created earlier by going to File>Save Project As> Your Email.

3. Importing

Now that your project is organized, you can begin importing your media. Most people bring in their own MiniDV tapes, which can be utilized using the Sony DVCAM decks that are attached to three computers in the Cloisters. Make sure DVCAM deck is turned on (a green light will appear)

In the File Menu select Log and Capture. This brings up a log and capture screen that allows you to preview your content much like a VCR. Using the controls or the key board shortcuts (J,K,L) navigate through your tape until you find the place you want to capture. FCP gives you a few options for capturing, but the easiest and quickest way is the Capture Now feature. On the bottom right corner of the Log and Capture screen are these options:

Start playing your video in the preview box and then click the Now button. A new window will pop up and will automatically begin capturing what is playing in the log and capture screen. Hit the esc button to stop recording or let it capture until the tape runs out.

To hear audio while your importing, or when you preview in the log and capture screen, you must check the box under “Clip Settings”. This is a tab located between “Logging” and “Capture Settings.” Select this before you begin capturing footage.

Exit out of the Log and Capture screen by x-ing out of the window.

When you are finished importing your clips, they will show up in the Browser. Below is a diagram of the FCP setup:

When you double click your clips in the Browser, they will appear in the Viewer—allowing you to easily preview your footage.

It may be helpful for you to rename your clips within the Browser.

To import still images or audio files from the desktop, go to File>Import>Files…

Photoshop files, .jpegs, .bmp, mp3s, aiffs, along with many other file extensions can be imported this way. You may also import video clips that are in acceptable formats.

4. Basic Editing

Drag your clip from the Browser to the Timeline to begin working on a Sequence.

A sequence is a collection of clips placed together in the timeline—you can have multiple sequences in your project, and they can be exported separately as singular files.

*For example, if you were making a movie in FCP, your Main Feature would be one sequence and Bloopers might be another sequence. You can create sequences in the browser or by going to: File>New> Sequence

Once you drag a clip into the Timeline, three tracks will show up: 1 video and 2 audio.

When you click in the Timeline area and hit <spacebar> your clip will play in the Canvas. Anything you see in the Canvas is your final product. Navigate through your clip in the timeline by dragging the playhead along the number bar on the timeline, or by using the keyboard shortcuts J – to rewind K – to stop and L- to fast forward. To go frame by frame use the arrow keys.

Be sure that you have the correct window selected when you try to view your project. If you are having trouble navigating through the timeline/canvas make sure you click within the timeline window.

To make you first cut, select the razor blade tool located on the toolbar on the far right hand side of the screen, or by using the shortcut “B”. You will notice that your pointer turns into a blade icon when hovering over your project in the timeline.

Find the section of your clip you wish to make a cut and click with your razor blade tool. This makes a split in your clip, allowing you to separate the contents.

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Red arrows will appear pointing toward the cut.

              Make another cut at the end of your unwanted footage.

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Select the section by choosing the Arrow tool in the toolbar, or

by using the keyboard shortcut “A”

                                                                              

Delete the section by pressing the delete key on the keyboard, or move the unwanted piece toward the end of your project if you want to place it in another section

Move highlighted sections by dragging them in the timeline.

You can alter your clip’s duration by simply dragging your selection tool to trim the beginning or end of the clip.

This tutorial covers the introductory steps to using Final Cut Pro at the Media Cloisters. Please look for future tutorials on more specifics features, such as transitions, effects, audio, and exporting.