Final Cut Pro 3 and the Art of Filmmaking

by Jason Cranford Teague; David Teague

• ISBN13: 9780782140279
• ISBN10: 0782140270
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback w/Disk
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Sybex

Summary

Despite its intuitive interface, Final Cut Pro still requires craft and skill to use well. This full-color book provides a hands-on, practical guide to all aspects of editing digital movies, with an emphasis on the kinds of tips, tricks, and shortcuts that professionals rely on to quickly get polished results. Whether you're approaching Final Cut Pro from a purely creative angle or from a more corporate perspective, whether you're an emerging filmmaker or a seasoned vet, Final Cut Pro 3 and the Art of Filmmaking gives you the insights, information, and lessons you'll need to complete tasks that film editors face every day, including: * Mastering Final Cut Pro 3's new features, such as Voice Over, G4 Real-Time Effects, Titling, QuickView, and more * Editing clips in the Timeline * Creating transitions and complex overlays * Adding effects, applying filters, and working with text * Using the audio tools to make your film sound as good as it looks * Readying your finished product for delivery--on the Internet, on videotape, or on DVD In the course of this book, you'll learn shooting tips designed to help later in the edit room. You'll also hear from experienced editors on how they're using Final Cut Pro to capture the immediacy that digital video makes possible, while meeting the twin challenges of limited time and money. Note: Our thanks to Ken Stone for his Final Cut Pro expertise. Ken has an excellent online resource center that we encourage you to visit: www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html

Author Biography

Jason Cranford Teague is an expert in broadband, DVD, and other new media formats. He has written two best-selling computer books and numerous articles on new media for the Apple Developers Connection, Tripod, and other publications.

David Teague is an editor, cinematographer, and director who lives and works in New York City. He has edited numerous projects on Final Cut Pro for clients such as Atlantic Records, Nonesuch Records, Knoll Design, Bombay, Sapphire, and DVD Int'l.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xiv
PART I GETTING STARTED
Setting Up Your Workstation	3	(14)
Overview	4	(3)
The Computer	4	(1)
External and Internal Hard Drives	5	(1)
Monitors	5	(1)
The DV Deck or Camera	6	(1)
Other Peripherals	6	(1)
Hooking Up to a DV Deck or Camera	7	(3)
Hooking Up to a Media Converter Box	10	(3)
Hooking Up to an Analog-to-Digital Capture Card	13	(4)
Getting to Know Final Cut Pro	17	(30)
Overview	18	(1)
Running Final Cut Pro for the First Time	19	(2)
Setting Your Preferences	21	(13)
Audio/Video Settings	25	(3)
Defining Your Own Presets	28	(6)
The Timeline	34	(2)
The Canvas	36	(2)
The Viewer	38	(3)
Using the Tools and the Audio Meter	41	(3)
The Tool Bench and QuickView	44	(3)
Creating Your Footage	47	(12)
Overview	48	(1)
Keeping a Camera Log	49	(4)
Shooting Video for Efficient Editing	53	(2)
Recording Audio on a Shoot	55	(4)
Using an External Microphone	55	(2)
Using the Camera Sound	57	(2)
Logging Your Footage	59	(18)
Overview	60	(2)
Getting to Know the log and Capture Window	62	(3)
Using the Logging Tab	65	(2)
Using Markers with Log and Capture	67	(2)
Adjusting Your Clip Settings	69	(2)
Setting In and Out Points	71	(1)
Logging Your Clip for Batch Capture	72	(2)
Creating and Importing Batch Capture Lists	74	(3)
Capturing Your Footage	77	(28)
Overview	78	(2)
Creating Your Capture Settings	80	(2)
Adjusting Your Capture Settings	82	(2)
Capturing Footage 1: Capture Now	84	(3)
Capturing Footage 2: Capture Clip	87	(2)
Capturing Footage 3: Batch Capture	89	(3)
A Quick Guide to Logging and Capturing	92	(5)
Alternative Steps: Using Capture Clip	95	(1)
Alternative Steps: Using Capture Now	96	(1)
Importing Clips	97	(3)
Alternative Steps: Importing a Folder of Files	98	(2)
Using OfflineRT	100	(5)
PART II EDITING YOUR MOVIE
Working with Your Footage	105	(22)
Overview	106	(5)
Adding Blank Tracks in the Timeline	111	(3)
Deleting Blank Tracks in the Timeline	113	(1)
Editing Clips into the Timeline	114	(4)
Alternate Steps: Copying and Pasting into the Timeline	116	(1)
Setting Target Tracks	117	(1)
Editing Clips into the Timeline through the Canvas	118	(4)
Alternate Steps: Using the Edit Buttons	120	(2)
Linking Audio and Video Clips	122	(2)
Creating a New Link	122	(1)
Unlinking Audio and Video Clips	123	(1)
Turning Linking Off	124	(1)
Enabling Clips with Stereo Pairs	124	(3)
Disabling a Stereo Pair	125	(2)
Making Smart Edits	127	(18)
Overview	128	(2)
What Is an Edit?	128	(1)
Editing Styles and Strategies	128	(2)
Trimming with the Mouse	130	(2)
Using the Razor Blade	132	(1)
Making Roll Edits	133	(4)
Alternate Steps: Roll Edits in the Timeline	135	(2)
Making Ripple Edits	137	(3)
Alternate Steps: Ripple Edits in the Timeline	139	(1)
Making Slip Edits	140	(2)
Making Slide Edits	142	(3)
Adding Transitions	145	(22)
Overview	146	(2)
Adding Transitions	148	(4)
Alternate Steps: Adding a Transition using the Effects Menu	150	(1)
Alternate Steps: Adding a Transition using the Mouse	151	(1)
Changing a Transition's Duration	152	(3)
Alternate Steps: Changing Transition Duration Numerically	153	(2)
Working with Transitions	155	(4)
Trimming in the Transition Editor Window	157	(1)
Alternate Steps: Changing Alignment in the Timeline	158	(1)
Adding Audio Transitions	159	(2)
Alternate Steps: Adding an Audio Transition using the Effects Menu	160	(1)
Alternate Steps: Adding an Audio Transition using the Mouse	161	(1)
Rendering Transitions and Other Effects	161	(6)
PART III ADDING SPECIAL EFFECTS
Adding Titles	167	(20)
Overview	168	(1)
Adding static Titles	169	(4)
Adding Moving Titles	173	(2)
Creating a Colored Backdrop	175	(2)
Importing a Title Card	177	(3)
Advanced Titles	180	(7)
Advanced Moving Titles	182	(5)
Using Image Control	187	(20)
Overview	188	(2)
Adding a Filter	190	(3)
Adjusting Brightness and Contrast	193	(3)
Color Correction with Image Control Filters	196	(4)
Using Gamma Levels and Proc Amp	200	(2)
Copying and Storing Effects	202	(5)
Storing Favorite Effects	203	(4)
Manipulating the Image	207	(18)
Overview	208	(2)
Blurring the Image	210	(2)
Distorting the Image	212	(2)
Changing the Perspective	214	(3)
Adding a Border	217	(1)
Creating a Negative Image Using Invert	218	(2)
Stylizing Your Clip	220	(5)
PART IV ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
Compositing and Alpha Channels	225	(18)
Overview	226	(1)
Changing the Opacity of a Clip	227	(4)
Alternate Steps: Changing Opacity in the Timeline	229	(2)
Working with Composite Modes	231	(7)
Changing Alpha Channel Properties	238	(5)
Using M ion Controls	243	(14)
Overview	244	(1)
Changing Size and Orientation	245	(3)
Cropping the Image	248	(2)
Distorting the Image	250	(2)
Adding a Drop Shadow	252	(5)
Creating Special Effects with Key Filters	257	(14)
Overview	258	(2)
Keying Out Luminosity	260	(4)
Keying Out Color	264	(2)
Keying Out Difference	266	(5)
Fine-Tuning Your Audio	271	(20)
Overview	272	(2)
Adjusting Audio Levels and Spread	274	(4)
Using Split Edit Points	278	(2)
Importing Audio	280	(2)
The Audio Effects Folder	282	(4)
Adding a Voice Over	286	(5)
Making Keyframes Work for You	291	(16)
Overview	292	(2)
Using Keyframes with Audio	294	(3)
Using Keyframes to Alter the Image	297	(3)
Using Keyframes to Create Motion Paths	300	(7)
Putting It All Together	307	(22)
Overview	308	(1)
The Juxtaposition of Shots	308	(4)
Editing Based on Temporal Relationships	309	(1)
Match Cuts	310	(1)
Editing for Spatial Relationships	310	(1)
Editing for Rhythm	311	(1)
Laying Down the Edits	312	(4)
Adding the B-Roll	314	(2)
Adding Transitions	316	(1)
Adding Titles, Effects, and Filters	317	(3)
Adding the Musical Score	320	(2)
Saving the Finished Product	322	(7)
PART V AFTER THE EDITING IS DONE
Managing Your Media	329	(16)
Overview	330	(2)
Deleting Unused Material	332	(3)
Archiving Your Project	335	(2)
Raconnecting Media	337	(3)
Recapturing OfflineRT Footage to Restore Online Quality	340	(5)
Using the Media Manager to Prepare to Recapture OfflineRT	341	(4)
Printing to Video	345	(12)
Overview	346	(1)
Preparing to Record	347	(2)
Recording Directly from the Timeline	349	(2)
Using Print To Video	351	(6)
Compressing Video for the Web, CDs, and DVDs	357	(17)
Overview	358	(3)
Compression Concepts	358	(1)
Downloading vs. Streaming on the Web	359	(1)
Getting Started	360	(1)
Exporting to QuickTime	361	(5)
Customizing the Export Options	362	(4)
Using Sorenson Squeeze	366	(2)
Using Discreet Cleaner	368	(6)
Glossary of Terms	374	(8)
Index	382	(14)
Using the Companion DVD	396