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Introduction xviii Adjust Spotlight settings for finding media and sound elements 8 Configuring the character map 9 chapter 1 Using a MobileMe account 11 What Should My Mac Configuring the iDisk 11 Preferences Be? 2 Configuring the Dock 12 Hardware Configuration 12 Video-editing keyboard 13 Research storage options 13 Cable length limitations 14 Shielding on cables 14 FireWire devices 14 USB devices 15 Serial ATA devices 16 What are some critical camera settings? 16 Audio bit rate 16 Video frame rate 16 Check Your Mac OS XCOPYRIGHTED Preferences 4 Final Cut MATERIAL Studio Installation Options 17 Configuring the Energy Saver 4 Troubleshooting Final Cut Pro Hardware Problems 21 Exposé settings 5 Check your cables 21 Turning off the Dashboard 6 Deleting the Final Cut Pro Configuring the Mighty Mouse 6 preferences file 21 Disabling software updates 8 Rebuilding permissions 22 02_387603-ftoc.qxp 8/18/08 11:27 PM Page xi
Customizing the Interface 36 chapter 2 Button wells 36 What Are the Critical Final Cut Pro Keyboard layout 38 Preferences? 24 chapter 3 How Do I Ingest Media into Final Cut Pro? 40
Working with Multiple User Accounts 26 User Preferences 26 Levels of undo 26 Real Time audio mixing 26
Audio playback quality 27 Capturing Media 42 Opening last project on application Log and Capture tool 43 launch 28 Logging 45 Configuring AutoSave 28 Creating a batch list file 45 Abort capture on dropped frames 29 Batch-capturing logged files 46 Timecode breaks 29 Capture Now 47 Still freeze duration 30 Capturing without deck control 47 Configuring audio outputs 30 DV Start/Stop Detection 47 System Settings 31 Log and Transfer tool 49 Setting the scratch disks 31 Ingesting media 51 Limiting capture time 32 Importing Media 52 Using external editors 32 Importing files recorded in Audio/Video Settings 33 FCP format 53 Using Easy Setup 35 02_387603-ftoc.qxp 8/18/08 11:27 PM Page xii
Importing audio 53 Managing track heights 69 Audio sample-rate conversion 53 Working with multiple sequences 70 Converting with iTunes 54 Creating a Montage 71 Converting audio with QuickTime Rearranging clips using the swap Pro 54 edit function 72 Working with MPEG files 55 Applying multiple transitions Managing Media 56 between all your clips 73 Storage Requirements 57 Trimming with the Option Key 76
chapter 4 chapter 5 Which Editing Technique Fits How Do I Use Final Cut Pro My Style? 60 as a Professional Sound and Mixing Tool? 78
Editing Workflow 62 Using the Add Edit feature 62 Mixing Audio Levels 80 How to slip content 65 Adjusting the Levels in the Timeline 83 The snapping feature 66 Using the audio mixer 83 Overwrite vs. insert editing 66 Using the Pen tool 84 Managing the Timeline 67 Adjusting the levels of multiple clips 85 Zoom slider bar 67 Adjusting audio in the viewer 85 Zoom function 67 Using audio filters 87 Fit to Window 68 Adding volume 87 Moving clips around 68 Compressor/Limiter filter 87 Closing gaps 68 Using the Voice Over tool 89 Using the track forward and backward tools 69 02_387603-ftoc.qxp 8/18/08 11:27 PM Page xiii
Understanding Soundtrack Pro 90 Using LiveFonts for special effects 112 Using Soundtrack Pro to build Writing in fog 112 music and sound effects 91 Adjusting glow color 113 Adding sound effects and scoring Using the Character Palette 114 music 92 Using LiveType for motion graphics Installing additional music or sounds 92 compositing 117 Adjusting audio levels in Using full motion video in Soundtrack Pro 94 LiveType 118 Using Soundtrack Pro filters 95 Text on a curve 119 Removing noise 96 Exporting from LiveType 121 Using the frequency spectrum view 97 Boris Title 3D 122 Normalization 98 Building Titles in Photoshop 124 Detecting common problems 98 Improving the Quality of Graphics and Titles 125 chapter 6 chapter 7 Which Title Tool Should I Use? 100 How Can I Use Final Cut Pro for High- End Effects Compositing? 128
Understanding Alpha Channels 102 Introducing LiveType 103 LiveType preferences 104 Installing Third-Party Effects 130 Working with backgrounds and Creating Freeze Frame Effects 130 textures 104 Slow Motion Effects 132 Importing looping Constant speed motion effects 132 backgrounds 106 Creating a speed change special LiveFonts vs. standard fonts 108 effect 133 Understanding timing 109 Variable speed motion effects 134 Sequence timing 109 Playing clips in reverse with Random timing 111 variable motion 136 02_387603-ftoc.qxp 8/18/08 11:27 PM Page xiv
Creating a smooth motion graph 137 Understanding Composite Modes 138 chapter 9 The Travel Matte–Alpha composite How Many Ways Can I Use Filters? 168 mode 140 The Travel Matte–Luma composite mode 144
chapter 8 Can I Use Final Cut Pro to Produce Complex Motion Effects? 146
Tricks within the Video Filters Tab 170 Changing or trimming a filter area 172 Using the Toggle Clip Keyframes feature 173 Copying and Pasting Filter Attributes 174 Saving and Configuring Your Favorite Filters 177 Building filter packs 178 Working with the Motion Tab 148 Mapping favorite effects to Adding a drop shadow 148 shortcut keys or buttons 178 Changing clip opacity 150 Toggling the Auto Select function 180 Adding Motion with Keyframes 151 Why the order of stacked filters is important 181 Using Image+Wireframe mode 153 Duplicating Video Layers 183 Plotting keyframes 158 Color Correction 185 Working with Bezier curves 159 Adjusting blacks, mid, and white Saving motion favorites 160 values 185 Organizing motion favorites 161 Adjusting playhead sync for color- Copying and Pasting Motion Attributes 163 correcting multiple clips 186 Working with Multiple Video Layers 163 Pleasantville effect 186 Simulating the Ken Burns Effect 164 02_387603-ftoc.qxp 8/28/08 6:43 PM Page xv
Understanding Nesting 188 Final Cut Pro Sequence Settings 202 Chroma Keying 191 Working with Anamorphic 16x9 Media 205 Rendering Shapes 193 Working with QuickTime 207 Using shapes as masks 193 Exporting for DVD Production 209 Working with Boris vector shapes 195 Using Apple Compressor 210 Rendering backgrounds 197 Sending files directly from Final Working with Master Templates 198 Cut Pro to Compressor 210 Using preset settings within Compressor 211 chapter 10 Using Compressor frame controls to increase How Can I Maximize the Output quality 212 of My Final Cut Pro Product? 200 Eliminate repetitive tasks using droplets 213 MPEG playback component for QuickTime 214 Adding Chapter Points 215 Adding Compression Markers 217 Output Settings for the Web 218 How to make your iPod videos look fantastic 218 Important export settings for iPhone video clips 218 Output to Tape 219 02_387603-ftoc.qxp 8/18/08 11:27 PM Page xvi
Organizing Media 224 chapter 11 Managing the main media folder 224 How Can I Benefit from Media Using the Mac OS X Finder 225 Management? 222 Managing clips in the Browser window 227 Renaming clips 228 Using subclips in the Browser window 228 Using the Render Manager 230 Using the Media Manager 231 Consolidating media 232 Recompressing media 232 Moving media with the Media Manager 233 Creating offline media 235 Target Mode 236 Archiving Media 236 Index 238 02_387603-ftoc.qxp 8/18/08 11:27 PM Page xvii