Apple Pro Training Series: Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System: A Technical Guide to Real-World Post-Production

Apple Pro Training Series: Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System: A Technical Guide to Real-World Post-Production

Released October 2005
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780321268716

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Book description

If it's good enough for the legendary Hollywood film editors, it's good enough for you! This guide is aimed squarely at Final Cut Pro users just like yourself--at corporate, commercial, and independent post-production houses--who want to move beyond simple Final Cut Pro installations for their film and video masterworks. Through project-based lessons and step-by-step instructions, this self-paced guide shows you how to integrate high-end capture cards, storage systems, and other industry-standard hardware into a Final Cut Pro workflow, as well as how to install and configure Final Cut Pro to make the most of your professional non-linear editing system. This is the technical information most frequently requested by Final Cut Pro users, pulled together into one book that is both a self-paced learning tool and the official curriculum for the Apple Pro Training and Certification Program. The guide covers everything from system configuration, storage, and device connectivity to the intricacies of SAN solutions, and includes special sections on optimizing short-form/broadcast workflows and long-form/HD workflows. It offers troubleshooting advice at every turn: for dropped frames, mismatched audio and audio distortion; imported graphic file issues, media management, file recovery and archiving strategies, and much more. DVD with lesson files and media included.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
    1. Dedication
  2. Contributing Writers
  3. Getting Started
    1. The Methodology
      1. Course Structure
        1. Lessons 1–6: Using Final Cut Pro in Real World Workflows
        2. Lessons 7–9: Fundamentals of Video Standards and Hardware Primer
        3. Lessons 10–12: Configuring Final Cut Pro and Managing Your System
        4. Lessons 13–15: Integrating Your System
        5. Lessons 16–18: Troubleshooting Final Cut Pro
    2. System Requirements
    3. Copying the Lesson Files
      1. Installing the Lesson Files
      2. Reconnecting Broken Media Links
    4. Companion Web Site
    5. About the Apple Training Series
    6. Apple Pro Certification Program
    7. Resources
  4. Using Final Cut Pro in Real World Workflows
    1. 1. Introduction to Online and Offline Editing
      1. Basic Principles of Offline and Online Editing
      2. Online Editing in SD and HD
      3. Offline Editing
      4. Choosing Between Online and Offline Workflows
        1. Advantages of an Online Workflow
        2. Disadvantages of an Online Workflow
        3. Advantages of an Offline Workflow
        4. Disadvantages of an Offline Workflow
        5. Switching Between Offline and Online Workflows
      5. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    2. 2. Setting Up for Online and Offline Workflows
      1. Typical Formats
        1. Standard Definition (SD)
        2. High Definition (HD)
        3. Data Files
      2. Selecting a Medium
        1. Picture Capture Medium
        2. Picture Transfer Medium
        3. Sound-Capture Medium
          1. Sync Techniques
        4. Capture Codec
        5. Storage Medium
        6. Exchange Medium
        7. Preview Medium
        8. Archive Medium
      3. Selecting Hardware
        1. Computer
        2. Selecting a Picture and Sound I/O Device
        3. Selecting a VTR or Video Deck
        4. Selecting a Playback Monitor
      4. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    3. 3. Gathering and Editing Video
      1. Organizing Projects
        1. Planning an Online or Offline Video Workflow
          1. Determining Sound Specifications
          2. Keeping Track of Timecode
          3. Organizing Media
          4. Organizing Final Cut Pro Projects
      2. Gathering Media
        1. Planning and Capturing
          1. New Project Settings
          2. Capture Media by Complete Tape
          3. Speed Clip Logging
          4. Marking Sync Points
          5. Prepare a Sequence for Combining Picture and Audio
          6. Edit Subclips
          7. Merged Clips
          8. Importing Media
        2. Import Files by Other Methods
      3. Changing Resolutions
        1. Increasing Resolution
          1. Recapture Entire Source File
          2. Recapture Selected Source Media
        2. Decreasing Resolution
      4. Reconnect Clips
      5. Playback and Performance
      6. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    4. 4. Gathering and Editing Film
      1. Traditional Film Workflow
        1. Film Terminology Primer
          1. Film
          2. Creating a Work Print
          3. Key Numbers
          4. Lab Rolls
          5. Daily Rolls
          6. Ink Numbers
          7. Screening Dailies
          8. Performing a Telecine
          9. Telecine Paperwork
      2. Organizing Film Projects
        1. Planning a Film Workflow
          1. Determining Film Specifications
          2. Determining Telecine Specifications
          3. Determining Sound Specifications
          4. Organizing Media
      3. Cinema Tools
        1. The Database
          1. Import a Telecine Log
          2. Manual Database Input
          3. Connect Clips on Command
        2. Prepping the Clips
          1. Conform
          2. Reverse Telecine
      4. Film in Final Cut Pro
        1. Setting Up Your Project
          1. The Editing Timebase
          2. Multiple Tracks
          3. Film Effects and Transitions
          4. Filters
          5. Duplicate Frames
          6. The Cutback
          7. Check, Change, and Synchronize
      5. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    5. 5. Distributing Video Projects
      1. Sharing Projects
        1. Sharing in Final Cut Pro
        2. Exchanging with Pro Video Applications
          1. Exporting an EDL
          2. Exporting an OMF
          3. Exporting an XML File
          4. XML Developers
      2. Outputting Your Project
        1. Preparing for Your Online Session
          1. Ask Questions
          2. What You Should Bring
        2. Prepping Your Sequence
          1. Organizing Your Clips
          2. Prepare Clips for Recapture
          3. Timecode Filters
        3. Outputting to Tape
          1. Leader
          2. Built-In Leader/Trailer
          3. Print to Video
          4. Edit to Tape
        4. Exporting Media
          1. Export QuickTime Movie
          2. Export QuickTime Conversion
          3. Export Still
          4. Batch Export
      3. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    6. 6. Distributing Film Projects
      1. Cinema Tools Lists
        1. Film Lists
          1. Compare and Review
          2. Finding and Fixing Missing Elements
        2. Change Lists
          1. Reel Balance
      2. Exporting
        1. Cinema Tools Audio EDL
      3. The Final Conform
      4. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
  5. Fundamentals of Video Standards and Hardware Primer
    1. 7. Video Standards and Fundamentals
      1. Video Fundamentals
        1. Frames, Scanning, and Sync
        2. Setup, Black, and Blanking
        3. Fields and Frames
        4. Aspect Ratio
        5. Bandwidth, Resolution, and Line Counts
          1. Vertical Resolution
          2. Horizontal Resolution
      2. Color Television
        1. Color Recording
          1. Direct Color
          2. Color-Under
          3. Component
      3. Digital Video
        1. Sampling
        2. Pixel Aspect Ratio
        3. Color Subsampling
      4. 24p
      5. Standard-Definition Standards
        1. 525/59.94, a.k.a “NTSC”
          1. Frame Rate and Scanning
          2. Frame Size and Aspect Ratio
          3. Signal Levels
          4. Subcarrier Frequency
          5. Variations
        2. 625/50, a.k.a. “PAL”
          1. Frame Rate and Scanning
          2. Frame Size and Aspect Ratio
          3. Signal Levels
          4. Subcarrier Frequency
          5. Variations
      6. High Definition
        1. Sampling and Pixels
      7. Codecs and Compression
        1. Reducing the Data to Compress
        2. Spatial Compression
        3. Temporal Compression
      8. Wrappers and File Formats
        1. QuickTime
        2. AVI / Windows Media
        3. Real Media
        4. MXF and AAF
        5. Raw Stream Files
      9. Audio for Video
        1. Single- and Double-System Recording
        2. Audio on Videotape
        3. Mono, Stereo, Multichannel
        4. Sample Rates
        5. Bit Depth
        6. File Formats
        7. Compressed Audio
        8. Locked and Unlocked DV Audio
      10. Timecode
        1. Timecode Formats
        2. Dropframe Timecode
      11. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    2. 8. Hardware and Interfaces
      1. Computer Systems
        1. Processor
          1. PowerPC G4
          2. PowerPC G5
        2. RAM
        3. Graphics
          1. AGP
        4. Device Drivers and Interconnections
      2. Video Interfaces
        1. Analog I/O
          1. Component
          2. Y/C
          3. Composite
        2. Digital I/O
          1. SDI
          2. HD-SDI
          3. Dual-Link SDI
          4. SDTI
          5. SDTI-CP
          6. HD-SDTI
          7. FireWire
        3. Cabling and Connectors
          1. BNC
          2. RCA
          3. 4-Pin and 7-Pin
          4. Multiconductor Miniplugs
          5. FireWire
          6. SCART
      3. Audio Interfaces
        1. Analog Audio
          1. Line Level
          2. Mic Level
          3. Headphones
        2. Interfacing Analog Audio
        3. Digital Audio
      4. Timecode and Control
        1. RS-422
        2. FireWire
        3. LANC
        4. Other Interfaces
          1. Ampex Serial
          2. RS-232
          3. VISCA
          4. Control-M
          5. Control-S
          6. Parallel
        5. Caveats
      5. Analog Video Formats
        1. 1-Inch Type C
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        2. ¾-Inch and ¾-Inch SP (U-matic)
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        3. Betacam and Betacam SP
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        4. VHS and S-VHS
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        5. Video8 and Hi8
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        6. Other Formats
          1. ½-Inch EIAJ Type 1
          2. 2-Inch Quadruplex
          3. Betamax, ED-Beta
          4. MII
          5. Fisher-Price Pixelvision
      6. Digital Video Formats
        1. Betacam SX
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        2. D-1
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        3. D-5
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        4. Digital8
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        5. DV25: DV and DVCAM
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Primary Usage
          4. Best Interface to FCP
        6. DV25: DVCPRO
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        7. DV50: DVCPRO50 and D-9
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        8. Digital Betacam
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        9. IMX
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        10. P2
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        11. XDCAM
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        12. Other Formats
          1. D-2, D-3
          2. DCT
          3. DVD
          4. J-Series VTRs
          5. MicroMV
      7. High Definition Formats
        1. D-5 HD
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        2. DVCPROHD
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        3. HDCAM
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        4. HDCAM-SR
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        5. HDV
          1. Primary Use
          2. Technical Details
          3. Best Interface to FCP
        6. Other Formats
          1. D-VHS
          2. D-6
          3. HDD-1000
          4. HiVision, W-VHS, Eureka
      8. Analog Audio Formats
        1. Reel-to-Reel
        2. Compact Cassette
        3. Notes
      9. Digital Audio Formats
        1. DAT
        2. MiniDisc
        3. Flash Memory and Hard Disk Recorders
        4. Multi-Track Disk Recorders
      10. Measurement Tools
        1. Waveform Monitors
        2. Vectorscopes
        3. Rasterizers
        4. FCP’s Video Scopes
        5. Picture Monitors
        6. Monitor Speakers
      11. Offboard Processors
        1. Proc Amps
        2. TBCs
        3. Audio Mixers
          1. Sync and Blackburst Generators
        4. Distribution Amps
        5. Patch Panels and Routing Switchers
      12. Capturing Video and Audio
        1. DV over FireWire
        2. FireWire DV Converters
        3. FireWire Uncompressed Converters
        4. HDV Over FireWire
        5. PCI Cards
          1. AJA Video Systems
          2. Aurora Video Systems
          3. Blackmagic Design
          4. Digital Voodoo
          5. Matrox
          6. Pinnacle Systems
      13. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    3. 9. Storage Overview
      1. Hard Drive Basics
        1. Raw Performance Factors
        2. Disks, Partitions, and Volumes
          1. Partitioning for Data Segregation
          2. Partitioning for Performance
        3. Drive Formats
      2. Drive Interfaces
        1. ATA
        2. SATA
        3. SCSI
        4. Fibre Channel
        5. FireWire
        6. USB
      3. Storage Architectures
        1. Concepts and Buzzwords
          1. Ports, NICs, and HBAs
          2. Hubs and Switches
          3. RAID
          4. JBOD
          5. SBOD
          6. DAS
          7. NAS
          8. SAN
        2. RAIDs
          1. Striping
          2. Mirroring
          3. Striping with Parity
          4. RAID Levels
            1. RAID 0
            2. RAID 1
            3. RAID 3
            4. RAID 5
            5. RAID 0+1
            6. RAID 10
            7. RAID 30
            8. RAID 50
            9. RAIDs for Video and Audio
          5. Network Attached Storage
          6. Storage Area Networks
          7. SAN Concepts
            1. Volume-Level Locking
            2. File-Level Locking
            3. Volume Structures
            4. Fabric Design
            5. System Administration
      4. Performance and Capacity
        1. Data Rates and Storage Requirements for Common Media Types
      5. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
  6. Configuring Final Cut Pro and Managing Your System
    1. 10. Configuring Mac OS X
      1. Improving Final Cut Pro Performance
        1. Disable Energy Saver Controls
        2. Set Desktop & Screen Saver Preferences
        3. Deactivate Sharing Services
        4. Establish Security Settings
      2. Customizing Your Mac OS X System
        1. Set Up Displays
        2. Control System Sound
        3. Manage Dashboard & Exposé
          1. Multitasking with Exposé
          2. Widgets for FCP Users
        4. Search with Spotlight
          1. Instant Search Results
          2. Prioritizing Results and Privacy Settings
          3. Creating Custom Metadata
          4. Creating Smart Folders
          5. Indexing Final Cut Pro Help Files
        5. Hide the Dock
      3. Mac OS X Administration
        1. Understanding User Accounts
          1. Defining Mac OS X Accounts
          2. Account Management
          3. Login Options
        2. Working with Permissions
          1. Understanding Permissions
          2. Changing Permissions Using the Finder
          3. Changing Permissions Using the Terminal
          4. Repairing Permissions Using Disk Utility
          5. Repairing Permissions Using the Terminal
        3. Manage Software Updates
          1. Applying Updates
          2. Tracking Updates
        4. Perform Maintenance Tasks
        5. Monitor System Activity
      4. System Preferences Checklist
      5. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    2. 11. Configuring Final Cut Pro
      1. Installing Final Cut Pro
        1. Working Through the FCP Installation
          1. Custom Installation
        2. Updating Final Cut Pro
        3. Final Cut Pro Support
          1. AppleCare Knowledge Base
          2. AppleCare Telephone Support
          3. AppleCare Professional Video Support
          4. Contacting AppleCare
          5. Support Profile
      2. Priming Final Cut Pro
        1. Assigning Scratch Disks
          1. Setting the Primary Scratch Disk
          2. Resetting Scratch Disks
          3. Assigning Separate Media Scratch Disks
          4. Managing Waveforms and Thumbnails
          5. Create the Autosave Vault Folder
        2. Managing Memory Resources
          1. Memory and Cache Settings
          2. Levels of Undo
          3. Recent Clips
        3. Establishing Real-Time Performance Levels
          1. Optimizing RT Video Performance
          2. Testing Video Filters
          3. Hardware Accelerators
          4. Optimizing RT Audio Performance
          5. Testing Audio Filters
        4. Audio Outputs
      3. Working Efficiently with Final Cut Pro
        1. Configuring Functional Settings
          1. Handling Media
          2. Modifying Editing Tools
        2. Customizing Default Options
          1. Modifying the Interface
          2. Streamlining FCP Operations
      4. Uninstalling Final Cut Pro
        1. Identifying Files
          1. Using the Installer
          2. Using the Terminal
        2. Deleting Files
      5. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    3. 12. Managing Final Cut Pro
      1. Administrating Project Files, Preferences, and User Data
        1. Establishing a New Project
          1. Manual Administration
          2. Virtual Organization
        2. Protecting and Archiving Projects
          1. Locking Files
          2. Back Up to Optical Disc
          3. Backup to Remote Storage
        3. Recovering Projects
          1. Revert
          2. Restore
        4. Sharing
          1. Media
          2. Clips
          3. Third-Party Plug-ins
          4. Projects
          5. User Settings
        5. Streamlining Project Configuration
          1. Creating Stationery
          2. Automating Tasks
      2. Managing Media Files
        1. Captured Media
        2. Rendered Media
        3. Archiving Media
        4. Working with Media Manager
      3. Reestablish a Project
      4. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
  7. Integrating Your System
    1. 13. Implementing Stand-Alone Uncompressed Systems
      1. The Implementation Process
      2. Planning Your System
        1. Selecting the Right Capture Device
        2. Selecting the Right Storage System
          1. Do-It-Yourself Striped Arrays
          2. Prebuilt Striped Enclosures
          3. Built-In Hardware RAID Controlled Bridge Enclosures
          4. The Final Comparison: Cost vs. Storage and Speed
          5. Selecting a Host Bus Adaptor (HBA) Card
          6. RAID Software
      3. Installing Hardware
        1. Internal Installations
        2. Hooking Up Storage to the HBA
          1. FireWire Connection
          2. SATA Connection
          3. Fibre Connection
          4. SCSI Connection
        3. Installing the Keyspan USB Twin Serial Adaptor (If Necessary)
        4. Powering Up the Storage and Computer
      4. Installing/Updating Storage Drivers and Software
        1. ATTO Card Driver Updates
        2. SATA HBA Drivers
        3. Cooking an Xserve RAID
          1. Other Xserve RAID Preparations
        4. Installation of SoftRAID (If Necessary)
      5. Volume Creation
        1. Creating RAID Sets
        2. Creating Volumes from Single-Host RAIDs
        3. Testing Read and Write Speeds
      6. Installing FCP (If Necessary)
      7. Installing Capture Device Drivers
        1. Installing Keyspan Serial Drivers
      8. Configuring FCP for Your New Hardware
        1. Configuring Storage Settings
        2. Configuring Device Control
        3. Selecting Easy Setups
        4. Getting Additional Help
      9. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    2. 14. Integrating FCP Systems into Networks
      1. Understanding Mac OS X File Formats
        1. A Word on Other File Types and Filename Extensions
      2. Using File Servers
        1. OS X (and OS 9) Servers
        2. Windows Servers
        3. Permissions Issues with Servers
      3. Sending Files over the Internet
        1. Zipping and Stuffing
          1. Zipping a Single File
          2. Zipping Multiple Files
          3. Using Allume’s StuffIt
        2. Attaching Encoded Files to an Email
        3. Placing Files on an FTP Site
        4. Unencoding on the Other End
      4. Working with Files from Proprietary Systems
        1. Avid Adrenaline and Meridien Systems
        2. Autodesk Media and Entertainment Stone Systems
          1. Importing Image Sequences into FCP
      5. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    3. 15. Xsan Implementation
      1. Planning the SAN
        1. The Importance of Planning
        2. Bandwidth Considerations
          1. Calculating Bandwidth Need
          2. A Word on Mixed-Stream Environments
          3. Calculating Bandwidth Availability
        3. Storage Considerations
          1. An Example of Instantaneous Storage Increase
          2. Volume Size Limitation
          3. RAID Levels for Video Work with Xsan
        4. Workflow Considerations
          1. Switching from Auto-Login Local Directories to a Centralized Directory
          2. Migrating Former Stand-Alone Editing Bays to Xsan Clients
          3. Provisioning Ingest/Layback Stations
        5. Infrastructure Considerations
          1. The Metadata Controller (MDC)
          2. Standby MDCs
          3. Choosing the Right Fibre Channel Switch
          4. Ethernet Switches for the MDN
          5. Ethernet NICs and Fibre HBAs
          6. Cabling and Run-Length Issues
          7. Optical Transceivers
          8. Power Considerations
        6. Typical Topologies
          1. The Three-Seat Boutique
          2. The Six-Seat Episodic Team
          3. The 10-Seat Post Facility
      2. Installing the SAN
        1. Installing the Fibre Channel and Ethernet Cards
        2. Connecting the Fibre Channel Network
        3. Connecting the Private Metadata Network
        4. Implementing Directory Services, Part 1
          1. What We Won’t Cover
          2. Configuring a Client Node to Act as a Temporary Remote Admin
          3. Configuring the Xserve Remotely
          4. Setting the Client Node’s Static IP Address
          5. Updating the Xserve to the Latest Version of OS X Server
          6. Creating the Open Directory
          7. Setting Up Users and Groups Using Workgroup Manager
        5. Installing Xsan Software
          1. Setting the Additional Client Nodes’ Static IP Addresses
          2. Installing Xsan Software via ARD
        6. Implementing Directory Services, Part 2
          1. Binding the Client Nodes to the Directory Server
        7. Setting Up and Configuring the SAN with Xsan Admin
          1. Firing the Whole Thing Up
          2. Authenticating and Serializing Nodes
          3. Assembling and Starting the Volume
          4. Mounting the Volume on the Nodes
        8. Implementing Directory Services, Part 3
          1. Creating Root-Level Directories
          2. Logging in as Directory Users
      3. Optimizing FCP on Xsan Systems
        1. Keeping Login Computers Consistent
        2. What Files Go Where?
          1. Project and Cache Files
          2. Capture Scratch and Stock Video
          3. Stock Music and Sound Effects
          4. Render Files
          5. Direct-Attached Render Arrays for Use with Xsan
        3. Creating Affinities for Different Kinds of Media Files
        4. The Dreaded Umask
        5. Assigning Quotas to Ensure Adequate Space for Everyone
          1. Using the Bandwidth Limiter Inside Final Cut Pro
      4. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
  8. Troubleshooting Final Cut Pro
    1. 16. Introduction to Troubleshooting
      1. Primary Troubleshooting Questions
        1. “Did It Work Before?” or “What Has Changed?”
        2. “Did You Check the Documentation?”
        3. “Can You Reproduce the Problem?”
        4. Document Your Investigation
      2. Narrow the Search
        1. “Is It Hardware- or Software-Related?”
        2. “Is It Mac OS- or Final Cut Pro–Related?”
        3. Is It a Problem of Performance, Quality, or an Error Message?
      3. Eliminating the Obvious: Quick Fixes
        1. Restart the Application
        2. Shut Down and Restart the System
        3. Create and Log In as a New Admin User
        4. Remove FireWire, USB, and Other Devices
      4. Eliminating Environmental Factors
        1. Temperature
        2. Cables and Wiring
        3. Power Supply
      5. Practical Search Methodologies
        1. One-Step Reductive
        2. Split-Half Search
      6. Troubleshooting Remotely
        1. Support Profile
      7. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    2. 17. Lesson: Operational Troubleshooting: Video and Audio Issues
      1. Solving Dropped Frame Problems
      2. Intermittent Dropped Frames During Capture or Playback
        1. Symptom #1: Intermittent Dropped Frames Despite Correct FCP Settings
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Intermittent Dropped Frames Despite Fast Disk Drives and Ample Storage
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        3. Symptom #3: Intermittent Dropped Frames After an OS Upgrade
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        4. Symptom #4: Intermittent Dropped Frames on Clips with an Orange Bar
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      3. Consistent Dropped Frames During Capture or Playback
        1. Symptom #1: Dropped Frames When a Camera or Deck Is Connected to a FireWire Drive on the Same Bus
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Dropped Frames with a New FireWire Drive
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      4. Consistent Dropped Frames Only During Capture
        1. Symptom #1: Dropped Frames Even Though You Can Play Back the Same Content from the Scratch Disk
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Consistent Dropped Frames After Capturing and Deleting Lots of Footage
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      5. Consistent Dropped Frames Only During Playback
        1. Symptom #1: Dropped Frames with One Particular Clip
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Picture Is Stuck on a Single Frame
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        3. Symptom #3: Dropped Frames at a Specific Clip or Location in a Sequence
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      6. Solving Audio and Video Sync Issues
      7. Audio and Video Progressively Out of Sync
        1. Symptom #1: Clips Go Rapidly Out of Sync and Exhibit Audio Artifacts
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Capture Settings Are Correct, But Clips Go Slightly Out of Sync After Several Minutes, and a Red or Green Line Appears in the Timeline Above the Clip
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      8. Audio and Video Consistently Out of Sync
        1. Symptom #1: Monitor Playback Is Consistently Out of Sync with Output Device
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Video and Audio Sent to Separate Devices Are Consistently Out of Sync with Each Other
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        3. Symptom #3: Audio Consistently Out of Sync When Using a Panasonic AG-DVX100 Camera
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      9. Solving Audio Distortion Problems
      10. Audio Artifacts Occur During Playback
        1. Symptom #1: Artifacts During Playback in Viewer or Sequence
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Artifacts Occur During Playback in a Sequence, and a Green Line Is Visible Above the Clips in the Timeline
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        3. Symptom #3: Imported Audio Clips Stutter and Click
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        4. Symptom #4: MP3, MP4, and iTunes Music Store Downloads Click on Playback or Will Not Import
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      11. High Audio Levels During Playback
        1. Symptom #1: Loud Playback Despite Setting Optimal Levels When Shooting
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      12. Playback Unaffected by Audio Filters
        1. Symptom #1: Changes to Filter Settings Seem to Have No Effect on Output
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      13. Audio Sounds Tinny During Playback
        1. Symptom #1: Digital Audio File Sounds Tinny or Thin
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      14. Solving Field Tearing Problems
        1. Symptom #1: Jagged Edges on Exported Video Frame, Horizontal Flicker, or Fuzzy Scrolling Text
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Video Jerks or Has Erratic Output When Parked on a Frame
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        3. Symptom #3: Horizontal Flicker on Text and Other High-Contrast Screen Objects
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        4. Symptom #4: Scrolling Text Is Sometimes Fuzzy
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        5. Symptom #5: Playback Jerks in Frames with Motion
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      15. Solving Luminance and Color Space Problems
      16. Clipping
        1. Symptom #1: Areas of Flat and Gray Footage
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Black Isn’t a True Black
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      17. Luma and Chroma Clamping
        1. Symptom #1: Footage Dims
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Graphics Are Brighter Than Highlights
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      18. Color Space Differences
        1. Symptom #1: Banding and Striping in a Video Frame
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Output Differs from Onscreen View
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      19. Solving Still Image Issues
      20. Image Sizing and Scaling Issues
        1. Symptom #1: Fuzzy and Pixelated Images
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Project Opens Slowly and Is Unresponsive
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      21. Scaling and Interlace Artifacting
        1. Symptom #1: Footage Flickers or Ripples
          1. Solution
      22. Photoshop Image Problems
        1. Symptom #1: Loss of Some Photoshop-Applied Effects
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Disappearing Textures and Drop Shadows
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        3. Symptom #3: Stretched Images
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        4. Symptom #4: Transparency of a Movie Disappears
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        5. Symptom #5: Loss of Sharp Edges on Graphics
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      23. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
    3. 18. Operational Troubleshooting: File, Format, or Device Errors
      1. Solving Missing Scratch Disk or Offline File Problems
      2. Missing Scratch Disk
        1. Symptom #1: A Dialog at Launch Says Your Scratch Disk Is Missing
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      3. Offline Files at Launch
        1. Symptom #1: Project’s Clips Are Offline and Unavailable
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Offline Clips Are Inaccessible Through the Reconnect Media Dialog
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      4. Problems Importing Audio Files from CDs
        1. Symptom #1: Audio Files Drop Frames and Go Offline After Relaunching FCP
          1. Background
      5. Solving Problems of Missing Audio or Video Output
      6. Missing or Impaired A/V Output
        1. Symptom #1: No Video or Audio Output
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Missing Output on FireWire Deck or Camera
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        3. Symptom #3: Output Sent Through PCI Capture Card Is Missing or Impaired
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      7. Missing or Impaired Video Output
        1. Symptom #1: Input and Output Hardware Are OK, But Video Output Is Still Missing
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Output Problems While Using Digital Cinema Desktop Preview
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      8. Partially or Entirely Missing Audio Output
        1. Symptom #1: Audio Is Missing or Coming Out of Incorrect Output Device
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: FCP Won’t Output More Than Two Channels of Audio at a Time
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      9. Solving FireWire Connectivity Problems
      10. Nonmounting FireWire Drive
        1. Symptom #1: Disconnected FireWire Drive Doesn’t Mount
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: FireWire Drive Doesn’t Mount Despite Correct Connection
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      11. Dropped Frames with Daisy-Chained FireWire Drives
        1. Symptom #1: Dropped Frames During Playback and Recording to Daisy-chained FireWire Drives
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      12. Lack of Communication with FireWire Deck or Camera
        1. Symptom #1: Insert Editing Is Unavailable with Current Device
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Log and Capture Reports No Communication with Connected Device
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        3. Symptom #3: Can’t Communicate with AJ-HD1200A Deck
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      13. Capture Interruptions and Failures over FireWire
        1. Symptom #1: “Unable to Lock Deck Servo” Message During Capture Attempt
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Interrupted Captures and Spotty Performance When Using RAID-0 Volumes of FireWire 400 or 800 Drives
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      14. Solving 24P DV Capture and Pulldown Issues
      15. Render Errors
        1. Symptom #1: Red Render Lines in 24P Sequences
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      16. Pulldown Errors
        1. Symptom #1: FCP Can’t Find Pulldown Information
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Trouble Removing Pulldown After Capturing Footage
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      17. Solving Application-Level Errors and System Failures
      18. Error Alert
        1. Symptom #1: General Error Alert While FCP Is Running
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: Out-of-memory Error Appears While FCP Is Running
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      19. Unexpected Quit
        1. Symptom #1: FCP Crashes When a Specific Project or Sequence Tries to Load
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: FCP Crashes Randomly
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      20. System Hang or Kernel Panic
        1. Symptom #1: Complete System Lockup, Frozen Pointer Onscreen
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        2. Symptom #2: System Hang, Prolonged Spinning Beach Ball
          1. Background
          2. Solution
        3. #3: Kernel Panic, Mac OS Interface Replaced by Restart Error Message
          1. Background
          2. Solution
      21. Lesson Review
        1. Answers
  9. Final Cut Studio Workflows
  10. Glossary

Product information

  • Title: Apple Pro Training Series: Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System: A Technical Guide to Real-World Post-Production
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: October 2005
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: 9780321268716