MediaStorm’s Guide to Using Apple’s ProRes 422 Codec

One of the questions I'm asked most frequently about Final Cut is, "When do I use Apple's ProRes 422 codec?" To tackle this question it's first necessary to understand a few things about codecs. Shooting video is a very intensive digital capture process. It requires cameras to capture lots of information in a short amount of time. To handle so much raw data, most cameras need to compress what they capture. A codec is essentially a compression scheme, a way to encapsulate so much material into a containable format. Standard DV footage, for instance, uses a compression scheme referred to as the DV codec. Similarly, HD footage -- 1080i60, 1080p, etc. -- uses the HDV codec. Codec takes its name from “encoder” and “decoder” since your computer must now decode the encoded file during playback. When you create a new sequence in Final Cut, you are building what will become a new…

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MediaStorm’s Guide to Custom Final Cut Shortcuts

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Frequently when working in Final Cut, I need to find the source of a clip. The most obvious way to do this is to right-click on the clip and select Reveal in Finder. But I’d prefer to use a faster method, specifically a keyboard shortcut key. To find a function’s shortcut, enter a keyword into the Help>Search field window. You’ll see all of the menu items that contain the word ‘reveal.’ Use the down arrow key to select Reveal in Finder. A large blue arrow points to the item under the View menu. Notice that there’s no shortcut key to the right of the menu. This indicates that Apple has not assigned a default keystroke to this task. Not to worry. Final Cut provides a straightforward method for customizing your keyboard with new shortcut keys. Choose Tools>Keyboard Layout>Customize or Option-H. Final Cut launches the default keyboard layout window. This tool illustrates each…

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MediaStorm’s Guide to Final Cut Pro Resources on the Web

Final Cut Pro is a rich application, offering vast possibilities to those who take the time to learn it well. With that goal in mind, here is a list of some of the most important Final Cut Pro resources on the web. Apple Final Cut Pro Support - Apple's repository for Final Cut white papers as well as troubleshooting information and how-to documentation. Final Cut Studio Resources - Apple's comprehensive list of support and resource links related to Final Cut Studio. Apple Final Cut Studio Discussion - This is the best place to turn when looking for answers to very specific technical problems. Final Cut Video Training Lynda.com - The fountainhead for all video training. This subscription-based site offers extensive classes on all of Final Cut Studio's applications; a great place to learn the basics. Ripple Training - Ripple Training sells both DVD-based tutorials as well as screencasts that are downloadable via…

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MediaStorm’s Guide to One-Frame Audio Fades

In previous blog posts, I've described the cure-all properties of the one-frame fade. (See Ten Ways to Improve Your Multimedia Production Right Now and Ten Tips for Working with Music in Multimedia). Here's how to set up a one-frame fade as your default audio transition: Open the Effects window (command-5). In the Audio Transitions folder, note that one of the transitions has a line beneath it. The line indicates that it's the default transition. If you have not previously changed the fade time, you'll see '00:00:01;00' in the length column. That's a default time of one second, zero frames. Highlight the number in the length column and enter '1' (just the number, no quotes). Then, press return. Your default transition time should now be set to one frame. Sometimes though, due to a Final Cut bug, you may find that when you now select an audio edit point and add the default…

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MediaStorm’s Ten Tips for Working With Music in Multimedia

Music is an all too frequently overlooked facet of multimedia production. In this ongoing series of tutorials to improve your multimedia, I'll explain 10 techniques that the MediaStorm team utilizes when working with music. First, though, a few definitions commonly used to describe musical attributes. Tempo: the speed of a musical composition, how fast or slow it's played. Timbre: the voice or sound of an instrument. A stringed instrument has a different timbre than a piano or a saxophone. Pitch: the frequency of a sound. Bass notes have a low pitch; the upper octaves of a piano produce a higher pitch. Rhythm: the variation in length between sounds and accents. Rhythm is often tapped onto a surface. 1. Decide whether to use music. If the music you've chosen is not exceptional, don't use it. Viewers need only a single small reason to stop watching your work; poor music is a big one.…

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