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dealing with timecode breaks during capture
G’day,
I’m not sure how to respond to timecode changes during video capture. I’m using FCP 5.1 (capturing from a Sony HDV-HC1 camera).
Let’s suppose that I have a 20 seconds of footage of a boat on a lake. I was told that it’s best to capture an extra couple of seconds on either side of the footage, so the capture should be 2+20+2=24 seconds. I can then edit it down to 20 seconds in the editing window and have “slop” on both sides in case I want to use transitions.
However, when I capture the footage, there is a timecode break between the end of the boat footage and the start of the next scene. Therefore, FCP automatically starts a new clip where the extra two seconds at the end of the footage stops (i.e., three clips — one for the two seconds before, the main footage, then the two seconds after). Now I don’t see how I can use transitions, because there isn’t anything “extra” on the ends of the clip.
The FCP manual says that it’s possible to use “warn after capture” to avoid this (page 280), but warns against using it.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I understand that this is only an issue if I want to use all the footage of a particular scene and wouldn’t be an issue if I take extra footage at the time (which I’ll try to remember to do)…..
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Doug -
3 Replies
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G’day,
If it’s not bad form to reply to one’s own message, the issue appears to be automatic scene detection by FCP when capturing HDV footage. That is, when a scene changes (determined by a start/stop), a new clip is automatically created.
The Visual Quickpro Guide (page 193) says this scene detection feature is a significant improvement, but I’m not sure why. I can see how it’s nice to have clips automatically created, but it does create issues if you want to have transitions with clips which don’t have extra footage at the end (i.e., you want to use the entire clip in the video).
That small complaint made, it’s a wonderful product and I’m enjoying learning how to use it.
Regards,
Doug -
You’ll have the same transition problem whether FCP breaks up the clips or not. If you use the whole shot and try to add a transition to it, the transition would just extend into the next shot during the effect.
All the best,
Tom
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” DVD
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G’day Tom,
Thanks for the message.
If I undertand you correctly, scene detection appears to be a good thing. That is, leaving the two seconds of the previous scene for transition purposes was counter-productive.
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Doug
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