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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy A better way to mark the timeline?

  • A better way to mark the timeline?

    Posted by Carl Sundermann on June 16, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    Hey all –

    Frequent visitor, infrequent poster here…

    I’m looking for a better way to use markers to keep track of where I am in a sequence. I edit a lot of training videos (yawn, but hey it helps pay the bills). I get these tapes from the shooters who taped a 45-60 minute conference on X Subject. Some are one camera shoots, others are multiple cameras that I edit using multicam. I then lay graphics over the top. While I’m doing this, I like to use markers to keep track of the different sections I’m on so that after I’m finished editing, I can go back and add transition graphics/bumpers to break up the monotony of a one camera shoot.

    I’ve been placing markers in the timeline. However, this only works if I don’t change anything before the marker, because the marker won’t move with any changes I make to the video. I can’t use clip markers because there isn’t a clip that spans the entire length of the video. It’s only in that one clip. On top of that, those markers won’t retain the “DVD CHapter” info if I export the file from FCP as a full Quicktime, and I need it to keep that information.

    I hope that makes sense. Essentially, I don’t like the way the timeline markers work because they don’t move as my timeline changes, but I can’t use clip markers because they don’t retain chapter info for DVDSP, and there isn’t a clip the length of the whole timeline.

    Any ideas on a better way to keep track of what I’m doing??? It’s really frustrating!

    Matt Gerard replied 17 years, 9 months ago 8 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • David Bogie

    June 16, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    > I hope that makes sense. Essentially, I don’t like the way the timeline markers work because they don’t move as my timeline changes, but I can’t use clip markers because they don’t retain chapter info for DVDSP, and there isn’t a clip the length of the whole timeline.

    Markers totally blow in FCP; incredibly poor interface design decision.
    I have had similar issues in the past, probably not as extensive as yours. My best suggestion would be to use a text generator or even timecode reader over the clips from the Browser. Or even nest the long clip with individual text items to note sections. Then go back to the upstream next and turn off the text track. I’m not exactly following your flow, though. Hope you get better suggestions, give it a few days.

    bogiesan

    This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

  • Alexander Kallas

    June 16, 2008 at 11:55 pm

    You could try something really simple, like color-labelling the clips.

    Cheers
    Alexander

  • Philip Owens

    June 16, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    “Markers totally blow in FCP”

    Olé to that, Bogie.

    http://www.philipowens.com

  • Jeremy Garchow

    June 17, 2008 at 3:35 am

    You could use the clip markers as guides, then create chapter markers from them after that. PIA I know.

    This might help, but might be more trouble than it’s worth and also not quite what you need.

    >>Edit

    This looks a bit better:

    https://www.spherico.de/filmtools/XML2Text/index.html

    Jeremy

  • Chris Borjis

    June 17, 2008 at 4:46 am

    when you hit the marker button twice to add a marker make sure
    you click the “chapter marker” button, additionally be sure on
    export that “chapter markers” is selected (underneath video & audio).

    they should definitely come through compressor and into dvd studio pro.

  • Bob Flood

    June 17, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    Hey carl

    https://www.spherico.com/filmtools/maM/maM.zip

    its a free utility that lets you move a bunch of markers easily, at least more easily then one at a time.

    hope this helps

    “I like video because its so fast!”

    Bob Flood
    Greer & Associates, Inc.

  • Matt Gerard

    August 6, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    I put a slug layer on the top of all the other layers, then pull the opacity to 0%. Then I do my clip markers on that, just remember to keep the track selector turned on so whenever you make an edit it will foloow. Not really elegant, but it works.

    Kinda.

    Matt

    Its more fun to ride a slow motorcycle fast than a fast motorcycle slow…

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