Conversion to Firewire

[Jeff Carpenter]

These are daily cuts, right? Maybe a title, some fades, and some simple trimming? Nothing fancy?

I would honestly suggest using iMovie. It should be able to copy the files over firewire and edit them as-is. It’s made to work with those types of formats. For travel I’d rather have something that works fast-and-easy rather than mess with software converting or cable adapters and whatnot.

When you get home you can export the videos from iMovie as quicktime files in whatever codec you desire. You can even save an XML file from iMovie and open up your rough-cut in Final Cut Pro.

And (I really like this) iMovie has an “upload-to-Youtube” feature right in the program.

Now, 2 things:

1) Take the camera to an Apple store if you can and TEST this out. I’ve never used that model and can’t say for sure it works with iMovie. Think so…but can’t be sure.

2) Play with iMovie! If you really hate it, find out now, rather than later.

iMovie has a button that switchs the “Events” window (like Final Cut’s import bin) with the “Projects” window (like Final Cut’s sequence timelines).

By switching them you put Events on top and Projects on bottom, which is more like Final Cut’s layout. Once you do that the program is a lot easier for a Final Cut editor to learn and understand.

As for laptops, get the Macbook for weight or the Macbook Pro for power. Pro is better but regular will get the job done.

[Randy Phillips]

ARRGH! I played with Imovie recently for the first time & maybe it’s because I use FCP about 8 hours a day, but I had trouble wrapping my head around it. I’ll see about spending some quality time with it over the next few months. Closest Apple store is 2 hours away, but I’ll be there in a few weeks anyway. Thanks for the ideas.

Randy Phillips
Randy’s Video
Quincy, IL

[Jeff Carpenter]

I will say this…it took me (an experienced Final Cut user) about 2 hours to learn iMovie.

I really hated it for the first hour. Then, it got better.

I wanted to learn it for my home movie because I can use it to store them by time and assign keywords to them easier than I can in Final Cut. In other words, I’m using it a lot like iPhoto but for home movies.

It works very well for that, so I forced myself to learn it even though I wasn’t thrilled with it at first. But now that I understand how it “thinks” I’m much more comfortable with it. It really is quite fast for simple tasks. (You should see the scrubbing! Very responsive.)

So yes, I understand the pain of learning it. It wasn’t fun. But if it can do the job you need quickly and easily, it will be worth the time it took.

[Winston A. cely]

Maybe a good cost saver is to go the way of FCP express. If you’re used to FCP, then it should be a cinch to get up and running on, and I’m sure it’ll be a good stepping stone to cross your projects over eventually to FCP. I think the biggest thing that it’s missing is the MediaManager, but I wouldn’t see as how you’d need that right off the bat anyway. Just my .02 cents.

Winston A. Cely
Editor/Owner | Della St. Media, LLC

“If God could do the tricks we can do, He’d be a happy Man.” – Peter O’Toole – “The Stuntman”

Mac Pro 3GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon
4 GB RAM | Final Cut Studio 5.1.4 | Aja Kona LHe

[Zane Barker]

[Winston A. Cely] “Maybe a good cost saver is to go the way of FCP express. “

Cost isn’t his issue it is camera compatibility. Even Final Cut Express isn’t compatible with his type of camera.

You could of course use an IOHD to convert the HDMI signal to a firewire, but then you would have to lug that around china with you.

You could try capturing the video with iMovie 08 (I also do not know if your camera is supported by it) and then take those files into FCP. How well that will work I do not know.

Possibly the best solution would be to return your newly purchased camera a buy one that will play out over firewire.

Then again you could always wait and wish that they update FCP to support your camera.

Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!

[Steve Eisen]

Two options if iMovie doesn’t work.

1. convert the files with MPEG Streamclip.

2. Use a camera that is FCP friendly.

Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Board of Directors
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group