[Alan Smith]

Unless you have Adobe Flash on your computer you cannot go directly from FCP to a .flv or .swf file. You will need to download a flash encoder and use it to encode your quicktime self contained movie you export from FCP. There are several quality encoders for free download, do a google search for flash encoder free.

Alan Smith
Media317

Check out my blog – https://media317.com

[Alan Smith]

Since the majority of your output work is going to be an SD format, I would digitize via firewire using the FCP Easy Setup for firewire basic. With a firewire deck connected to your machine you can log and capture with deck control. You will digitize your footage with standard HDV codec.

For editing projects that are going to be delivered SD, I would change the Easy Setup to an Uncompressed 10-bit SD setting and import and edit your HDV footage in an SD timeline. This gives you the option to pan and scan your HD footage without loosing quality. You will have to render before you are able to do final output. But you will have a good looking image.

If you are going to be doing a project with a HD delivery format, such as HDCAM or something similar, I would use a different workflow. I would use the HD SDI connection from the VTR and digitize using a Pro Res 422 (HQ) codec (with the latest version of FCP you can digitize to Pro Res over firewire, but that is another story). By digitizing over SDI you get the best quality and Pro Res is 1920 x 1080 rather than HDV’s 1440 x 1080. You get maximum image size as well.

Then you edit using a Pro Res Easy Setup making sure your sequences match your footage. You will have “true” HD sequences with HDV footage (it is not TRUE HD, but it will look pretty awesome). Edit your sequence and export. As long as the sequence and the clips have the same codec settings, you should not have render issues. You then would output to HD tape and be finished.

You would NEVER want to output a finished HD project to HDV format. It is not a desired delivery format and therefore you should rarely lock picture in that format for HD output. If you are outputting to SD, HDV works fine.

Alan Smith
Media317

Check out my blog – https://media317.com

[Alan Smith]

[Mark Erickson] “Should I use the HD-SDI out on the VTR? Firewire? Firewire how? What settings in FCP?”

Some questions first. How are you planning to deliver a finished project? What kind of monitor do you have?

Alan Smith
Media317

Check out my blog – https://media317.com

[Alan Smith]

[peter crawford] “The broadcast specs specify SD PAL I believe,

so should I simply set up motion as Broadcast DV?”

If you are to deliver your final in DigiBeta SD Pal, I would not create a motion project with Broadcast DV. You should use the Pal Broadcast SD option.

If you have a sequence that is Pal using Pro Res, then send your project to Motion using the Pal Broadcst SD Preset. Make your titles and overlays and save the motion project. When you return to FCP, your timeline with have the .motn project in your sequence. Render the sequence and then do an edit to tape, if you have the capabilities, otherwise do an export to uncompressed 8-bit Pal 48 kHz. This should give you what you need.

Alan Smith
Media317

Check out my blog – https://media317.com

[Alan Smith]

Digital hotcakes is a pretty nice site for additional backgrounds. See http://www.digitalhotcakes.com

Alan Smith
Media317

Check out my blog – https://media317.com

[Alan Smith]

I would suggest creating a 3d motion project and adding the gravity behavior to your photos. The gravity behavior will cause the images to move as if they were under the pull of gravity, slowly accelerate until they reach the stopping position.

Alan Smith
Media317

Check out my blog – https://media317.com

[Alan Smith]

In order to cause wriggle to animate, you have to define which axis to animate. In the Inspector > Behavior Tab, there is a drop down for “Apply To”. If you click the “Go” dropdown choose properties > transform > position > X and Y. This will apply the wriggle effect to the X and Y axis.

Alan Smith
Media317

Check out my blog – https://media317.com

[Alan Smith]

Another thing to remember is that the network airing the program will have a spec sheet that you must adhere to. They will dictate all types of requirements you will need to follow regarding audio db to color to delivery format. You should make sure you are provided with all this information before you begin.

Also, just because the video is being shot by professionals, does not mean you will not need to worry about color. You will still need to make sure shots match from cut to cut. One camera man may shoot a little hot relative to another camera man. Unless all the cameras a being set to the same settings and controlled for signal, they will not all look the same.

Get some help if this is your first show for broadcast. There are too many places to loose your mind if you don’t.

Alan Smith
Media317

Check out my blog – https://media317.com

[Alan Smith]

I would suggest sending the clip to Motion. Motion 3 has a great behavior called wriggle that will add that random motion to your clip without having to key frame it. You can adjust how much wriggle, what axis, how random, etc. It is a great feature without having to try and key frame the motion in FCP.

Alan Smith
Media317

Check out my blog – https://media317.com

[Alan Smith]

Thanks for the response Walter. I have read your post on starting and running a video production business and found them to be very honest and valuable.

Let me ask this question for everyone as well. What are some of the type of production work that you have found to be most profitable? I know that is rather broad and there are numerous possibilities, but I am looking for expertise in this field. I am working on building a plan that will allow me to do this full time and for my self and not for another person. I firmly believe that when you work for someone else, they gain wealth and you get a salary. I want to be able to be self employed. I know it is not an easy venture and many who attempt fail. I acknowledge that and am willing to take the risk of failling.

However, I think it prudent to devise a plan that will provide a good road to potential success. What are some of the starting strategies you would recommend? As I work toward those clients that become long time clients, what type of jobs/productions will help get things moving in a positive direction?

Thanks for the post. Very valuable!