[Dave Lasdon]

I meant this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Final-Cut-Pro-7-FULL-VERSION-/250945876872?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6d8a3388#ht_500wt_1093

[Dave Lasdon]

I’m no professional or looking to be one. I use it to play around with ideas to give to my editor and for personal video.

[Dave Lasdon]

It may be. It seems very confusing what I’m actually looking for. I’ve seen that for $600-$900. Then there’s this:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/final-cut-pro/id424389933?mt=12

That’s only $300.

[Dave Lasdon]

I must be missing something because I can’t find the thread.

[Dave Lasdon]

I have the original files downloaded from the P2 cards, although I’ve moved the files from drive to drive as I accumulated more media. One is an original. The others are copies.

I don’t remember the name of the original application. I just dragged a P2 file onto the application and it output .mov files, albeit ones that relied on the original media to be viewed.

I believe I watched your tutorial and it was very easy to follow. I remember having problems because I’m using a Macbook, not a Macbook Pro and I have the Academic version of Final Cut Pro 6.0.6. And I’m not good with computers.

Converting all my files again would be a long tedious prospect, since I have so many. I have them converted and labelled how I want them. I’d only do that again as a last resort.

[Dave Lasdon]

I stopped it.

It’s 720 x 480, NTSC, 3:2. PIxel Aspect Ratio: NTSC-CCIR 601
Compressor: DV/DVCPRO-NTSC
It’s output as H.264.

I’ll try to use Quicktime movie.

[Dave Lasdon]

Yes, it was rendered. I’m using quicktime conversion. Since it’s outputting I can’t hit apple zero. Should I just stop this? It’s now up to “Estimated Time: 13 hours.”

[Dave Lasdon]

The computer is using 10.4.11, has 1.6 GHZ processor, and 2.25 GB memory. I know it’s slow, but it’s not my computer. I don’t know the sequence settings. I didn’t change them. So they’ll be default.

My laptop is using 10.6.4, has a processor Speed of 2.26 GHz, 2 GB Memory. The reason I’m using the computer with the slower processor is that my MacBook has only two USB ports and no Firewire. Since daisy chaining didn’t work, I couldn’t use my mouse when it’s attached to my laptop. The other computer has firewire.

I know neither of these computers are the best for using Final Cut Pro, but I have to edit myself and use what I have.

Should I interrupt it and try to output on my laptop? What settings will produce an okay quality file for viewing? Is a production monitor in Final Cut Pro?

Thank you so much for your help.

[Dave Lasdon]

Yes, I used Raylight. I suppose I could daisy chain drives, but that’d mean working with Firewire 400 instead of Firewire 800. If I won’t be able to work with the files on the single faster hard drive, then this sounds like a good solution. Should I give up on that hard drive now and just go with the two slower ones?

[Dave Lasdon]

I appreciate the offers of assistance. I signed up for One-on-One at the Apple Store. While they’ve been helpful everything they’ve told me to try ends up one of two ways: a huge file that comes out 16×9 or a smushed 4×3 that’s a small file. The footage was shot using Panasonic P2 and converted to Quick Time using Raylight. I’d like to output to upload onto Youtube and possibly also use it as a promotional tool. So I’d like to know how to make one that’ll be fine with a higher resolution. The trailer will be 6-10 minutes, but I’d still like to know how to make a longer piece smaller.