[David Eaks]

This forum.

[David Eaks]

Glad you got it figured out.

[Louis Stevenson] “When I try CmndL on only the audio it doesn’t appear to change anything and the underline stays.”

Option>L

[David Eaks]

I’ll be following the advice in said tutorial, thanks DRW!

Link-
https://library.creativecow.net/weiss_roth_david/FCP-10-MAC-Lion/1

[David Eaks]

FCP Keyboard shortcuts appendix- https://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=A%26section=0

When you print all of the FCP Keyboard Shortcuts documentation, it will be overwhelming. Read through it and highlight the ones you think you will use often for easy reference. Maybe even print out your own guide with just the ones you want to remember.

Going over to the tool palette and clicking “razor” then going to the timeline and making a cut, then back to tools to get the arrow back… such a waste of time, all of the tools have a shortcut. A couple tool shortcuts that I use frequently-

A is for Arrow

B is for Razor (Blade)

S is for Slip

T is for Track selection (repeat for each selection type)

etc. etc. etc.

[David Eaks]

Highlight the video and audio tracks to be (re)connected (one video and audio clip at a time) and press “Command>L” to toggle link/unlink. Use “Option>L” to toggle audio stereo pair. “Control>V” will make a razor cut at the playhead. If no clip is selected it will cut through ALL tracks (regardless of clip links), if any clip is selected it will only cut that one, this can be done “on the fly”, or while the timeline is playing (FCP will temporarily mark your edit points until timeline playback is stopped, then it makes the cuts).

I have a feeling that, when editing, your use of the keyboard is pretty much limited to hitting the space bar. Your left hand should be flying across the keyboard using all kinds of time-saving shortcuts while your mouse just points at stuff…

FCP keyboard shortcuts- https://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=A%26section=0%26tasks=true

Apple OSX keyboard shortcuts- https://support.apple.com/kb/ht1343

Print and study.

[David Eaks]

[Donell Hall] “Things go wrong constantly.”

[Donell Hall] “The list of things that are wrong with this system would take me hours to list”

I think you have three options here

1- Bust. Your. Ass.
This option might depend on your clients budget. Start showing up 2 hours early, spend this extra hour (off the clock) checking equipment etc.. Take notes on old equipment that NEEDS replacing to alleviate the “adapter nightmare” and to bring the setup up to speed. Do some heavy research on the equipment needed, how it will integrate and costs. Learn new things. After spending a ton of your own time gathering lots of info, present a “solution” to the owner. As you said, all the previous people have had a “f- it, just make it work” attitude. Attempt to get the whole workflow in the facility stable and reliable, make it known that your intention is to get this place running smooth and trouble-free (then they wont have to call and bug you 10 times a week with menial and/or dire trouble-shooting) not to mention outputting a higher quality product. If you go way above and beyond the call of duty they might make you into their full time in-house guy for the NEXT 20 years. But could you do that? Can you stand to be there for that many hours of your life? Is that even something you want to aim for? If they don’t have a budget to buy new gear and get this place in shape, AND a budget to (potentially) hire you on as their full time in house guy, it’s probably not worth the trouble (except for the experience you’ll get).

2- Scrape by.
Just do as much as it takes to get the job done, stick to your job description but be as helpful in other areas as you see fit. When something goes wrong address it on the fly to the best of your ability. Hopefully it still works on the next shoot. The quality of the final DVD’s will continue to suffer because of the terrible mess of mismatched equipment unworthy of being called a “system”. Learn from the experience as much as possible but be prepared to lose the client, as I figure these guy’s are always looking for someone who will do the work of 5 people for the pay of one and in half the time (only new guy’s are willing to do that, and probably why your the 12th one).

2- Quit
Be sure to tell them that the whole facility is garbage and “only trash comes out of the garbage”. Sound all snooty and like ” I’m above this”. [/sarcasm]

[David Eaks]

I Log and Transfer 1080 60i AVCHD NX5 footage to Prores in FCP almost daily, with excellent results. Delivering in both HD (Blu-ray) and SD (DVD), viewed on a variety of TV’s.

I think we need some more info to figure it out. Camera settings while recording? Did you get the original file folder from the Camera’s card, or was the video brought to you in another form? Sequence settings? Compression settings? etc.

[David Eaks]

[Adam Claude Jones] ” I just went to the Apple store and they are still selling the old version.”

Even if it was released, going to the Apple Store to get a copy FCPX wouldn’t have done you any good anyway.

[David Eaks]

I assume you mean 1080?

What format is the video?

[David Eaks]

If I have a scene that needs Noise Reduction I always do it first thing when starting the edit, using NEAT Video in FCP (excellent results with both NR and sharpening). Once I’m satisfied I’ll turn off the effect, finish editing, turn the effect back on, render and go from there.

From my research of this subject, I was under the impression the NR should always be done first. So that’s what I do.