[Jay Wolf]

Sorry, Russel- I just reread my post and noticed I called you Larry…

[Jay Wolf]

So Larry is saying: export from FCP using Current Settings and change the settings in the settings editor in the Compression application, while Aine is saying to edit the export settings in FCP.

Both can work, I guess, but which is better? After seeing Aharon’s tutorial, I assume exporting using Current Settings would be the appropriate way. Agree?

(Btw, out of curiosity- did you both know QT can’t deal with 16×9 anamorphic?)

[Jay Wolf]

Thanks, Jerry. It’s the first time I heard this. Is this because anamorphic 16×9 is not ‘true’ 16×9? I guess I can deduct from this that I need to export DV PAL anamorphic and not Current Settings? And is it right to assume then that any transcoding afterwards will be in the right proportions?

I realized AVI’s can be exported directly from FCP, and I did so, but the results seems very ‘soft’ and unacceptable for my purposes, (but maybe that’s just the codec… a client asked for it )
Furthermore, like a good student I just watched Aharon Rabinowitz’ Cow tutorial on compression (first complementary chapter)for the web and he specifically discourages the viewer to compress directly from NLE software.

So I try to compress using Compressor 3 and I can’t find an option to compress to avi. I thought maybe that would render a better quality file.

Wolf

[Jay Wolf]

Yes, I was rather naive about it. But not anymore.

thanx for the reponse,

Wolf

[Jay Wolf]

Thanks, guys- it took me half a day but I think I got it sync (‘by eye’). It’s a long and hard learning curve… and the worst thing is, the end is never near…

Wolf

[Jay Wolf]

Thanks for your input. I stacked the tracks and somehow was able to get a nice basis. Needs a lot of tweaking but at least my headache is gone…

Wolf

[Jay Wolf]

I’m based in Amsterdam but I think much of what I’ve experienced is universal: I just passed my FCP 5 Level 2 Exam and have my name/company listed on the Apple website as a Certified Pro. I’ve had level 1 for about a year and no one ever contacted me because of it…
However, I have had a couple of people wanting FCP-lessons and they came to me because of my Certification.

Also, when I apply for freelance editing jobs, I have found it is very helpful to be able to say I’m an Apple Certified Pro. Someone here compared it to having a college degree- why is it important? It’ll open the door, even if you forgot all you learned…

Some postproduction houses will not look at these type of diploma’s -such as Walter Biscardi said- because they know that the proof is in the pudding and not in the paper. Experience is much more important than having a perfect knowledge of FCP’s interface. I’m sure most professional editors that work with FCP are not Certified Pro’s. If you’ve been editing professionally for years, that piece of paper is not really important- your network is.

But if you’re not looking to work as an editor- but rather want to do freelance editing jobs, I think the Certification is definitely worthwhile.

I am not an editor -I am a oneman band production company- (I have too much respect for editors and cameramen to call myself either one)and occasionally edit other people’s material. They will talk to me first because I am a Certified Pro.

Doing the books is a good idea, regardless of whether you want to take the exam. The Apple Pro Training Series is far from perfect, often redundant, but overall fun to do and worthwhile. It’ll open your eyes to a better workflow, as I discovered after years of doing it the hard way…

Wolf

[Jay Wolf]

Thanks, guys, but this shot lasts 46 seconds and is captured using Capture Now. This shouldn’t be an issue, right?

[Jay Wolf]

Update: clip captured fine after recording some more on the same tape. Guess it’s some kind of a timecode issue…

[Jay Wolf]

Thanks to all of you!