[Kai Cheong]

If all the suggestions don’t seem to work [even after you trashed your preferences], try copying the clips in your timeline and dumping them into a new sequence… and export from there.

Sometimes, that solves the mystery/problem.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W

[Kai Cheong]

Hi Emma, what format are you editing in and what kind of camera/tape are you outputting to? The camera/tape needs to be able to take the format you’re outputting since I assume you’re dumping out via Firewire and not a video card to a deck.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W

[Kai Cheong]

I usually bring in our HDV footage as ProRes, via Firewire [check out this useful page https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/capture_hdv_prores_fw_balis.html & you can get a very useful set of presets from https://edu.moviola.com/hdv_prores%5D. Increase in storage space needed but edits very smoothly [we have a 3TB CalDigit RAID connected via eSATA to a MacPro].

Usually, I edit with multiple tracks, filters and effects – so the ease of ProRes is appreciated. But if your edit will consist mostly of straight cuts, my guess is that keeping it in HDV is probably okay. Might not worth the time to transcode to ProRes via Compressor [assuming you won’t be capturing it as ProRes].

As for the rendering needed for audio… maybe you need to check whether the audio settings of the clip matches that of your sequence. My sequence is always 48k/16 bits – but some cameras record in 44.1k.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W

[Kai Cheong]

Hi Shane,

To hijack Derek’s thread: is re-capturing HDV fairly stable and successful in general – or there’s still a fair chance that the TC will be borked?

What I’ve been doing with HDV footage so far is to capture them in HDV>ProRes via Firewire.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W

[Kai Cheong]

And if I’m not mistaken, HDV doesn’t lend itself to an offline-online workflow due to the way its timecode work (the whole inter-frame compression bit). You won’t be able to recapture your footage accurately to the frame.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W

[Kai Cheong]

Over in this corner…

Vignetting caused by Wide Angle lens adaptor = expand shot to remove.

Magic Bullet vignetting = Used sparingly to create a certain look; almost always subtle & gradual.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W

[Kai Cheong]

I remember reading previous threads where other Cow members readily agree to a job using software they’re not familiar with [esp. when they’re just starting out]… then embark on an ambitious [sometimes just overnight] crash course on picking up basics of the software… and managing to pull off the job with flying colors.

Not that it’s something I’d do at this point – I’m fairly upfront with the fact that I’m a one-trick pony in terms of NLE proficiency. But this hasn’t been an issue since the local market has been very taken with this one trick of mine ie. FCP is very popular with production houses and FCP editors are in demand.

Though I’d like to think that apart from software proficiency [which I hope to build on in time to come], I bring to my profession as a video editor some more holistic and invisible skills and sensibilities.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W

[Kai Cheong]

Even with 4 years of professional editing experience under my belt, I still often wonder whether I’m qualified to call myself an ‘editor’. ‘Cuz I do know I still don’t know A LOT of stuff [esp. when I read the Cow and discover the enormous pool of experts out there].

Though sometimes I’ll see the reels and works of people who are very eager to call themselves editors and seem to ‘talk the talk’, and I think to myself, “Hey, the stuff I do ain’t any shabbier that this!”

Personally, I have a degree in Communications, which is not directly relevant to editing since I picked up the skills largely on my own. But it’s something I feel contributes to the greater capabilities of an editor – in terms of communicating with clients/directors and also, having a meta picture of the whole production process.

Whatever it is, I think it’s important to constantly evaluate where you stand – be it skills or professionalism wise, since with time and work, you should evolve. Maybe at this point for you, it’s realistic to advertise yourself as someone willing to learn about the art/craft in a professional capacity and sees where that takes you. Be frank about what you know and hope to learn.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W

[Kai Cheong]

What we have is something quite similar to Nick’s.

Basically, include as many details as you think is needed to protect both you [and your clients], so that there won’t be any misunderstanding when it comes to certain expectations and assumptions. Plus, details can sometimes be useful in helping your direct client justify to their upper management the budget needed.

For us, that includes numbers of script drafts, shoot days and deliverables.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W

[Kai Cheong]

Hi PJ,

I used to do the manual setting of scratch disk for my projects – but that meant having to manually set up/check the scratch disk settings every time I open a project. Which gets a bit cumbersome when I usually work on a few projects in a day.

Since I’ve moved up to a new Mac Pro system with external RAID, I figured it’s more efficient that I just left FCP sort out the Capture folders for me. So far so good for me – and definitely less hassle; just launch and edit.

But on my internal drive, I create separate folders for each project, so that I could organize my .fcp file and the VO/music/images/ripped DVD files.

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
—
Now ‘LIVE’! Check Out The Intuitive Films Blog @ https://intuitive-films.blogspot.com
At Intuitive Films, We Create: TV Commercials, Documentaries, Corporate Videos and Feature Films
Visit us @ https://www.intuitivefilms.com
—
MacBook Pro 2.4GHz | 4GB RAM | FCP 5.1.4 | Mac OS X 10.5.7

8-Core Intel Mac Pro 2.26GHz | 8GB RAM | FCP 6.0.2 | Mac OS X 10.5.6 | 3.0TB CalDigit VR | 2 x 24″ Dell S2409W