Mike thanks maybe because ai am stuck on linear editing it is not coming easy. This past NAB I took the Future Media traing class on FCP plus have the book and DVD but I am just not getting it. When you say be specific on my questions there are simple things I need to know like how do I get a standard fade up from black into a scene on the timeline? I recently was able to do a short video montage of video shots on my powerbook but could not get a fade up from black into the timelime as well as a fade to black. any suggestions?