Apple's Cinema Tools for FCP

Just announced today. Very interesting.

http://www.apple.com/cinematools/

Item found on MacCentral which may be of interest to L.A.-area FCP users.

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0205/20.cinema.php

Hi Ken-

I'll be going to this on Wednesday. I'll bring news of how cool or funky it was.

Be well.

Christian Calson
Nebunule Films
Los Angeles, Ca

When Final Cut 4 comes out do you thing the price of Final Cut Pro 3 will go down or the new one will just cost more?

In normal fashion with software as opposed tohardware, as soon as a new version comes out, it will instantly become harder and harder to find the old version.

This is due to the fact that 1. Demand drops off significantly, and 2. A lot of times suppliers/manufacturers will replace their customers' (vendors from whom you and I buy) remaining inventory of old software with newer software, so they are not stuck with useless merchandise.

If you are lucky you will be able to find the older version from smaller vendors who are not lucky enough to have good supplier/manufacturer ties, and yes, you will find it to be at a discounted price.

Zimvg304,

Check your previous post (at the bottom of the page) on this topic here http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5566

Jeff

<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Donald : Zimvg304,

Check your previous post (at the bottom of the page) on this topic here http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5566

Jeff -->>>

Jeff they say the mind is first to go!!!

The Apple Seminar Series just emailed this notice and free offer to me.

Jeff

WHAT'S ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT FINAL CUT PRO?

See how four of your colleagues use Final Cut Pro to fuel their creativity in
digital video, standard definition, high definition, and film.

----------

Order the free DVD to hear what they're saying and see how they're working:
http://65.216.216.200/r/default.asp?R=00000c36600008d32&id=100857806&rc=900001

- Workflow presentations show how each group of filmmakers is integrating
Final Cut Pro into the specific way they work.

- Product demonstrations show you the many powers of Final Cut Pro 3.

- Links take you to additional information on related hardware and software.

----------

"This is your offline. This is your online. This will do it all."
-- Erik Counter, Editor, Cimarron

"Final Cut Pro speeds up our workflow because we're working in broadcast
quality the whole time."
-- Eric Quintana, Editor, KRON News

"The beauty of Final Cut is that it can handle this high-end work that we're
doing, as complex as it is."
-- Pierre de Lespinois, President, Evergreen Films LLC

"Final Cut Pro has opened the door for more filmmakers. It's definitely the
wave of the future."
-- David Waters, Producer, Blue Car

----------

Dates, times, locations, speakers, and content may change without notice.
Apple and the seminar sponsors accept no responsibility in connection with
such changes.

TM and ) 2002 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo,
and Mac are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and
other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be
trademarks of their respective companies. Mention of non-Apple products or
services is for informational purposes, and any understandings take place
directly between you and the vendor.


____________________________________________________________

Hello,
Does anyone know if you could call Apple when ordering and make some specific changes that you can't on the web? Like having no harddrives, no ram, etc? Wondering if anyone's done that or if anyone know if Apple will do that. Thanks.

matt

Apple won't, but value added resellers can get them pretty much that way. Why would you want no drive? A small 60 gig drive is just not that expensive. If you don't want it for another machine or for backup, just put it on ebay. I bought a 60 gig WD for $79 with a $20 rebate for my Dad's iMac. I don't know about Ram. Contact a VAR and see if they will sell you a bare machine.

Jeff

Thanks. I just figured I already have the stuff I could use in this comp, why not swap it over. I'll check and see if Powermax can do anything like that though. Thanks again.

matt

I have recently taken a job at a b'cast facility with the Trinity editer/switcher. I have never used it, nor do I have a manual. My main question is can I import graphics from photshop for lower 1/3's. And can I store After Effect movies (or any moving image) in the switcher to use as backgrounds during live broadcast for "picture in picture" or some other use.

Not many people have heard of this system, or have used it, so any help would be great.

Thanks
Kev

These were powerful all-in-one systems during the short life of Play, Inc.

I don't know the answer either. So you've no documentation? Maybe contacting one of the companies looking to upgrade/support these old boxes, such as Spectrum (http://www.studiospectrum.com/Trinity.cfm?CFID=1926972&CFTOKEN=10889081) might turn up some help.

Thanks for the help.

I actually found a support forum for Trinity (now Globecaster).

http://www.globalstreams.com/support/forum/index.php

Thanks
Kev

I have a pc version of powerpoint. Is ther something I can do to import a presentation into FCP? I know the Mac version you can save the presentation as a QT, but that option isn't available with what I have. Any suggestions other than buying Office for Mac?

Apple Keynote http://www.apple.com/keynote/ is Powerpoint compatable. You might also try the Office test drive. I think it works for 30 days. I don't know if it will import or save though.

Jeff

Hey Guy's,

Is there any way to tone down the hollow quality of sound from a speaker in an auditorium? I also have Peak DV 3.0. I've played around with some of the audio filters but didn't get anything that was an improvement. The sound isn't too bad, but it would be nice to clean it up a bit.

Thanks, Chris

This isn't very sophisticated, but it did work for me when I had to do the same thing. I exported the individual pages from PowerPoint as JPEG images on the PC and then imported them individually into FCP. You won't be able to capture transitions or animations that way, but you can get the static pages.

Of course, I didn't have Keynote at the time...

Mic

I just did this recently, laying powerpoint slides over shots of the screen in a video someone shot of a conference. PowerPoint can save as PNG's, which are lossless, so I just exported everything to correctly sized PNGs and then imported the directory into FCP3. I had one powerpoint file that wouldn't open on my Mac, so I ended up opening it in Office XP on my Windows machine, and it had the same sort of export options. (Though not as clean.) Worked just peachy.

Today the FedEx truck dropped off my copy of Final Cut Express.

I was a little disappointed when I opened the box to learn that it doesn't come with a user's manual. That seems to be a trend these days . . .same thing when I bought Microsoft Word X. Luckily I have Lisa Brenneis' book on Final Cut Pro 3 which should help me out somewhat.

One thing that caught my eye was the set of "Final Cut Pro Keyboard Shortcut Labels" that came in the box. I'm guessing this means you could use a FCP keyboard with this software.

I think I'm the target demo that Apple was looking for. A serious hobbyist that needs more than iMovie, shoots only in DV and isn't ready to spend a grand on FCP.

I've got a lot to learn, but so far I like it. I'll keep you all posted.

Jeff when you say 'correctly sized' are you saying i need to go slide by slide in photoshop or something and resize the image?

No user manual! You've got to be kidding me. I sometimes feel like wanting to form an alliance, M.A.N.U.M (members against no user manuals).

It does take the p*ss. The behemoth that is Offixe X has no manual which really annoyed me.

The manual is on you computer in the help section. You can search it, read it or print it yourself. Manuals come with a few more features and cost $700 more (Full version FCP).

Jeffh

L1 if you go to apple.com, then go to support. Then go to the discussion page and click on final cut, then final cut express, there is some stuff about FCE crashing. You might want to read that thread. Apple said they are working on a fix right now. Just in case you have the same problem alot of other people are having they do tell you how to get around it. I think I'll wait another week or so before I order mine. Good luck and keep us posted.

Final Cut Express 1.0: Unexpectedly Quits While Opening
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 61859
1/15/03
1/15/03
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOPIC


Final Cut Express can unexpectedly quit when opening if effects windows are open in icon view.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCUSSION


Symptom

When you try to open Final Cut Express, an alert with this message appears:

"The application Final Cut Express has unexpectedly quit."

Products affected

* Final Cut Express 1.0

Solution

Delete the Final Cut Express 1.0 Prefs file so that the application can open normally. The file is located at the following path in your
home folder: ~/Library/Preferences/Final Cut Express User Data/Final Cut Express 1.0 Prefs

The application should now open and work normally.

To prevent the issue from happening again, either switch to list view (choose View > Browser Items > As List) or avoid leaving effects windows open when quitting.

Note: This document will be updated as more information becomes available.

In both versions of Powerpoint I used they had the ability to export at a certain resolution and I had it export at DV full frame (720x480?) since I was editing for streaming. I ended up dumping a copy to tape because the original editor's Media100 setup died and the client needed copies, and there was some clipping from the full DV frame to the TV viewable area. If you're planning on going straight to tape, you could probably export them at 640x480 and that would give you enough space. I figured telling Powerpoint what resolution I was going to need them at would result in truer files than if I tried to shrink them down in Photoshop. Your mileage may vary, though, especially if the powerpoint files have large images in them.

I am a PC user that is thinking of switching.

I am looking at a G4 tower with dual 867mbs, 512MB RAM, a super drive, etc. [+FCP]

My question is, Apple wants ~$400 for an extra 120gig IDE drive, Can't I just buy one off the shelf and install it??? I could almost get three 120gig drive for that amount...

Thanks

Drives are pretty much dual platform friendly, especially if you stick with well known brands like IBM, Western Digital, Seagate or Maxtor.

As for installing them yourself, it's a pretty straight forward operation but not one you would undertake if you don't know what you are doing. Any computer is an expensive machine (especially a Mac) and the last thing you want to do is trash it.

Ordering the extra drives, and RAM to for that matter from Apple is bloody pricey, your better off getting the basic machine form Apple and then fitting the extras yourself or getting someone who knows what they are doing to do it for you.

The only advantage to the Apple Factory installed drives and memory is that they can be covered under the 3 year Apple Care Extended Warranty. Many Apple (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/67/wo/Ny5fTSoUpu4v3F9W03R8KKGXNax/0.3.0.3.27.7.0.AppleCareFrontPagePromo.0.0.0.0.3.1.1.0?109,32)users purchase the plan for the protection and peace of mind it provides.

Jeff

<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Donald : The only advantage to the Apple Factory installed drives and memory is that they can be covered under the 3 year Apple Care Extended Warranty. Many Apple (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/67/wo/Ny5fTSoUpu4v3F9W03R8KKGXNax/0.3.0.3.27.7.0.AppleCareFrontPagePromo.0.0.0.0.3.1.1.0?109,32)users purchase the plan for the protection and peace of mind it provides.

Jeff -->>>

Thanks for the responses. Other issues have just about convinced me to stick with PCs. I know them and I am very familiar with Premiere. Whatever I do, I know my way around computers and can install and configure practically any PC device.

I've got DVD Studio Pro and plan on doing as much dvd buring as I can on my superdrive. Are there any issues in regaurds to what DVD players my DVDs may or may not work on? I just want to make sure if I deliver DVDs to my clients I won't hear back saying it won't run.

A DVD not playing is always a possibility, depending on the age of the player used. Pioneer is generally considered one of the best, most reliable players available today. I've also had very good luck with the APEX brand. Almost a year ago Sam's had a good price on them and I bought 5 of them and gave one each to my top clients. The clients that I didn't want to be embarrassed with a DVD not playing. The APEX's play anything I throw at them, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, S-VCD, VCD, Mp3CD you name it plays it.

Jeff

so far on my iMac superdrive the DVDs I've burned have played on all the DVD players I've tried. No problems yet. But like the other post said, some olders decks might not work.

Last weekend I discovered that Apple is building (from the ground up) a new store in downtown Chicago, on North Michigan Ave., some of the priciest retail real estate in the U.S. From the footprint and size of the steel it looks like it will be a real showplace, probably multi-story. (In that neighborhood it will have to be a dazzler.) I think they'll do very well at that fashionable location.

Typical of Apple's minimalist image, the construction site is shrouded in jet black boards featuring only a stark white Apple logo. No indication of when the store might be ready to open. By the progress and type of construction I would guess it will be ready by late fall of 2003 at the earliest.

But this is very bad news for me...it's only a 15 min. walk from my home. Please have pity and send spare change my way. <g>

Ken I'll be able to make some points with my wife who is always wanting to go to downtown Chicago!! Now I have more of a reason to go!
Let me know when it opens. I have been out to the Schamburg store a few times.

I can't believe you didn't know about it. It was going to be one of the first to open. But during the renovation they had a contamination problem (undisclosed nature). I suspect asbestos, but it was never formally announced. It delayed the store almost two years. It should be a real show place like the Soho store.

Jeff

I do recall hearing about a Chicago store, and reading that Apple had bought the building standing there (previously a Gap store). But then nothing happened. Then when two suburban stores opened I figured that was that.

I guess the way Apple deals with contamination is to annihilate it! They razed that building to the stump.

Zim: Yes, there will be plenty of other things for your wife to do down here while you're gear-lusting. Just turn her loose at North Bridge and run down the street!

This topic comes up fairly frequently and this Apple Document was just updated 1/16/03






TOPIC

This document discusses why a DV clip may have an audio sample rate that differs slightly from the rate specified in Capture Settings.


DISCUSSION


Many DV camcorders and decks record audio at sample rates other than the true sample rates of 32 kHz or 48 kHz. Variations in equipment from different manufacturers result in slight, but significant variances from these standard sample rates.

QuickTime expects the sample rate of incoming audio to be exactly 32 kHz or 48 kHz. The discrepancy between the sample rate used by your DV video equipment and the expected sample rate in QuickTime may cause a drift in audio and video sync in your captured clips over many minutes of playback. How noticeable this drift is depends on the DV camcorder or deck you're using.

To avoid this issue in Final Cut Pro and to ensure you have accurate sync in all captured DV clips, make sure you turn on the Sync Adjust Movies Over _ Minutes option in Preferences. When turned on, this option forces Final Cut Pro to count the samples of the audio tracks of all DV clips after they've been captured to determine the sample rate at which they were originally recorded. With the original sample rate determined, Final Cut Pro can then ensure accurate sync no matter how long your captured clip.

Since drifts in sync typically occur in clips with a long duration, you can specify the number of minutes in a clip when this feature should be used. The default value of five minutes is adequate in most cases. When this feature is used by Final Cut Pro, the new sample rate information for your clip is stored in your Final Cut Pro project file, not in the source QuickTime file for this clip on disk. It does not alter the source file in any way. When looking at your clips in the Browser, you can tell if this feature has been used if the Aud Rate column displays an uneven value for your clip. For example, instead of displaying a sample rate of 48.0 kHz for your clip, a sample rate of 48.0258 appears.

Note: There are two types of items with which you shouldn't use the Sync Adjust Movies setting: non-DV clips and clips with timecode breaks.
• Non-DV clips: Clips that you capture from non-DV sources, such as analog tape or from digital sources via SDI, don't have varying sample rates. However, because lost A/V sync due to timecode breaks is still a risk, you should disable the Sync Adjust feature if you're not capturing from a DV source.
• Clips with timecode breaks: Any timecode break, or gap, in the signal recorded to tape results in an invalid sample count if the Sync Adjust feature is enabled. As a result, the A/V sync of this type of clip is lost. The only way to restore sync is to record the clips that come before and after a timecode break separately.

I know exactly what you mean... on a recent project, I was too lazy to do batch capture of different portions of my footage so I captured entire tapes. As I had recorded in 12bit 4 channel audio, I had to capture in two passes, one for the video and ch 1,2 and another for ch 3,4.

when I tried to line them up in the timeline (using timecode as a reference), the audio will drift in and out of sync at parts of the clip.

I checked the sample rates and some of them said... 48kHz and others something like 48.005kHz, which probably means that some of the clips are 'sync adjusted' but others are not.

My question is, now the the clips are on my hard drive, is there any way for me to 'turn on' sync adjustment for the clips that are not adjusted, or do I have to recapture everything?

Thanks!

Adrian

This link (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5498)might be of interest to you for capturing 4 channel audio in the future. I know people have had limited sucess re-syncing by moving the file and importing the moved file. Recapture is probably the safest way.

Jeff

I'm looking to purchase SOME kind of 3D software for FCP. I need to be able to make & fly 3D logos in all axis planes, have it key-out in FCP, etc.
Maybe make simple animations that keu out over video, stuff like that.

Only problem is - WHICH PROGRAM?
How does FCP import these rendered animations?
What files does FCP import?

Any one use PIXELS 3D?
Does it import into FCP?

ANY help would be great.....
WAAAAAAY too many programs out there and I'm not sure what to buy that WORKS with FCP...

Carl

You could use any 3D program that will support alpha channels. If you just want to do flying logo's and that sort of stuff maybe look at Boris RED. If you want to use it for building 3d animations maybe try Cinema 4D. I haven't used Pixel 3D so I can't comment on it but most 3D packages have a demo you can download to try out. You would most likely build the 3D animation and render it out as a QuickTime movie (using the "Animation" uncompressed codec) and then import it into your FCP project. If it is a flying Logo on a black background you could then key on the background to replace it with video. If the black background was your alpha channel you could just composite it over. If you need the video to be "ON" the logo you would be better off doing it in the 3D program and using the video as a texture map but this is entirely dependent on your 3D package and is beyond the scope of explaination on these boards.
My top 3 favorites for 3D are:
Maya 4.5
Cinema 4D
Lightwave 3D
Check out the Apple OS X section for 3D apps you can try out.
Also look into others such as Boris RED that are more specifically for titles as well as effects.

Carl,
This is really a task that's more in the realm of AfterEffects or some of the dedcated 3D tools rhett noted.

Zaxwerks's 3D Invigorator (http://zaxwerks.com/) is one of the best products for such an application. It is a plug-in set for AfterEffects and other programs, but not for FCP.

Adobe was packing the basic version free with the purchase of the AE production bundle. I don't know if they still are. If you don't have AE this might give you a good excuse to get it!

There is a current string on this topic over on the LAFCPUG board. There is a report that the sync adjust in FCP 3.0.4 doesn't work. My preliminary testing has confirmed that, though I haven't dug too deeply yet. Several 10 minute clips from my XL-1 show no correction in the Browser.

Hi Gys. 2 questions:
I need to integrate couple of PhotoShop pages into FCP. Are there any specifications Ineed to know about, so it will be broadcast quality on FCP.

Also, I will be showing my little piece on a Flat Screen TV which unfortunately makes the image look streched. How can I compensate for that. Is there a specific preference I need to change in FCP?
ANY info is appreciated.
Thank you. :)

Read the tutorial (http://www.lafcpug.org/basic_ps.html) over at LAFCPUG. If you have time they have several other Photoshop tutorials I would recommend for a good understanding of the work flow.

Jeff

Thanks. What about the Flat Screen TV. Is there a speical specification for that? Do I need to change preferences on FCP while I am editing or after edting but before transfering back to DVD or tape so I can play it on the flat screen without any distortion (Streched face effect)

This may be a stupid question for you guys but I'll ask it anyway :)
I got a calibrated NTSC monitor to color correct the images on FCP. Anyone knows what components I need to hook up the monitor to the Computer. I have a G4, OSX.
Again,
Thanks :)

What monitor do you have and what type of signal will it input, composite, component, RGB ?

Jeff

I was having a few problems with video I shot after capturing it in Final Cut Pro. When I try and edit to tape, I get a flashing of black and white images in the camera. The fire wire seems to be fine. I'm wondering if there's something with the camera. I even tried it in Adobe Priemer and updating drivers etc, which leaves the camera. Any help is appreciated.