NLE Mac / Final Cut questions from 2003

Dan Dorsey · September 18th, 2003, 03:33 PM

Hi,

I'm sure this question has been asked countless times before...but here we go again.

I recorded my sound too low. For it to be intelligable at all I needed to boost the gain on it twice by boosting in FCP - export to quicktime - reimport to FCP and boost again. Obviously it has quite a bit of gain hiss.

The audio tools may as well be in Japanese to me. I see the tools and I can play with them, but I have no idea what works.

Does anyone have a way through FCP4 to at least take that hiss down a couple of notches?

On a side note, I am enjoying the upgrade from FCP3 but there are quite a few things I wish they would have left alone. Oh well.

Dan

Gints Klimanis · September 18th, 2003, 04:15 PM

Try the three band equalizer (EQ). Much of the annoyance of "hiss" is the high frequency content. Adjust the high band so that its gain is negative, for example -10 dB or more. Set the low and mid bands to 0dB, or unity gain. Then, set the high band frequency to some value in the lower part of its parametric range. The lower you go, the more hiss will be removed, but along with the hiss goes your overall brightness.

Jake McMurray · September 18th, 2003, 06:46 PM

are we talking external or internal drives here? The going rate on line at reliabe places like newegg.com etc is about $1 a gb or so sometimes less. I just got a 200 gb internal for $160. I did see some external drives with more than 40gb for less than that one somewhere. If you can afford it get a firewire drive. I suppose they are more reliable for transfering video.

Jeff Donald · September 18th, 2003, 07:22 PM

The Laird outputs via FireWire, which the Mac will input. No problem there. I have clients with that setup and it works fine.

Kevin Lee · September 18th, 2003, 08:19 PM

Thanks for the replies.

I just bought a firewire aluminium casing unit with a maxtor 120Gig 7200RPM hard drive for $195. (Didn't realise how much prices have dropped). I did a check in my area, and this was the cheapest solution. The pre-built drives are about $50-$90 more... Although those small cute ones are quite eye-candy.
The casing i have doesn't seem to have a brand... but is simple, small enough and slim... looks serious. Am Happy so far.

Michael Westphal · September 18th, 2003, 08:32 PM

LaCie used to use Quantum drives exclusively. And that was before Quantum bought them. I don't know anymore. It hasn't seemed important. I haven't yet pulled a case apart to look...
I use Maxtor, LaCie, WD, IBM, whatever. The only problem I've had in recent history were with an early Maxtor 80GB, which Maxtor promptly replaced (the problem was in the powersupply, not the drive).
You'll like the 5000DV.

Jim Shields · September 18th, 2003, 08:43 PM

Awesome. thanks, man. I figured that was the case, but I didn't see too much mention of FCP on the laird site, so I wanted to make sure before lugging my G4 to work.

Stylianos Moschapidakis · September 19th, 2003, 08:09 AM

Does anybody know if an Apple Multiple Scan 1705 Display would work for mirroring with my eMac?

Thank you.

Peter Richardson · September 19th, 2003, 01:03 PM

Thanks Michael. I'm looking forward to getting my Maxtor (should arrive any day now.)

Peter

Howard Black · September 20th, 2003, 10:27 AM

Does anyone know how to capture the 3rd and 4th audio channels into FCE? Using the iLink DV cord I can only capture channels 1 and 2.

Jeff Donald · September 20th, 2003, 11:46 AM

Capture them in two separate passes and sync them on the timeline.

Timothy Lab · September 20th, 2003, 02:43 PM

I would like to hear comments on upgrading from Final Cut Express to Final Cut Pro 4 or comments on why I should buy the full version of FCP4. I'm quite unsure of myself using the computer operating system and fear the upgrade will put me in a spin from which I won't recover! Or is it as painless as installing FCE?

Tim

Darrell Hinton · September 20th, 2003, 03:26 PM

As far installing FCP4 goes, it's just as easy as installing FCE. It's as simple as having your serial number from FCE and following the on-screen directions. As far as content goes, there are many extra features in FCP4 that aren't in FCE (Such as the program Soundtrack, which costs $299 by itself). I wouldn't feel comfortable telling you that you should definately upgrade to FCP4, because it really all depends on what your editing needs are. The upgrade to FCP from Express is pretty expensive ($699 I think). So it really all depends on what the extra features of FCP4 are worth to you. If you plan to edit short or feature films, music videos, or other professional work, then the upgrade may be something you want to get. Although, if you only plan on editing things such as home videos, then the extra features of FCP4 may not be worth the $699 to you. You can look at a full list of the features of FCP4 here: http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro
I got the upgrade and I love it (of course I plan to use it to edit music videos and short films. Otherwise I probably would have just stuck with FCE). But beware it does take lots of time and focus to learn how to properly use FCP4, I am still learning. I hope this was helpful. Just go with whichever software you think would best fit your editing needs.

Timothy Lab · September 20th, 2003, 04:09 PM

Thanks Darrell,

There are features in FCP4 that I want to use, so I have made up my mind to proceed. While you left this message, I was talking to an Apple Media Tech, who explained the process of installation to me. As you said, it is the same process as installing Express. Without saying the upgrade and the full version were the same, the Tech stated that the Express serial number would release the same version as the full price; for three hundred dollars less! OK. I get it!

As you are aware there are many people who edit for themselves, using professional technique, just because they want to. A hobby. OK, I'll accept that. In January I'll be making my fifth trip to Inner Mongolia since 2000, to get more footage for a series of videos I'm making and they are just for myself and a few colleagues. That's just the tip of it; there's more. Anyway, I thought I would share that with you as I would give the same advice you did! I can't wait to get FCP4. I just needed a push. Thanks again.

Tim Lab
RailCine Cinematography

Darrell Hinton · September 20th, 2003, 04:32 PM

Glad I could help. I think you'll be very happy with FCP4. I am loving it.

September 18th, 2003, 03:33 PM	#1036
Dan Dorsey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 43	Audio Noise Hi, I'm sure this question has been asked countless times before...but here we go again. I recorded my sound too low. For it to be intelligable at all I needed to boost the gain on it twice by boosting in FCP - export to quicktime - reimport to FCP and boost again. Obviously it has quite a bit of gain hiss. The audio tools may as well be in Japanese to me. I see the tools and I can play with them, but I have no idea what works. Does anyone have a way through FCP4 to at least take that hiss down a couple of notches? On a side note, I am enjoying the upgrade from FCP3 but there are quite a few things I wish they would have left alone. Oh well. Dan __________________ Dan

September 18th, 2003, 07:22 PM	#1039
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The Laird outputs via FireWire, which the Mac will input. No problem there. I have clients with that setup and it works fine. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 18th, 2003, 08:32 PM	#1041
Michael Westphal Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 166	don't know LaCie used to use Quantum drives exclusively. And that was before Quantum bought them. I don't know anymore. It hasn't seemed important. I haven't yet pulled a case apart to look... I use Maxtor, LaCie, WD, IBM, whatever. The only problem I've had in recent history were with an early Maxtor 80GB, which Maxtor promptly replaced (the problem was in the powersupply, not the drive). You'll like the 5000DV. __________________ Michael A Westphal

September 19th, 2003, 08:09 AM	#1043
Stylianos Moschapidakis Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cambridge, MA/Crete, Greece Posts: 189	Will this monitor work for mirroring? Does anybody know if an Apple Multiple Scan 1705 Display would work for mirroring with my eMac? Thank you. __________________ Stelios G.M.

September 20th, 2003, 10:27 AM	#1045
Howard Black Tourist Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hollidayburg, PA Posts: 2	Four cannel audo and Final Cut Express Does anyone know how to capture the 3rd and 4th audio channels into FCE? Using the iLink DV cord I can only capture channels 1 and 2.

September 18th, 2003, 04:15 PM	#1037
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Try the three band equalizer (EQ). Much of the annoyance of "hiss" is the high frequency content. Adjust the high band so that its gain is negative, for example -10 dB or more. Set the low and mid bands to 0dB, or unity gain. Then, set the high band frequency to some value in the lower part of its parametric range. The lower you go, the more hiss will be removed, but along with the hiss goes your overall brightness.

September 18th, 2003, 06:46 PM	#1038
Jake McMurray Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bellingham Washington Posts: 102	are we talking external or internal drives here? The going rate on line at reliabe places like newegg.com etc is about $1 a gb or so sometimes less. I just got a 200 gb internal for $160. I did see some external drives with more than 40gb for less than that one somewhere. If you can afford it get a firewire drive. I suppose they are more reliable for transfering video.

September 18th, 2003, 08:19 PM	#1040
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	Thanks for the replies. I just bought a firewire aluminium casing unit with a maxtor 120Gig 7200RPM hard drive for $195. (Didn't realise how much prices have dropped). I did a check in my area, and this was the cheapest solution. The pre-built drives are about $50-$90 more... Although those small cute ones are quite eye-candy. The casing i have doesn't seem to have a brand... but is simple, small enough and slim... looks serious. Am Happy so far.

September 18th, 2003, 08:43 PM	#1042
Jim Shields New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Austin Posts: 19	Awesome. thanks, man. I figured that was the case, but I didn't see too much mention of FCP on the laird site, so I wanted to make sure before lugging my G4 to work.

September 19th, 2003, 01:03 PM	#1044
Peter Richardson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 608	Thanks Michael. I'm looking forward to getting my Maxtor (should arrive any day now.) Peter

September 20th, 2003, 11:46 AM	#1046
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Capture them in two separate passes and sync them on the timeline. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 20th, 2003, 02:43 PM	#1047
Timothy Lab New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Owosso, MI Posts: 13	FCE Upgrade to FCP4 I would like to hear comments on upgrading from Final Cut Express to Final Cut Pro 4 or comments on why I should buy the full version of FCP4. I'm quite unsure of myself using the computer operating system and fear the upgrade will put me in a spin from which I won't recover! Or is it as painless as installing FCE? Tim

September 20th, 2003, 03:26 PM	#1048
Darrell Hinton Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 77	As far installing FCP4 goes, it's just as easy as installing FCE. It's as simple as having your serial number from FCE and following the on-screen directions. As far as content goes, there are many extra features in FCP4 that aren't in FCE (Such as the program Soundtrack, which costs $299 by itself). I wouldn't feel comfortable telling you that you should definately upgrade to FCP4, because it really all depends on what your editing needs are. The upgrade to FCP from Express is pretty expensive ($699 I think). So it really all depends on what the extra features of FCP4 are worth to you. If you plan to edit short or feature films, music videos, or other professional work, then the upgrade may be something you want to get. Although, if you only plan on editing things such as home videos, then the extra features of FCP4 may not be worth the $699 to you. You can look at a full list of the features of FCP4 here: http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro I got the upgrade and I love it (of course I plan to use it to edit music videos and short films. Otherwise I probably would have just stuck with FCE). But beware it does take lots of time and focus to learn how to properly use FCP4, I am still learning. I hope this was helpful. Just go with whichever software you think would best fit your editing needs.

September 20th, 2003, 04:09 PM	#1049
Timothy Lab New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Owosso, MI Posts: 13	Thanks Darrell, There are features in FCP4 that I want to use, so I have made up my mind to proceed. While you left this message, I was talking to an Apple Media Tech, who explained the process of installation to me. As you said, it is the same process as installing Express. Without saying the upgrade and the full version were the same, the Tech stated that the Express serial number would release the same version as the full price; for three hundred dollars less! OK. I get it! As you are aware there are many people who edit for themselves, using professional technique, just because they want to. A hobby. OK, I'll accept that. In January I'll be making my fifth trip to Inner Mongolia since 2000, to get more footage for a series of videos I'm making and they are just for myself and a few colleagues. That's just the tip of it; there's more. Anyway, I thought I would share that with you as I would give the same advice you did! I can't wait to get FCP4. I just needed a push. Thanks again. Tim Lab RailCine Cinematography

September 20th, 2003, 04:32 PM	#1050
Darrell Hinton Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 77	Glad I could help. I think you'll be very happy with FCP4. I am loving it.