Automate FCP? PLEASE?!? at DVinfo.net

Brian Farris · December 30th, 2005, 03:10 PM

Basically, I want the Photoshop Action feature in Final Cut Pro, where I can record a set of tasks, then just press go and it will do it.

For example, I have to edit an hour long clip of a still camera shot recording several performances. I have to manually go in and between each performance, cut out the dead spots where nothing is going on, then put a marker right before the announcer says the name of the next performance.

This is where I want the automation to take place. I usually have to do this manually, but I would love it if I could press a button, then FCP would place a crossfade transition to each cut, then look at the markers, place a PSD of some logos on the timeline where each marker is, lower its opacity to 77, then add a text generation effect to each marker, then it would pause each time it put it so I could type in the team's name, then it would grab some livetype files and place them in order on the timeline where each marker is.

I have to do this about 20 times for each presentation, and there are about 7 or 8 presentations per event, and we have an event every weekend.

Please tell me there is some way I can streamline this process without having to do all of this manually. Please tell me there is a plugin out there that will do this!!

PLEASE!!!

Thank you.

Graeme Nattress · December 30th, 2005, 03:16 PM

This is about the nearest to what you want:

http://www.xmedit.com/

Graeme

Brian Farris · December 30th, 2005, 03:47 PM

I don't think Traffic will look at my markers and put what I need at each marker point.

Any other suggestions?

Brian Farris · December 30th, 2005, 04:03 PM

To give you a better idea of what I'm looking for, I need something that will go from this:

http://www.stinky.rednek.net/images/auto1.png

to this:

http://www.stinky.rednek.net/images/auto2.png

Thanks.

Kevin Wild · December 30th, 2005, 04:17 PM

Traffic is definitely the ONLY tool that will come close to automatically doing all this. It's a very cool program and is worth it's price 10x over IF you have a need that it can help fulfill. I know the creator and the new version is going to be even better...his team is working on V2 (or 1.5) now.

Kevin

Brian Farris · January 2nd, 2006, 10:02 AM

I am pretty desperate for a solution. Here's my idea.

Since the automation in Traffic is based on Apple's XML format, would it be possible to make an applescript to look at the XML format and change certain things about it? Such as, it would be able to see where markers are and tell it to insert something or whatever. I don't know...

If anyone is familiar with this, please enlighten me.

Thanks.

Kevin Wild · January 2nd, 2006, 10:19 AM

Have you tried Traffic yet? If I were you, I'd get the demo and try it. It is very powerful...it is like Automator for Final Cut Pro.

You may also email their tech support. Forrest, the creator of Traffic, is all about making the program solve exact challenges like these.

KW

Brian Farris · January 2nd, 2006, 10:24 AM

Yes, I've tried traffic. It currently does not support markers, but I placed a post very much like this one on their forum expressing my needs. I just would rather not wait on their development team to come out with their next version before I can automate this process.

December 30th, 2005, 03:10 PM	#1
Brian Farris Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 99	Automate FCP? PLEASE?!? Basically, I want the Photoshop Action feature in Final Cut Pro, where I can record a set of tasks, then just press go and it will do it. For example, I have to edit an hour long clip of a still camera shot recording several performances. I have to manually go in and between each performance, cut out the dead spots where nothing is going on, then put a marker right before the announcer says the name of the next performance. This is where I want the automation to take place. I usually have to do this manually, but I would love it if I could press a button, then FCP would place a crossfade transition to each cut, then look at the markers, place a PSD of some logos on the timeline where each marker is, lower its opacity to 77, then add a text generation effect to each marker, then it would pause each time it put it so I could type in the team's name, then it would grab some livetype files and place them in order on the timeline where each marker is. I have to do this about 20 times for each presentation, and there are about 7 or 8 presentations per event, and we have an event every weekend. Please tell me there is some way I can streamline this process without having to do all of this manually. Please tell me there is a plugin out there that will do this!! PLEASE!!! Thank you.

December 30th, 2005, 03:16 PM	#2
Graeme Nattress RED Problem Solver Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,365	This is about the nearest to what you want: http://www.xmedit.com/ Graeme __________________ www.nattress.com - filters for FCP

December 30th, 2005, 03:47 PM	#3
Brian Farris Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 99	I don't think Traffic will look at my markers and put what I need at each marker point. Any other suggestions?

December 30th, 2005, 04:03 PM	#4
Brian Farris Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 99	To give you a better idea of what I'm looking for, I need something that will go from this: http://www.stinky.rednek.net/images/auto1.png to this: http://www.stinky.rednek.net/images/auto2.png Thanks.

December 30th, 2005, 04:17 PM	#5
Kevin Wild Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 540	Traffic is definitely the ONLY tool that will come close to automatically doing all this. It's a very cool program and is worth it's price 10x over IF you have a need that it can help fulfill. I know the creator and the new version is going to be even better...his team is working on V2 (or 1.5) now. Kevin

January 2nd, 2006, 10:02 AM	#6
Brian Farris Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 99	I am pretty desperate for a solution. Here's my idea. Since the automation in Traffic is based on Apple's XML format, would it be possible to make an applescript to look at the XML format and change certain things about it? Such as, it would be able to see where markers are and tell it to insert something or whatever. I don't know... If anyone is familiar with this, please enlighten me. Thanks.

January 2nd, 2006, 10:19 AM	#7
Kevin Wild Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 540	Have you tried Traffic yet? If I were you, I'd get the demo and try it. It is very powerful...it is like Automator for Final Cut Pro. You may also email their tech support. Forrest, the creator of Traffic, is all about making the program solve exact challenges like these. KW

January 2nd, 2006, 10:24 AM	#8
Brian Farris Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 99	Yes, I've tried traffic. It currently does not support markers, but I placed a post very much like this one on their forum expressing my needs. I just would rather not wait on their development team to come out with their next version before I can automate this process.