NLE Mac / Final Cut questions from 2002

David Slingerland · July 19th, 2002, 09:39 AM

I want to make for a client vhs tape with timecode so they can spot and tell me what parts they like most, with my professional equipment i use at my work its no problem because betacam, dvcpro and so on right timecode but what about dv, i know there is timecode but how do i get it on to a vhs tape? is there someone out there who has any experience with this? i use fcp 3.
thanks ,

Jeff Donald · July 19th, 2002, 10:11 AM

I don't believe FCP 3 can produce window dubs. I loaned my manual out, but a quick review of the help content for FCP doesn't mention TC window dubs. I've been burning DVD's for clients and using the DVD times. If you need actual TC Sony and Panasonic make decks with TC out, over video.

Jeff

Rob Moreno · July 19th, 2002, 01:08 PM

Thanks for your reply, Jeff.
I can set keyframes for position, cropping, etc. by clicking on the Motion tab and using the pen tool, but there is no parameter for adjusting the speed that way. The only way I can see to adjust the speed of a clip is using command-J and entering a percentage value in the dialog box. This will allow you change the speed of the entire clip to that value, but I would like to be able to gradually speed up and slow down the clip. Do you know if this is possible?

Jeff Donald · July 19th, 2002, 01:52 PM

The velocity of the clips motion can be changed by dragging the velocity handle in and out. Ease in and Ease Out creates curved keyframes and are set to speed up over time. The linear command creates curved keyframes with a steady rate of speed. The key frames velocity are adjusted in the canvas. Just drag the velocity handle in or out to change the speed along the clips path. Dragging towards the selected keyframe slows it down. Dragging away from the selected keyframe slows it down.

Jeff

Ken Tanaka · July 19th, 2002, 11:23 PM

Please pardon me...it's very late as I write and I've just returned from a really fine dinner with friends. But, if I'm correctly interpreting Rob's question, I don't think that FCP 3 provides a -direct- way to alter the speed of a just a section of a clip.

You can, of course, infinitely change the speed of motion of a clip that's -moving across the frame- by using keyframes much as Jeff suggests. But off-hand I think that to slo-mo a section of a clip within FCP you would split the clip (with the razor tool) and then set the speed of each sub-clip. Eh?

Rik Sanchez · July 20th, 2002, 12:31 AM

Rob, Ken is correct, to change the speed you have to splice up the clip and change the speed of each section. Keyframes affect only filters and motion.

Speaking of late, got back today at 10am, exactly 24 hours since I took off to go to Roppongi, there and back in 24 hours,(just 1 hour sleep on the ride back) and it's way past my bedtime, still too wired to sleep.

Glad you re-registered, did you check out the hocus pocus focus thread?

Patrick Coker · July 21st, 2002, 06:43 AM

I just purchased a powerbook 667 and I am trying to partition the drive and it will not let me. It gives a "cannot initialize startup disk error" message. Is it really necessary to partition the drive for FCP? and if it is can somebody PLEASE help me!!!!

Jeff Donald · July 21st, 2002, 08:05 AM

It is recommended that you partition the disk. A non partitioned disk is one of the major causes of dropped frames. Partitioning the drive will erase everything on the drive. Everything will need to be reinstalled after partitioning. Backup everything that is on your drive that cannot be reinstalled from a disk. Find ALL your serial numbers so that software can be reinstalled. All documents, projects, links etc. that you want to save will need to be backed up.

If your still with me, boot off of the install CD. Open folder and find Disk Utility, click partion, choose partition settings, click OK. What size is your drive? I would partition it into 3 or 4 partitions depending on the size of drive, if your using external FW drive, and if your installing OS 9.x.x onto the drive.

Jeff

Rob Moreno · July 21st, 2002, 08:56 AM

Yes, Ken, that's what I was referring to. It's too bad there isn't a way to control the speed of a clip with keyframes in FCP. It seems like that would be a very sought-after feature. For what I need to do, chopping up clips with the razor tool just doesn't cut it -- no pun intended ;-). I need a way to change speed gradually over time, not just in steps.

I'll check out the Hocus Pocus Focus thread, Rik. Ostukare-sama desu.

Jeff Donald · July 21st, 2002, 09:13 AM

Sorry, I miss read what your trying to do. But there are some plug ins that will do what you want. Joe's filters are a set of filters that are really usefull http://www.joemaller.com He has a samples you can download for free. Try the Blender and Warp for smoothing out the clips. http://www.cgm-online.com is a set of plugins, try the speed ramping. Many feel the best is http://www.revisionfx.com/rstwixtor.htm You could also use After Effects and Boris Red, but they cost.

Jeff

Rob Moreno · July 21st, 2002, 07:28 PM

Thanks for the info, Jeff! Time Blender looks like it does exactly what I need.

Ken Tanaka · July 21st, 2002, 10:31 PM

Those FCP plug-ins do look nice, don't they? Reasonably priced, too. Thanks, Jeff!

Patrick Coker · July 21st, 2002, 10:33 PM

thanx! I have a 30gig drive I partitioned it into 3 drives.

bitnaut1 · July 24th, 2002, 12:11 PM

Has anyone tried Magic Bullet on FCP or AE5.5?

I'd like to know if it's worth the $995 for making DV more film like.

e

July 24th, 2002, 11:33 PM

Just looking for feedback on the RT MAC. I'm running FCP3, any problems? Thanks for your time, would like to hear the scoop.

Jo

July 19th, 2002, 09:39 AM	#391
David Slingerland Major Player Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Soest ,Holland Posts: 307	VHS tape with timecode for client? I want to make for a client vhs tape with timecode so they can spot and tell me what parts they like most, with my professional equipment i use at my work its no problem because betacam, dvcpro and so on right timecode but what about dv, i know there is timecode but how do i get it on to a vhs tape? is there someone out there who has any experience with this? i use fcp 3. thanks ,

July 19th, 2002, 01:08 PM	#393
Rob Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 102	Thanks for your reply, Jeff. I can set keyframes for position, cropping, etc. by clicking on the Motion tab and using the pen tool, but there is no parameter for adjusting the speed that way. The only way I can see to adjust the speed of a clip is using command-J and entering a percentage value in the dialog box. This will allow you change the speed of the entire clip to that value, but I would like to be able to gradually speed up and slow down the clip. Do you know if this is possible? __________________ Media Kobo Japan

July 19th, 2002, 11:23 PM	#395
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Please pardon me...it's very late as I write and I've just returned from a really fine dinner with friends. But, if I'm correctly interpreting Rob's question, I don't think that FCP 3 provides a -direct- way to alter the speed of a just a section of a clip. You can, of course, infinitely change the speed of motion of a clip that's -moving across the frame- by using keyframes much as Jeff suggests. But off-hand I think that to slo-mo a section of a clip within FCP you would split the clip (with the razor tool) and then set the speed of each sub-clip. Eh? __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

July 20th, 2002, 12:31 AM	#396
Rik Sanchez ChorizoSmells Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 424	Rob, Ken is correct, to change the speed you have to splice up the clip and change the speed of each section. Keyframes affect only filters and motion. Speaking of late, got back today at 10am, exactly 24 hours since I took off to go to Roppongi, there and back in 24 hours,(just 1 hour sleep on the ride back) and it's way past my bedtime, still too wired to sleep. Glad you re-registered, did you check out the hocus pocus focus thread? __________________ ChorizoSmells Video Barrio Tamatsukuri, Osaka, JAPAN

July 21st, 2002, 06:43 AM	#397
Patrick Coker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn,New York Posts: 169	ok... my computer has issues!!!!!!!!!! I just purchased a powerbook 667 and I am trying to partition the drive and it will not let me. It gives a "cannot initialize startup disk error" message. Is it really necessary to partition the drive for FCP? and if it is can somebody PLEASE help me!!!! __________________ ...all I need is a crumb!

July 19th, 2002, 10:11 AM	#392
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I don't believe FCP 3 can produce window dubs. I loaned my manual out, but a quick review of the help content for FCP doesn't mention TC window dubs. I've been burning DVD's for clients and using the DVD times. If you need actual TC Sony and Panasonic make decks with TC out, over video. Jeff

July 19th, 2002, 01:52 PM	#394
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The velocity of the clips motion can be changed by dragging the velocity handle in and out. Ease in and Ease Out creates curved keyframes and are set to speed up over time. The linear command creates curved keyframes with a steady rate of speed. The key frames velocity are adjusted in the canvas. Just drag the velocity handle in or out to change the speed along the clips path. Dragging towards the selected keyframe slows it down. Dragging away from the selected keyframe slows it down. Jeff

July 21st, 2002, 08:05 AM	#398
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	It is recommended that you partition the disk. A non partitioned disk is one of the major causes of dropped frames. Partitioning the drive will erase everything on the drive. Everything will need to be reinstalled after partitioning. Backup everything that is on your drive that cannot be reinstalled from a disk. Find ALL your serial numbers so that software can be reinstalled. All documents, projects, links etc. that you want to save will need to be backed up. If your still with me, boot off of the install CD. Open folder and find Disk Utility, click partion, choose partition settings, click OK. What size is your drive? I would partition it into 3 or 4 partitions depending on the size of drive, if your using external FW drive, and if your installing OS 9.x.x onto the drive. Jeff

July 21st, 2002, 08:56 AM	#399
Rob Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 102	Yes, Ken, that's what I was referring to. It's too bad there isn't a way to control the speed of a clip with keyframes in FCP. It seems like that would be a very sought-after feature. For what I need to do, chopping up clips with the razor tool just doesn't cut it -- no pun intended ;-). I need a way to change speed gradually over time, not just in steps. I'll check out the Hocus Pocus Focus thread, Rik. Ostukare-sama desu. __________________ Media Kobo Japan

July 21st, 2002, 09:13 AM	#400
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Sorry, I miss read what your trying to do. But there are some plug ins that will do what you want. Joe's filters are a set of filters that are really usefull http://www.joemaller.com He has a samples you can download for free. Try the Blender and Warp for smoothing out the clips. http://www.cgm-online.com is a set of plugins, try the speed ramping. Many feel the best is http://www.revisionfx.com/rstwixtor.htm You could also use After Effects and Boris Red, but they cost. Jeff

July 21st, 2002, 07:28 PM	#401
Rob Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 102	Thanks for the info, Jeff! Time Blender looks like it does exactly what I need. __________________ Media Kobo Japan

July 21st, 2002, 10:31 PM	#402
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Those FCP plug-ins do look nice, don't they? Reasonably priced, too. Thanks, Jeff! __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

July 21st, 2002, 10:33 PM	#403
Patrick Coker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn,New York Posts: 169	thanx! I have a 30gig drive I partitioned it into 3 drives. __________________ ...all I need is a crumb!

July 24th, 2002, 12:11 PM	#404
bitnaut1 New Boot Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC Canada Posts: 10	Magic Bullet Has anyone tried Magic Bullet on FCP or AE5.5? I'd like to know if it's worth the $995 for making DV more film like. e __________________ Ed Araquel bitnautics imaging http://www.bitnautics.com

July 24th, 2002, 11:33 PM	#405
joshishido Posts: n/a	RT MAC anyone? Just looking for feedback on the RT MAC. I'm running FCP3, any problems? Thanks for your time, would like to hear the scoop. Jo