Matt Goudey VCAM's blog

For any of you who are not on the VMX setup yet, you can still download programs using the Pando application (freeware) and convert them to whatever format you like using Apple Compressor, a program that comes with the Final Cut Studio suite. If you want to know how, post a reply to this and I will upload a video tutorial.

Nair wrote:

Matt, I don't think this is a viable solution for us. Can you boost the
audio level prior to upload? We are aware of the process. The lack of
manpower and time being the reason. Thanks,
Náir

M. S. Náir
Technical Director,
(Technology & IT Solutions)

ORCA Media Inc.
89 Main St, City Center
Montpelier, VT 05602

Phone: (802) 224 9901
Fax : (802) 223 0432Kenric Wrote:

Kenric wrote:

Not sure, I'm asking Nair this question. I don't think we have time to check every program that comes down on VMX; we assume that the the person doing the uploading has checked that the program is ready for air.

Oh, I just got this week's mass DVD in the mail.

Kenric Kite
ORCA Media
89 Main Street, City Center
Montpelier, VT 05602
www.orcamedia.net
(802) 224-9901
kkite@orcamedia.net

On Jul 1, 2008, at 11:39 AM, Matthew Goudey wrote:

Just checked the file. It is really low on the original. So, if you want, once you get the MPEG2 from the VMX you could run it through Compressor with an audio gain and boost the level. If you decide to do this let me know and I will make a quick video tutorial on how to if you don't already know.

Matt

On Jul 1, 2008, at 11:22 AM, Kenric Kite wrote:

Thursday would be much better, especially this week. Thank you!

On another matter, we are running "The Cost of the War" series yesterday and today (it's on right now) and there is very low audio. Not really audible, even when the TV is turned up all the way.

Kenric Kite
ORCA Media
89 Main Street, City Center
Montpelier, VT 05602
www.orcamedia.net
(802) 224-9901
kkite@orcamedia.net

On Jul 1, 2008, at 10:54 AM, Matthew Goudey wrote:

Tell me when you need it by and I will get it on the VMX by that day.

On Jul 1, 2008, at 9:44 AM, Kenric Kite wrote:

Matt,
no apologies, pleeeeeze! I just want to know if the diocese is now using VMX or still sending out. The problem for us is that Friday is a bit late for getting it.

Kenric Kite
ORCA Media
89 Main Street, City Center
Montpelier, VT 05602
www.orcamedia.net
(802) 224-9901
kkite@orcamedia.net

On Jul 1, 2008, at 9:39 AM, Matthew Goudey wrote:

My mistake Kenric, sorry.

I uploaded the video on Friday, but did not get to publish the page until yesterday. So, it was there, on the VMX server, but not able to be downloaded because I was a slacker... I will make sure that does not happen again. I will make sure they are available by Friday for download.

Again, I am very sorry about this. I am still trying to figure out an efficient way of uploading all our content and having it available immediately.

Won't happen again.

Matt

On Jul 1, 2008, at 9:33 AM, Kenric Kite wrote:

Matt,
Just got my VMX daily digest. The Catholic Mass there is listed as 6/29/08, which has passed. The Masses we receive through the mail are for the Sunday upcoming. Does this mea we are now to download the most recent VMX file, or is the diocese still sending out videos? They have not contacted me about it.

Thanks,

Kenric Kite
ORCA Media
89 Main Street, City Center
Montpelier, VT 05602
www.orcamedia.net
(802) 224-9901
kkite@orcamedia.net

When adding text to your video, keep in mind that bitmap (pixel-based) images take less time to render than vector (mathematically-based) graphics.
.
So what does this mean for you? If you create your graphics in FCP using the text tool, don't render the sequence with that text element in the timeline. Instead, make a Freeze Frame (shift-n) of the text and place that in the timeline.
.
This works best for lower thirds and static text. If you need a scroll, using a photoshop text file with an alpha (transparent) channel is best, and then keyframe the center in the motion tab.
.
another note: changing the center in the motion tab requires less rendering than moving the location of the clip using the wireframe.
.

Did you know that when you import a Photoshop project into FCP, Final Cut recognizes the layers? It will import the PS document as an individual sequence in FCP. Then you can animate the individual layers if necessary. If you want to make changes to the PS document, righ click on the document in the browser and choose "open in editor". (You may have to set the preferences to select PS as the editor for still images.)

Here is the key. FCP will not import Photoshop effects. So, if you want a drop shadow, you'll have to do that in FCP.

It's fairly easy to create a DVD from your original file from Final Cut. Here are a few options, along with a movie if you want a slightly more custom DVD.
When done with your Final Cut video, choose File/Export/Export Quicktime Movie and deselect Make Movie Self Contained(Very important step). Then, open DVD Studio Pro, and drag your Quicktime Movie into the Assets pane at the bottom of your GUI (Graphic User Interface...) and it will either start to compress immediately or it will compress when you burn the DVD. Those settings are in the preferences, but are not important right now.
.
Next, click in the Graphical area (has the blue menu and the green track nodes) and click the Blue menu, then delete it. Then, right click on the Green track node and select First Play from the contextual menu.
That's it. This DVD will burn, with no play button, but you will be able to press play on the DVD remote and it will start your movie. When it is done, it will go back to the gray screen and you will need to press play again to start it.
If you want it to loop, you can connect the track's End Jump to itself and it will loop until you stop it.
For a slightly more complex version, try this:
click here for movie
Hope this helps.

This is a combined post from yesterday and today.
Adding transitions to text and overlay clips can be a tedious task, especially if you are adding the same transition to many clips. There are a few ways to do this.
.
There are a few keystrokes we need to know before watching the movie.
The first is the "v" key. It will select the nearest edit point on the track that is auto selected. (Auto select buttons are the first column of buttons to the left of the timeline tracks.)
.
Also, we need to know how to navigate from one edit point to the next without dragging the playhead. If you use the up and down arrow keys you can jump to the previous or next edit point, respectively. (This is not dependent on autoselect.)
And last, we need to know that the cmd-T combination applies the default transition to a selected clip.
.
click here for movie
.
This may be a little tough to get at first, but keep with it. You'll be amazed at how much time you will save when you get this down.
.
Enjoy!

I tried to make a different tutorial on Saturday about adding quick transitions to text, but it wouldn't go through, so maybe I'll do it again tomorrow. BUt for today:

Did you know that if you place a marker in the timeline ruler (meaning when you place a marker, make sure no clips are selected, and the marker will appear where the playhead is in the timeline) you can right click in the timeline ruler (where the numbers are) and go directly to any marker with a single click.

This is very useful if you are comparing parts of a timeline that are separated by a long space and you want to be able to jump back and forth without scrubbing. Or, if you want to go back to a certain spot after you have done some other editing.

Make sure you name your markers. You do this by hitting the "m" key twice. Once to set the marker, and the second time to name it. When you right click in the timeline ruler, you will see the names of the markers at the bottom.

There are so many keyboard shortcuts, it gets daunting, I know. But there are a few that are a must for speeding up your workflow and eliminating errors while editing.
.
.
.
.
The first to know is the "a" key. This is the "Select Tool" which is your default arrow tool. You should be in the habit of pressing the "a" key after you finish using any other tool. The reason is that if you use, say, the blade tool, make a few cuts, and then try to immediately select the part to cut out, you will only be making another cut. You can't turn a tool off, you can only select another tool. Since the Select Tool is fairly non-destructive (the Hand Tool being the most non-destructive) you are safe from making errors that have to be undone.
.
.
.
.
The second is the "cmd-z" keystroke. If you make an error with your tools (or anything else for that matter) you don't have to go to Edit/Undo, you can just press "cmd-z" (CMd is the abbreviatioin for the Command key, which is the one with the "Place of Interest" symbol on it. Looks like a cloverleaf...) Keep in mind that you have limited UNDOs, so don't go to far from an error.
p.s. If you want to experiment with any filters or text in a sequence, create another sequence, copy your timeline from sequence one into sequence two, and do the experiments there. If you like what you did, you can always copy and paste back into the original, but if you don't like it, you don't have to worry about the undo limits, you can just delete the new sequence...
.
.
.
.
The third is the "n" key, which is used for toggling the snapping feature of FCP. Snapping is imperative when you are placing clips within the timeline, but a real pain in the butt when you are trying to navigate (scrub) through the timeline. Especially if you want to get close to an edit point to see those last few frames, right? So you have to either zoom way in, or keep clicking the snapping button on the right of the timeline. The "n" key will toggle this for you.
p.s. A new feature of FCP 6: if you start dragging in your timeline, and then press the "n" key, it will toggle snapping on or off (depending on its previous state) only for the duration of that operation. When you let go of the mouse, snapping will return to its previous state. This is very handy, as it reduces the amount of times you need to press "n" by half. And, you cannot use this feature without the keystroke "n", because you must keep your mouse in the timeline.
.
.
.
.
These are the most commonly used functions. So keep your left hand (if you're a righty) on the keyboard and get used to hitting these keys. It may take a few hours of using FCP to get used to not using the mouse, but trust me, break the habit. Force yourself, even if it takes longer to edit a particular piece, force yourself to use the keystrokes instead of the mouse. Once it becomes natural, you will be surprised at how much time it will save you.
.
.
.
Some other good strokes to remember:
"j" - plays a clip in reverse at variable speeds (keystroke is cumulative)
"L" - plays a clip forward at variable speeds (keystroke is cumulative)
"k" - stops a clip from playing (does not start playback)
(these three keys are a great "Home Row" for FCP. No more clicking play buttons in the
viewer/canvas.)
"b" - switches between the Razor Blade tool, and the Razor Blade All tool
(press "b" twice quickly while in the timeline window and you will get the double blade icon.
This will allow you to cut through the entire timeline, instead of just one clip.)
"shift-L" - toggles Linked Selection. This will allow you to choose just audio or just video in the
timeline without losing the A/V connection. Good for L-cuts.
"shift-z" - fit to window _ works in the timeline, viewer, and canvas - fits all info into forward window

Learn them as you need them. Don't try to memorize them all at once.

Enjoy!

Do you find yourself repeating operations frequently in your Timeline window, or the Viewer, and are sick of going to the menu bar everytime, or right clicking three menus deep? Did you know you can add custom button bars to every window in the Final Cut Pro GUI (Graphic User Interface).

www.vermontcam.org/Media/linkImages/customize_buttons.mov

click here for movie

Very easy and can save a TON of time on those long edits. It's also a good way to learn the keyboard shortcuts as long as you leave tool tips on in the User Preferences.

Enjoy!