Final Cut Pro 7 Core Training - DVD Edition
In just over 10 years, Final Cut Pro has exceeded 1 million users and has fueled the explosion of professional video production on the Mac. Some would even say that Final Cut Pro started a revolution. Evidence of this can be seen in the countless feature films, television show, music videos, documentaries and commercials that have been edited with Final Cut Pro since its introduction.
In honor of Final Cut Pro's 10th anniversary and the release of Final Cut Pro 7, we set about creating a truly unique training product that is the culmination of our 10 years delivering Final Cut Pro training in both the classroom and on video. The result is Final Cut Pro 7 - Core Training, which encapsulates our mission to provide no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point explanations that won't waste your time, yet provides a thorough real-world context for understanding the big picture.
Final Cut Pro 7 Core Training is presented in 17 individual lessons with a running time of just over 5 hours. The tutorial also includes project files for following along in Final Cut Pro 7. Each lesson focuses on building fundamental editorial skills such as logging your media, organizing your footage, trimming, audio mixing, creating titles and motion effects, color correcting and more!
For full descriptions of each lesson, check out the table of contents
below.
Who is this Tutorial for?
If you are new to Final Cut Pro or just want to brush up on your editing skills, this hands-on tutorial will get you up to speed quickly with focused, efficient lessons. Final Cut Pro Core Training starts from the beginning and assumes no prior knowledge of Final Cut Pro or Mac-based video editing. Our tutorial walks you through the complete post production workflow, from initial media logging to final output. Along the way you'll learn techniques to make you more productive using Final Cut Pro's arsenal of editing and compositing tools. Each step in the editing workflow is presented in easy-to-follow learning modules that include chapter markers you can use to navigate to the section you want to watch. It's the next best thing to having Steve beside you.
Go Tape or Tapeless
Whether you are shooting on video tape, hard drive or flash memory cards, we've included 2 comprehensive lessons on the how to bring your media into Final Cut Pro 7.
Edit like a Pro
Learn how to take advantage of Final Cut Pro's powerful editing tools such as the Ripple tool (pictured here) to make fast adjustments to your edit points.
Color Correct Your Footage
Learn how to dramatically improve your footage using Final Cut Pro 7's Color Corrector 3 Way Filter. We also show you some amazing time-saving tips for working with Filters.
Final Cut Studio Workflows
In lesson 16 you will learn how to send your sequences and clips from Final Cut Pro to other Studio apps such as Motion, Soundtrack Pro and Color. The picture below is from the chapter on using Motion Templates in Final Cut Pro.
Create Eye-Catching Titles
Final Cut Pro 7 has an incredible array of titling tools. In Lesson 12 you will work with Final Cut Pro's text generators, the Boris 3D Generaotor and a layered Photoshop document to create a network ID or "bug".
Apply Motion Effects
In lesson 15, you'll dive into Final Cut Pro's Motion tab to create split-screens, piture-in-picture effects and learn how to animate photos using keyframes.
Sweeten Your Audio
Anything you do to your soundtracks to enhance them is called "sweetening". In lesson 10, you'll learn how to properly read the digital meters, when to link and unlink audio and video, and how to mix your audio using keyframes and the audio mixer.
Share Your Movies
In lesson 17, learn how to properly QC your movies before exporting, then use Final Cut Pro 7's new Share command to create iPhone, iPod, DVD or Blu-ray formatted movies for playback on these devices.
Table of Contents
Getting Started
- Working with the Mac OS
- Choosing a Setup
- QuickTour of the Interface
- Window Arragements
- Using the Modifier Keys
- Understanding Projects
- Importing Media
- Clips vs. Media Files
- User Preferences
- Mouse & Keyboard Preferences
Capturing From Tape Based Media
- Understanding Video Formats
- SD, HD, Interlaced and Progressive Video
- Firewire, USB, and Third Party I/O Cards
- Preparing Final Cut Pro for Tape Capture
- Choosing an Easy Setup
- Anatomy of the Log & Capture Window
- Determining Clip Capture Settings
- Determining Storage Requirements
- Setting a Scratch Disc
- Working in the Logging Tab
- Logging Your Tape
- Method 1: Log First, Capture Later
- How to Power Log
- Batch Capturing
- Method 2: Capture First, Log Later
Transferring From Memory Based Media
- Overview of File Based Workflow
- Mounting Media Devices
- Backing Up Your Media
- Exploring the Log & Transfer Window
- Viewing Clips in the Browse Area
- Choosing a Destination Codec
- Adding Clips to the Transfer Queue
- Logging Clips
- Using Clip Naming Presets
- Choosing a Logging Bin
Working in the Browser
- Working with Column Data
- Viewing Film Transfer Data
- Viewing & Changing Clip Thumbnails
- Sorting Column Data
- Working with Clips in Icon View
- Getting Item Properties
- Organizing Your Project with Bins
- Better Bin Organization
Marking Clips in the Viewer
- Opening Clips in the Viewer
- Navigating Through a Clip
- JKL Navigation
- Marking Clips
- Using the Transport Buttons
- Clips with One or No Markers
- Marking Clips on the Fly
- Working in the Audio Tab
- Creating Subclips From an Interview
- Marking by Timecode
Building a Sequence
- Understanding Sequences
- Introduction to the Patch Panel
- Adding Clips to a Sequence
- Making an Insert Edit
- Making an Overwrite Edit
- Patching to Control Track Placement
- Making 3-Point Edits
- Performing a Back-Timed Edit
- Drag & Drop Editing
- Drag & Drop Snap Edits
Working in the Timeline
- Duplicating Your Sequences
- Navigating the Timeline
- Selecting Clips
- Cut, Copy & Paste
- Moving Clips
- Removing Clips
- Removing Unwanted Video (Blade Tool)
- Lift and Ripple Delete Edits
- Removing Unwanted Video (Add Edit)
- Segment Editing
- Replace Editing
- Copying Content Between Sequences
- Locating Clips (Match Frame & Reveal Master Clip)
- Creating Custom Button Sets
Using the Trimming Tools
- Trimming with the Selection Tool
- Trimming with the Ripple Tool
- Using Play Around Current
- Numeric Ripple Edits
- Rippling Two Edit Points
- Trimming with the Roll Tool
- Creating a Split Edit
- Trimming with the Slip Tool
- Trimming with the Slide Tool
- Playing Back Your Rough Cut
Working with Markers
- Adding Sequence Markers
- Creating Marker Shortcuts
- Adding Extended Markers
- Navigating to Markers
- Deleting and Moving Markers
- Adding Clip Markers & Aligning to Sequence Markers
- Adding Markers on the Fly
- Ripple Sequence Markers
- 3-Point Editing to Music
Working with Audio
- Linking & Unlinking
- Soft Linking vs. Hard Linking
- Working with Stereo Paired Tracks
- Adding Music
- Understanding the Signal Path
- Reading the Audio Meters
- Isolating Tracks
- Controlling Track Volume Levels
- Ducking the Audio
- Automating a Mix
-
Using the Voice Over Tool
Adding Transitions
- Adding Audio Transitions
- Adding Video Transitions
- Changing the Default Transition
- Replacing Transitions
- Adding Multiple Transitions
- Editing Transitions
- Rolling an Edit with a Transition
- Transition Editing Options
- Rendering & Real Time Effects
- Unlimited vs. Safe RT
- Rendering Options
Creating Titles
- Importing Files
- Adding an Animated Background
- Working with Text Generators
- Consolidating Video Tracks
- Superimposing Text
- Editing the Text Generator
- Splitting Text Generators
- Maximizing Text Quality
- Animating Text
- Using the Boris Generator
- Saving & Recalling Text Styles
- Animating Opacity
- Working with Photoshop Files
- Adding a Network ID "Bug"
Making Speed Changes
- Constant Speed Changes
- Ease In and Ease Out Controls
- Modifying the Speed Graph
- Applying Speed Changes to Multiple Clips
- Variable Speed Changes with Speed Segments
- Using the Speed Tool
- Creating Freeze Frames
Applying Filters
- Applying Filters
- Creating "Looks" for Your Video
- Copying & Pasting Filters
- Keyframing Filters
- Working with Multiple Filters
- Saving and Reusing Filters
- Using the SmoothCam Filter
- Color Correction Your Shots
- Reading the Waveform Monitor
- Improving Contrast
- Copying Color Correction Settings
- Reading the Vectorscope
- Improving Color Balance
- Color Balancing Faces
Creating Motion Effects
- Creating a Picture in Picture Effect
- Animating Motion Properties
- Copying and Pasting Attributes
- Creating a Split-Screen Effect
- Animating Photos
- Reusing Saved Motion Effects
Final Cut Studio Workflows
- Adding a Master Template
- Modifying the Template in Final Cut Pro
- Modifying the Template in Motion
- Sending Clips to Soundtrack Pro
- Removing Unwanted Sounds
- Sending Sequences to Color
- Applying a Preset Look
Outputting Your Movie
- Preparring Your Sequence for Output
- Evaluating & Adjusting White Levels
- Using the Broadcast Safe Filter
- Detecting Audio Peaks
- Adjusting the Master Mix
- Printing to Tape
- Using the Share Menu
- Creating iPhone Video
- Creating DVD or Blu-ray Discs
- Archiving Your Project
Minimum System Requirements for Viewing Tutorials
- Mac Computer with 1.25 GHz or faster G5, Intel Core Duo or Intel Xeon processor
- MacOS 10.4.11 or Mac OS 10.5.5 or later
- 8x or faster DVD ROM drive
- 1 GB or more of RAM
- iTunes 8 or later
- QuickTime 7.5 or later
- Monitor Depth - Millions
- 1280 x 800 screen size or better
Minimu System Requirements for Following Along in Final Cut Pro 7
- Mac Computer with Intel Core Duo or Intel Xeon processor
- Mac OS Mac OS 10.5.6 or later
- 8x or faster DVD ROM drive
- 1 GB or more of RAM (2GB - 4GB Recommended)
- iTunes 8 or later
- QuickTime 7.6 or later
- Monitor Depth - Millions
- 1280 x 800 screen size or better
