Apple Final Cut Pro 6 User Manual
Page 19
18
An Introduction to Final Cut Pro
Step 2:
Setting up
In this phase, you set up your editing system by installing and connecting the
hardware you need, as well as configuring your software. For example, before logging
and capturing, you need to connect the video and audio from your camcorder or
VTR (video tape recorder) to your computer. You also need to make sure that the
correct presets are chosen within Final Cut Pro, so that Final Cut Pro knows what video
and audio formats you are capturing and what kind of device control you’re using.
(Device control allows Final Cut Pro to remotely control video and audio devices.)
Depending on the format and device you are using, setup can be fairly simple
(as it is with DV formats) or more complex. For example, if you are working with an
uncompressed video format, you need to install a third-party video interface in your
computer, as well as a serial port adapter to communicate with the deck.
For more information, see the various chapters on setup, starting with Chapter 11,
“
Step 3:
Logging and capturing
Logging is the process of identifying which shots on tape you want to capture to your
hard disk for editing. While you log, you can add scene and shot descriptions, logging
notes, and markers. Logging also helps you become familiar with your footage before
you begin editing.
Capturing means transferring source media from your video camcorder or deck to your
computer’s hard disk, which creates media files. You can capture media files at any time,
although most footage should be captured before you start editing.
The order in which you log and capture your footage is up to you. There are several
possible workflows, depending upon your work style, the needs of your project, and
the availability of footage. You can log all or most clips before batch capturing them (in
an automated way), or log and then capture each clip individually. You can also log
clips after capturing your footage to a hard disk.
Final Cut Pro allows you to capture video and audio from a wide variety of sources, if
you have the appropriate hardware. See Chapter 15, “
,” on page 235 for more information.