Apple Cinema Tools 4 - Manual (Page 28)

Additionally, because of the way it is recorded, audio is difficult to synchronize at the
telecine during a camera-roll transfer. During a production, the sound recorder typically
starts recording before film starts rolling and ends after filming has stopped. You also will
often shoot some film without sound (known as MOS shots). This means you cannot
establish audio sync at the start of the film roll and expect it to be maintained throughout
the roll. Instead, each clip needs to be synced individually. The Cinema Tools database
includes provisions for tracking the original production sound rolls and audio timecode.
Once captured, a single large clip can be broken into smaller ones, allowing you to delete
the excess video. Even with multiple clips, it is possible for Cinema Tools to generate a
complete cut list with only one database record. Another approach is to manually add
additional records for each clip, allowing you to take advantage of the extensive database
capabilities of Cinema Tools. See
Creating the Cinema Tools Database for a detailed
discussion of these choices.
Scene-and-Take Transfers
Scene-and-take transfers are a bit more expensive than camera-roll transfers, but they
offer significant advantages:
• Scene-and-take transfers make it easier to synchronize audio during the transfer.
• Because the telecine log contains one record per take, it establishes a solid database
when imported into Cinema Tools.
• With an established database, Cinema Tools can export a batch capture list. With this
list (and appropriate device control), Final Cut Pro can capture and digitize the
appropriate takes with minimum effort on your part.
Maintaining an accurate film log and using a timecode slate can help speed the transfer
process and reduce costs.
Frame Rate Basics
When transferring film to video, you need to take into account the differences in film and
video frame rates. Film is commonly shot at 24 frames per second (fps), although 25 fps
is sometimes used when the final project is to be delivered as PAL video (as opposed to
the more common technique of just speeding up 24 fps film to 25 fps). Video can have
a 29.97 fps rate (NTSC), a 25 fps rate (PAL), or either a 24 fps or 23.98 fps rate (24p),
depending on your video standard.
The frame rate of your video (whether you sync the audio during the telecine transfer or
not) and the frame rate you want to edit at can determine what you need to do to prepare
your clips for editing. You may find it useful to read
Determining How to Prepare Source
Clips for Editing before you make any decisions about frame rates.
28 Chapter 2 Before You Begin Your Film Project