Apple Final Cut Pro 7 - Manual (Page 382)

However, with NTSC-related video rates, there is no simple relationship between the
number of audio samples per second and video frames per second. To avoid ambiguity,
the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) specifies how many audio
samples should be mapped to each video frame. The number of audio samples per frame
is varied on a frame-by-frame basis to form a consistent pattern. Instead of an exact
number of samples per frame, a consistent pattern of varying samples is spread over
several frames.
When you import a BWF file, Final Cut Pro calculates timecode based on two parameters:
• The editing timebase (frame rate) of the currently selected sequence preset
• The audio sample rate of the imported BWF file
When the sequence preset frame rate is 29.97 fps and the sample rate of the BWF file is
defined in the SMPTE specification, Final Cut Pro uses the repeating frame pattern defined
in the SMPTE specification.
Drop Frame Indicators in Broadcast Wave Files
There is no ratified standard to indicate or detect whether a BWF file was recorded with
drop frame or non-drop frame timecode. Although there are several de facto ways this
information is stored, Final Cut Pro does not support reading this information. Instead,
Final Cut Pro always calculates non-drop frame timecode for BWF files. You can enforce
drop frame timecode during import or by using the Modify Timecode command. For
more information, see
“Importing Broadcast Wave Files.”
Using Audio CD Tracks in Your Project
Mac OS X recognizes each track on a standard audio CD as an individual AIFF file. These
files can be copied directly from a CD to your hard disk and then imported into
Final Cut Pro without any conversion.
Files copied from an audio CD have a sample rate of 44.1 kHz and sample size (bit depth)
of 16 bits. If you’re working with a DV sequence, you can convert the sample rate using
Final Cut Pro. For more information, see
“Converting Audio Clips to Match Sequence
Settings.”
Important: Do not import clips from a CD or DVD directly into Final Cut Pro. These clips
will go offline as soon as you eject the disc from the drive. Make sure you copy the files
to your hard disk before importing them.
Importing Still Images and Graphics
You can import most graphic formats supported by QuickTime into your project. The
most common ways to create or acquire still images to use in a Final Cut Pro sequence
include:
• Capturing with a digital camera
382 Chapter 26 Importing Media Files into Your Project