final cut pro

When working with video cameras that record to a memory card, you will use a process called logging and transferring to get the footage into Final Cut. Logging and transferring is the process of extracting the footage into an editable format. Most video cameras record video into a compress format like H.264 or AVCHD, which is difficult or impossible to edit natively. Logging and transferring will allow you to ingest footage into Final Cut Pro in a format that is easier for Final Cut to edit.

To log and capture, first plug your memory card into a memory card reader.

Next, in Final Cut Pro, to to the File menu and select Log And Transfer.

Final Cut Pro will display a special transfer dialogue box. It should automatically find the memory card that is plugged into the system. If not, click the plus-shape folder icon at the upper left-hand corner of the window and locate the media.

• #1 - This area will show a list of the video clips on the card, as well as the duration of each clip.
• #2 - This button is used to change the Intermediate Codec setting, which will be described in the next section.
• #3 - This is the preview window for each clip. This can be played even before the clip has been logged.
• #4 - This is the area where the clip can be marked with IN and OUT points, either by using the buttons here, or by pressing the letters "i" and "o" on the keyboard.
• #5 - This area is to identify clips and include descriptions. It is extremely important to identify clips with relevant information.
• #6 - Only after the IN and OUT points have been set, and the info has been added to the clip, students can drag clips to this area to begin the logging process.

Logging footage

Once the codec has been changed, student can begin going through their footage and marking them with IN and OUT points. Once they have been identified, you should properly label your clips then drag the clips to the queue.

Forgetting to label the clips during the logging process can result in issues later down the line. You should avoid renaming the clips in Final Cut Pro later.

The system is setup in such a way that allows student to drag over several clips even when some are not finished, which simply adds them to the queue for processing. The status column will show a swirl to indicate that clip is processing. The processing can also be paused using the pause button at the top of the queue.

Since the processing takes several minutes (possibly twice as long as the duration of each clip) students should add all of their clips to the queue, then -- as they say -- "go get lunch." The clips should be completed when one returns.