Cycle Two
Post-Production
Reviewing and
Logging Footage
- Review all audio
and video captured during production.
- Create a log sheet
of your footage that contains the following information:
- Reel Name and
Number (unique identification for each video tape)
- Shot description
(short description of the shot and some notes on the quality of the take)
- Location on
tape (time code number as seen on display on camera)
- From your review
and logging decide what clip or clips should be captured for post-production.
Digitizing Footage
Digital video editing software varies
by manufacturer and version, however the concepts are the same. The examples
given here are using Final Cut Pro Version 3.0 referred to from now on as “FCP.”
Connection to the Computer:
Digital video is transferred using
a protocol (a system of cables and digital communication) called IEEE 1394.
IEEE 1394 is a standard defining a high-speed serial bus.
This protocol is also named FireWire
by Apple
or
i.Link by Sony.
For the purposes of this instruction
the term FireWire will be used.
A digital video camera can connect to a computer to allow the transfer of video,
audio and control information that can then be edited on the computer.
The transfer of digital video is
done using a FireWire cable.
The FireWire cable has two types
of connectors
- Four pin connection
- Six pin connection
The connection on the Digital Video
Camera is a four pin connection. Locate the Digital Video in and out on the
camera.
The connection on the Computer is
a six pin connection.
The FireWire cable
connects from the Digital Video Camera to the Computer.
Audio and Video set-up preferences:
Video Codec:
- The video codec is the compression
and decompression algorithm that is used to encode digital video.
- Most consumer Digital Video
Cameras use the codec called “DV NTSC”
DV = Digital Video
NTSC = National Television Standards Committee (North American)
Audio bit depth and sample rate:
Frame Rate:
29.97 fps (frames per second)
Resolution or Image Size:
720 x 480 pixels
Scratch Disk:
- Most Digital Video editing systems
require that you define a “Scratch Disk” in order to capture
audio and video.
- The scratch disk is where the
computer will write audio and video information temporarily while it is
capturing.
-
If there is
only one Hard Drive on your computer then that will be the scratch disk,
however if you have more then one Hard Drive it is best to assign one
of the drives to your system software and the other to data (video, audio,
image files). The data Hard Drive then should become the scratch disk
Capturing a clip in
FCP
Make sure that:
- Your camera is connected to the
computer using a FireWire Cable.
- Your camera is in VTR mode (see
cycle one for camera modes) with power on.
- Your footage is cued up in your
camera.
- You start FCP after all connections
have been made.
Then Do The Following:
- From the “File” menu
select “Log and Capture…” (or Apple-8) to open the Log and
Capture window.
- In the Log and Capture window
select the tab called “Capture Settings” to set your capture preferences
and your scratch disk
- To capture a clip from your camera
click on the “Capture – Now” button, then push play on your
camera.
- Once the footage you want has
been captured hit “esc” on your computer keyboard, then press
“stop” on you camera’s VTR controls.
- The clip you just captured will
appear in a separate window. You can close this window which will bring up
a dialog box asking if you want to save it. Make sure to name the clip meaningfully
and to save the clip in a folder where you can find it later.
- Close the “Log and Capture”
window.
Importing
a clip into FCP
Clips that you have captured can
be imported into FCP from the “File” menu select “Import”
then “Files,” locate the clip then select “Choose.”
The four main windows in FCP are:
- Browser
– this is the bin where all your video, audio, stills, and sequences
are kept.
- Timeline
– this window shows the linear sequence of images and sound as they
are layered over time. This is where you assemble your final cut.
- Viewer
– this window allows a preview of clips that can be edited before they
are placed in the time line.
- Canvas
– this window shows what has been assembled in the Timeline window.
Making a still frame
There are two
ways to make still frames in FCP:
- Creating a still
frame to use only in FCP
- Double click
on the clip that contains the frame you wish to use to open it in the
Viewer.
- Move the play
head to the frame you want
- From the “Modify”
menu select “Make freeze frame”
- The frame can
now be used as a still and dragged into the Timeline.
- Creating a still
frame to use in any application
- Double click on
the clip that contains the frame you wish to use to open it in the Viewer.
- Move the play
head to the frame you want
- From the “File”
menu select “Export” then “Quick Time"
- Set “Format”
to “Still Image”
- Select “Options”
and set “Format” to “JPEG” (or “PICT”).
- Name the file
and save it in your folder.
- This file is now
ready to be imported into FCP or another application (such as Word or Photoshop).
Adding
Audio Tracks
- Capture audio the
same way you captured a video clip.
- Import audio into
the Browser
- Drag and drop the
audio onto the Timeline