Final Cut Podcast Procedure

Since I can lose hours at a time due to mistakes with Final Cut Pro, I've decided that it's time to do like I do at work and write up a procedure to follow. It amazes me how often I forget a step.

Capturing HD Video

Plug in Sony HVR-A1U into Firewire port before starting Final Cut Pro

Copy whole HD tape to external drive in one step. FC will automatically break up scenes based on breaks in the tape. (TO-DO: Write actual steps)

Review HD video, renaming scenes, break out into folders ("bins" in video editing terminology).

Naming convention: All bin names should start with "HD-"

Capturing SD (Standard Definition) Video

Copy Sanyo Xacti SD video from 4GB card to external drive

Create SD bin (folder) and import SD video into Final Cut Pro project

Review SD footage, renaming scenes, breakout into bins

Naming convention: All bin names should start with "SD-"

Editing for iPod

There are a few ways to do this:

1. Edit an HD sequence, containing both HD and SD then pull final edit into an SD sequence. Pros: You end up with a sequence you can export for HD later. Cons. When you pull into SD, the SD portion is scaled both from the side and the top.

2. Edit an HD sequence, pull HD only into an SD sequence. Then edit that SD sequence along with existing SD footage. Pros: SD sequences fit screen when exported for iPod. Cons: If you export for HD, it is letterboxed. Note that it will be letterboxed anyway when you export for iPod. But it's more of an issue if you want to show it later in an HD format.

I prefer to go with option 1 so that I can go back later and export the same sequence for HD. Right now I'm just concerned with iPod compatible format. But I want to be able to export for HD later without having to rework things.

In the latest version of Final Cut, you can mix and match HD and SD footage in the default sequence. If you plugged the HD camera in and had it on before you opened Final Cut Pro it will create a suitable default HD project for you. I just use the default settings. Rename the default sequence so that the name starts with "HD-"

Once you have the HD sequence finalized, create a new SD sequence with the following settings:

640 x 480 NTSC (4:3)

Square

Upper Odd

Compressor HDV 1080i60

Rename the sequence so that the name starts with "SD-"

Drag the HD sequence into the SD sequence

When it prompts you to convert, make sure you click "No"

You will need to wait for Final Cut Pro to render the SD sequence. This can take quite a long time depending on the size of your file.

Note that if you decide later that you still want to edit something, edit the original HD sequence. That way you preserve your edits for a later HD export. Also, when you do, if you go back to the SD sequence you will see that there are red lines indicating portions that you need to render again.

Exporting

NOTE: TO-DO
Tagging

Open the iPod file and edit the tags in iTunes.