1st Edition

Final Cut Pro X for iMovie and Final Cut Express Users Making the Creative Leap

By Tom Wolsky Copyright 2012
    408 Pages
    by Routledge

    408 Pages
    by Routledge

    Updates and addendum for the new version of FCPX (10.0.3) are available on the companion website, fcpxbook.com.

    Are you an iMovie or Final Cut Express user ready to make the jump to Final Cut Pro? If so, look no further.

    Take your movies to the next level with this easy-to-follow, hand-on guide from one of the preeminent Apple trainers in the world today. Author Tom Wolsky starts with the basics of Final Cut Pro X, allowing you to easily make the leap from Final Cut Express or iMovie, then gradually introduces you to more complex techniques with step-by-step tutorials. Tom specifically shows you how certain techniques and concepts you utilized in iMovie and Final Cut Express translate to Final Cut Pro.

    More than a button-pushing manual, this editing workshop gives your firsthand experience with the art and technique of editing with Final Cut Pro. It includes in-depth information on the application's features, interface elements, and tools. You will develop a working knowledge of the principles and methods taught in film schools with tutorials that covers the essentials:


    . Nuances of system set-up to ensure smooth operation

    . Getting your tape-based and file-based AVCHD and DSLR media into Final Cut Pro and getting it organized

    . Editing to build and trim a sequence of shots

    . Working with audio, split edits, back-timing and level control

    . Adding transitions

    . Final Cut Pro titling tools

    . Color correction, image animation, and special effects

    . Compositing to enhance your projects

    . Outputting your material

    LESSON 1: Getting Started
    iMovie and Final Cut Express
    What You Really Need
      Multiple Drives
      Optimizing Your Computer For FCP
      Monitors
    Firing Up the Application
      The Primary Panels
      Windows Arrangements
    Summary

    LESSON 2:  The Interface
    Loading the Lesson
    The Event Library
      Event Library Buttons
    The Browser
      Event Browser Controls
      Filmstrip View
      List View
      Viewing Clips
      Event Browser Details
    The Viewer
    The Inspector
    Toolbar
      Dashboard
      Left Side Buttons
      Right Side Buttons
    The Project Library
    The Timeline
    Quick Edit
    Summary

    LESSON 3:   Preferences & Importing
    User Preferences
      Editing
      Playback
      Import
      Preference Files
    Creating a New Event
    Importing
    Importing from Camera
      Creating Camera Archives
      File-based Camera
      Reimporting Files
      Importing from Tape-based Cameras
      Importing from iPhoto and Aperture
      Importing from iMovie
      Importing XML
    Converting Files
      Importing Music
    Summary

    LESSON 4:  Organization
    Loading the Lesson
    Organizing the Clips
      Naming Clips
    Keywords
    Favorites & Rejects
      Search Filter
    Smart Collections
    Other Tools
      Compound Clips and Auditions
    Summary

    LESSON 5:  Editing Basics: The Edit Functions
    Loading the Lesson
    Look Before You Cut
    Editing Clips
      Append
      Insert
      Connect
      Overwrite
      Replace
      Audition
    Summary

    LESSON 6:  Advanced Editing: Trimming
    Loading the Lesson
    Trimming Shots
      Moving Shots
      Add Edits and Gap Clips
      Marking a Selection
      Range Selection
      Trim Shortcuts
    Trim Tools
      The Ripple Edit
      The Roll Edit
      The Slip Edit
      The Slide Edit
      The Position Tool
      Trimming Connected Clips
    The Precision Editor
    Summary

    LESSON 7:  WorkingWithAudio
    Setting Up the Project
    The Split Edit
      Making Split Edits
      Trimming Expanded Clips
    Controlling Levels
      Audio Meters
      Audio Enhancements
      Channel Configurations
      Roles
      Mixing Levels in the Timeline
      Fading Levels in the Timeline
      Changing Levels on Part of a Clip
      Setting Clip Levels
      Match Audio
    Pan Levels
    Editing Music
      Adding Markers
      Connecting Clips
      Timeline Index
    Synchronizing Clips
    Recording Audio
    Summary

    LESSON 8:  Adding Transitions
    Loading the Lesson
    Applying Transitions
      Available Media
      Adjusting Transitions and Clips
      Transitions and Connected Clips
      Transitions and Audio
    Transitions Browser
    Summary

    LESSON 9:  Basic Titles
    Setting Up The Project
    Titles Browser
      Build In/Out
      Text Controls
      Text Styles
      Title Fades
      Bumpers, Opens, Credits, and Elements
      Lower Thirds
      Find and Replace
    Generators and Themes
      Generators
      Themes
    Custom Animation
    Compound Titles
      Text
      Texture
      Putting It All Together
    Still Images
      Resolution
    Summary

    LESSON 10:  Adding Effects
    Setting Up the Project
    Applying An Effect
      Coping and Pasting
      Animating Effects
      Audition Effects
    Video Effects
      Basics
      Blur
      Distortion
      Keying
      Light
      Looks
      Stylize
      Tiling
    Audio Effects
    Retiming
      Constant Speed Changes
      Variable Speed
    Stabilization
    Summary

    Lesson 11:  Color Correction
    Color Correction
      Color Balance
      Video Scopes
      Color Board
      White Balance
      Silhouette
      Night
      Broadcast Safe
      Match Color
      Looks
    Secondary Color Correction
      Shape Mask
      Color Mask
    Summary

    LESSON 12:  Animating Images
    Setting Up the Project
    Transform
      Scale
      Rotation
      Center
      Aspect Ratio
    Straight Motion
    Curved Motion
      Changing Speed
    Crop
      Trim
      Crop
      Ken Burns
    Distort
    Opacity
    Motion Control
      Pan and Scan
    Split Screen
      Picture in Picture
    Multilayer Animation
    Summary

    LESSON 13:  Compositing
    Setting Up the Project
      Generator Shapes
      Transparency
      Compositing Modes
      Compositing Exercise
      Screen
      Animated Text Composite
      Adding a Bug
    Travel Mattes
      Soft Edge Split Screen
      Highlight Matte
    Video in Text
      Making Text
      Compound Clips
      Separating Letters
      Adding Video
      Edging
    Summary

    LESSON 14:  Outputting from Final Cut Pro
    Share
      Media Browser
      Apple Devices
      Blu-ray Disc
      DVD
      YouTube, Vimeo and Others
    Export
      Roles
      Current Frame
      Image Sequence
    Compressor
      Send to Compressor
      Use Compressor Settings
    Summary

    Biography

    Tom Wolsky is an honors graduate of the London School of Film Technique with nearly 40 years of professional experience spanning film, tape, and digital production. Tom operates an independent studio, South Coast Productions. He also teaches for Apple Computer and for the Digital Media Academy and serves as a forum leader on creativecow.net