Final Cut Pro
Apple's Final
Cut Pro is specialty
software, requested by one or more faculty members for the purpose of being
taught and used in class. This document contains information on several topics
important for users of this package to know. Please read this document completely
before creating a Final Cut Pro project. Those planning to create a DVD(s)
of their project(s) should also refer to our documentation on DVD Studio Pro.
Final
Cut Pro is part of the Apple
Final Cut Pro Suite, which is installed in the Fine
Arts, King,
and Young (Macintosh)
Labs and in the Journalism and Young Macintosh video editing bays.
For more specific information, please see our software
list or ask a lab helpdesk consultant.
Primary support for the FCP Suite is provided
by the instructor(s) who requested it. Support by Student Computing Services
consultants is limited to opening, saving, printing, and the information
on this page. Questions should be directed to your instructor. Additional
support is provided through use of the electronic manuals accessible through
the applications' Help menus and on Apple's FCP
Support webpage.
You are welcome to ask the lab consultant
on duty for assistance, but please recognize that s/he has not been trained
on this application and may not be able to adequately answer your question
or solve your problem.
Configuring
Scratch Disks | Final
Cut Quits on Launch | Storage Options | Sound
Issues | Version Conflicts
Note: Scratch disk settings are not
currently sticking from launch to launch, so all users need to reset their
scratch disks EACH time they launch FCP. This is a known issue under Leopard
in our lab environment. We will post an update when a fix is available.
Final Cut Pro uses "scratch disks" to
store imported video, render files, and cache files created during the editing
process. If your scratch disks are not configured properly, you will not
be able to use Final Cut Pro! Make sure to check your scratch disks whenever
you launch FCP, especially if you use different computers. Plug in your FireWire
hard drive before beginning. When the drive mounts on the desktop, double-click
the icon and create a new folder for your Final Cut Pro files. Complete the
following steps:
- Open the Final Cut Pro application.
- Choose System Settings from the Final Cut Pro menu.
- Make sure the Scratch Disks tab is selected.
- Click the "Set..." button in the top line
of the capture window and select the folder you created on your FireWire
drive.
- Repeat this folder selection process using the Set
buttons next to Waveform Cache, Thumbnail Cache, and Autosave Vault.
When you are finished, each of these four locations should
begin with your_drive_name/ instead of Users1/. (See
example) Make sure that the you select the specific project folder on
your drive or the files will be scattered around the volume and may conflict
with other projects on your drive. This can result in permanent loss of work.
If you are using the Temporary_Storage volume, repeat the
steps above using the Temporary_Storage volume instead of your FireWire drive.
When you create the folder, title it with your login ID to distinguish
it from other users' work. Remember to select that specific folder when you
are configuring your settings, or your files may conflict with those of other
users. (See example)
This is a common problem with FCP that occurs when a user's
scratch disks are not set properly. The program may appear to function normally
while it is running, but will not relaunch after it is quit. The solution
requires the deletion of certain user preference files - please ask for help
from a consultant! After the files have been deleted, correct configuration
of the scratch disks will prevent the problem from recurring.
Digital video files can often take up several gigabytes
of storage space, much more than the amount allotted to each user account.
Although we offer some storage space on the hard drive of each computer in
our lab, we strongly recommend that users purchase personal FireWire drives.
For more information, see our digital video storage recommendations.
FCP may fail to output sound during editing. The solution
is to leave the Log and Capture window open in the background during editing.
This window may be minimized to the dock to keep it out of the way when not
in use.
If sound is still not heard, check to make sure that the
clip has sound, that the volumes of the clip and of the computer system are
turned up, and that headphones are properly plugged in and that any headphone
volume controls are turned up. After checking these things, ask your instructor
or a consultant for assistance.
SCS currently has FCP
Studio Suite 2 installed in the labs. This suite includes Final Cut Pro,
DVD Studio Pro, Motion, LiveType, Soundtrack, and other supporting files
and applications.
Students who have personal copies of earlier
versions of FCP or DVDSP, or who use Final Cut Express, should be aware that
while FCPS2 applications may import their project files, the files are permanently
updated and cannot be used again with the older software or with Express.