Anatomy of the Browser
When you open Final Cut Express for the first time, the Browser contains just two tabs: A new, Untitled Project tab with a single empty sequence. The Effects tab, which contains default copies of FCE's effects, filters, and generators, including the text generators.
For information on using FCE's effects features, see Chapter 14, "Compositing and Effects Overview." If you have multiple projects open, the Browser displays a tab for each open project. You can also open a Browser folder in a separate window and then drag the folder's tab from that window into the main Browser window to display the folder as a tab. Customizing the Browser Display" later in this chapter.
Figure 7.1. The Browser window in List view.
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Browser columns
The Browser window can display up to 42 columns of data, but you can customize the Browser to display only the columns you are using and hide the rest. Some columns accommodate remarks and other types of information that help you track and sort information about your clips. Table 7.1 provides a complete list of the columns available for use in the Browser.
Table 7.1. Browser Columns and Functions COLUMN | FUNCTION |
|---|
Alpha | Alpha channel present | Anamorphic | Indicates whether a clip is flagged to be displayed in anamorphic (16:9) aspect ratio | Aud Format | File format of audio clip | Aud Rate | Frequency and bit rate of audio clip | Audio | Indicates the number of audio channels for clips that include audio | Aux Reel 1-2 | Lists reel numbers for Aux TC 1 and 2 | Capture | Capture state of a clip in the Batch Capture list | Comment A-B | Used for logging information | Composite | Composite mode that this clip uses | Compressor | Indicates the compression codec that this clip uses | Creator | Application used to create the media file referenced by this clip | Data Rate | Rate of data flow per second | Duration | Duration between a clip's In and Out points | Field | Interlaced video breaks each frame into | Dominance | two fields; the dominant field will be played first; DV-NTSC and PAL should be set to Lower (Even) | Frame | Indicates whether a speed-modified clip | Blending | has frame blending enabled | Frame Size | Video frame size, in pixels | Good | Indicates whether a clip was marked "Good" in the Capture window or Browser | In | In point specified on a clip | Last Modified | Indicates the time and date of an item's last modification | Length | Length of the source media file on disk | Log Note | Displays notes entered in the Capture window's Log Note field | Master Clip | A check mark indicates that this clip is a master clip | Master | Four columns for displaying clip | Comment 14 | comments; column names can be edited | Name | Name of the media element; rename clips and sequences here | Offline | Indicates that the clip's source media has not yet been captured, is missing, or has been deleted from disk | Out | Out point specified on a clip | Pixel Aspect | Pixel aspect ratio | Reel | Lists the reel number entered at the time of capture; changing the reel number in the Browser changes the identifying reel number of the clip's source media file on disk | Reverse Alpha | Choose Yes to reverse opaque and transparent area interpretation in a clip's alpha channel | Scene | Displays information entered in the Logging tab's Scene field | Shot/Take | Displays information entered in the Logging tab's Shot/Take field | Size | Source media file size, in megabytes | Source | Directory path name of the media file on disk | Speed | Displays the adjusted speed of speed-modified clips as a percentage. | Thumbnail | Displays the poster (or first) frame of the clip; drag a thumbnail to scrub through the clip | Tracks | Number of video and audio tracks in the item | Type | The type of each item; possible types are sequence, clip, subclip, folder, effect | Vid Rate | Video frame rate; the clip frame rate is written to the source media file, and the sequence frame rate is based on that sequence's settings |
Browser window icons
Along the left side of the window, you'll notice icons that accompany each item listed in the Browser. These icons represent file types in FCE.
Sequence: An edited assembly of video and audio clips; open sequences are displayed in the Timeline.
Folder: Folders are used to organize groups of clips, sequences, or other Browser items. A folder can also contain other folders.
Open Folder: A folder that is currently open in a separate Browser window.
Clip: A media file; can represent audio, video, graphics, or other media imported into FCE.
Subclip: A portion of a clip defined by In and Out points; any number of subclips can be created from a single master clip.
Offline Clip: A placeholder clip referencing media not currently on the local hard drive.
Audio Clip: A media clip composed of audio samples.
Graphic: A clip in a single-layer graphic file format (multilayer Photoshop files appear with a sequence icon).
Layered Graphic Sequence: A multilayer graphic clip (such as a layered Photoshop file) appears with a sequence icon, but is listed as a Layered Graphic Sequence in the Browser's Type column.
Marker: Reference point in a clip.
Video Transition: Transition effect; can be applied to a video track.
Audio Transition: Transition effect; can be applied to an audio track.
Video Filter: Effects filter; can be applied to a video clip.
Audio Filter: Effects filter; can be applied to an audio clip.
Generator: Effects utility that generates screens, tones, and text for program transitions.
What Does "Not Set" Mean?
When you see "Not Set" displayed in the In (or Out) Browser column, it simply means that you haven't set an In (or Out) point in that clip. For instance, you could have inserted the full length of your clip into a sequence and then set In and Out points in the sequence version of the clip, or you could be using every captured frame of your clip in the sequence. "Not Set" does not mean that you've somehow lost your source media file or that the clip has lost its timecode. |
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