Final Cut Pro HD | H•O•T Hands-On Training [Electronic resources]

Larry Jordan

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2. Exploring the Log and Capture Screen

I probably get more questions from my students about capturing than any other two subjects in Final Cut Pro. In this exercise and demo, you'll explore the Log and Capture screen, discover how Final Cut captures audio, and hear my final rant on reel numbers.

NOTE | Logging

First, though, a definition of "logging." Logging is the process of describing each shot you plan to capture. Generally, this involves recording the timecode for the start and end of a shot, the reel it is on, a description of what is in the shot, and whether it is any good or not. Final Cut simplifies this process, but logging is just about everyone's least favorite editing activity.

Sadly, it is also indispensable.

Open Final Cut Pro. Then, choose File > New Project and create a new empty project.

Choose File > Log and Capture (Cmd+8).

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The Log and Capture window is divided into two sections:

The left side contains a preview window, timecode entry boxes, and machine controls.

The right side contains three tabs, the first of which is the data entry fields for logging a clip.

Chapter 2," Understanding the Final Cut Pro Interface." The machine control message panel in the lower center of the screen, here showing VTR OK, indicates whether Final Cut can communicate with your camera or deck.

The timecode boxes in each of the four corners are discussed later in this exercise.

Machine Control Messages

Message

Meaning

VTR OK

This means that Final Cut is able to control your deck or camera. Generally, when you are using FireWire, this message also means that FCP is also able to see audio, video, and timecode.

When using RS-422 signals to communicate with your deck, which is very common in SD and HD editing, this message means that Final Cut has machine control. You should not assume that Final Cut can also see audio or video.

VTR in Local

You need to set your Local/Remote switch on the deck to Remote for Final Cut to control the deck or camera.

Tape not threaded

There's no videotape in your deck.

No communication

Final Cut is not able to communicate with the deck for deck control. This message is always displayed when using Capture Now to capture from a noncontrollable device, such as a VHS deck or live camera.

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The right side of the Log and Capture window is where you log clips (the top half) or capture clips (the bottom panel).

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Clicking the long oval, labeled Untitled Project 1 automatically takes you to the Browser for the current project.

Clicking the New Bin button creates a new bin in the Browser for you to store your clips.

NOTE | Set Logging Bin

Unless you tell Final Cut otherwise, all your newly logged clips go into the Browser at the top level, that is, outside any bins.

However, if you want to automatically have Final Cut store all your newly logged clips into a bin, select the bin you want the clips stored in and choose File > Set Logging Bin.

Notice when you do that the little "logging slate" icon moves from the top-left corner of the Browser, down next to the bin you selected as your logging bin. This slate icon indicates where all newly logged clips are stored: either the default setting of the Browser at large, or next to a specific bin.

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Just below the Log Bin section is the Name section, where you enter the Reel name or number, along with naming the clip.

NOTE | A Rant on Reel Numbers and Names

If you never, ever, not even once, plan to reuse any of your projects or media, you can skip to the next section. On the other hand, if you are like the rest of us, you're always reusing projects, in which case, this is important.

When you log a clip, Final Cut records the reel number along with the rest of the logging infor mation. When you capture a clip, Final Cut records the reel number into the media file itself, which is stored on your hard disk, and into the clip information tracked by the Browser. This means that if you ever use the same clip in more than one project, the reel information follows right along with it.

Why is this important? Because when it comes time to recapture a project, either because you want to convert it to higher quality, or you want to reedit an old project, Final Cut uses the reel numbers to locate the source reels of your clips.

If all your reel numbers start with "001," the default for Final Cut, how will you, or Final Cut, know which tape a piece of media came from? Right. You won't. And Final Cut won't. Which means you'll need to go through every one of your tapes to find the one you need.

And that is just plain stupid. Whenever you put a new tape into your deck to capture into Final Cut, enter its reel number into the Reel data field and let Final Cut track it, automatically.

By the way, reel numbers can contain letters, numbers, spaces, and underscores. Avoid punctuation. Keep them short.

Whew. OKI'm done now.

The check box next to Prompt means that Final Cut will ask you to confirm the clip name before it saves it to the Browser.

The Description,Scene , and Shot/Take fields are simply text fields you use to name your clip. Final Cut combines what you enter here to form the clip name, based on the check boxes to the right of each field.

For instance, in the left screen shot, all three check boxes are checked, so the Name field combines all three fields into one name, with each field separated by an underscore.

In the center screen shot, the first and third check boxes are checked, so the Name combines only the first and third fields.

In the right screen shot, only the first check box is checked, so the Name uses only the contents of the first field.

This automation helps make naming clips easier.

The Capture controls, at the bottom of the right side, are explained a little later in this chapter, during the capture demo.

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There are three tabs at the top-right side of the Log and Capture window. Clicking the second tab, Clip Settings, displays this screen.

When you are capturing DV, none of the top settings are active, because DV is a purely digital transfer. These controls become active only when you are using a capture card to bring in analog video (such as a VHS, live camera, or Betacam SP).

However, the menus in the middle are important. The left menu controls whether you are capturing audio only, video only, or audio and video. My recommendation is to always capture both. You can always discard audio or video you don't need during the editing process. Going back to recapture it later is possible (because you kept track of your reel numbers, remember?), but it is time-consuming.

The right menu is surprisingly important, because it can trap the unwary (like it did to me a few weeks ago).

NOTE | How Final Cut Handles Audio Capture

Final Cut always and only captures two channels of audio. This is really important to keep in mind. If you need to bring in more than two channels of audio, you'll need to do it in groups of two channels at a time.

Second, Final Cut does not like audio recorded at LP speed on your tape, so be sure all your cameras are set to SP speed.

Third, when you are working with DV material, transported over FireWire, you don't have any level (volume) control during capture. This means Final Cut captures your audio exactly as it is on the tape. If you need to make changes, you'll do so during the editing process.

Audio Capture Settings and What They Mean

Setting

Translation into English

Ch 1 + Ch 2

Captures your audio as dual mono. That is, the two audio channels are brought in separately (not mixed), with both channels panned to the center. This is the preferred setting for most audio transfers.

Ch 1 (L)

Takes the audio from camera channel 1 (the left channel), duplicates it to both channel 1 and channel 2, then captures both channels. Both channels are panned center.

Chapter 9," Text, Titles, and Graphics," covers scopes in more detail.

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The third tab, Capture Settings, allows you to change device control, capture settings, and scratch disks. These are simply shortcuts to preference windows you've already learned; its just that Apple has provided you a quick way to access them from the Log and Capture window.

Generally, when capturing DV, once you have these set, you won't need to change them.

Close the Log and Capture window. This exercise is done. If you are done using Final Cut for now, choose Final Cut Pro HD> Quit ; otherwise, choose File > Close Project and don't save changes.

MOVIE | Capture.mov

If you want to watch capturing in action, check out Capture.mov in the movies folder of the FCP HD HOT DVD bound into the back of this book.