Final Cut Pro offers many different options for outputting your edit for various purposes, e.g. archiving, DVD production, sharing online, and so on.
Here is a guide which explain how to work with these options in Final Cut Pro: Video Output Options in FCP
The guide is based on Final Cut Pro 6. The new FCP 7 /X incorporate a new”Share” tool which allows you to burn DVD/upload to Youtube etc. in a few easy steps.
Read more about “Share” function of FCP 7.
Voice-over dubbing arrangement:
1. Equipment:
From now on until submission deadline (May 7, 2012), a set of voice-recording equipment is available in the Post-Production Suite. It includes a lip mic, a cable and a Panasonic camera.
You can use these equipment for voice-over dubbing. Please return them to the original place properly and turn off equipment after use.
Please bring your own earphones to monitor the audio.
You can record your voice in the area outside the Reading Room.
2. Procedure of VO dubbing
i. Connect lip mic to Input 1 of the camera.
ii. Tune the input 1 gain all the way up.
iii. Place the lip mic on the side of your lips (Don’t place it right in front of your mouth to avoid popping).
iv. Insert a tape and record as usual. Speak as loudly (and naturally) as possible.
v. Monitor the audio meter and fine tune to get the best level.
vi. Capture the voice in the same way as capturing video footage. In ‘Log and Capture’ window, disable ‘video capture’ and ‘audio CH2′ under ‘clip settings’. Remember to revert the settings when capturing video.
3. Tips for VO dubbing
i. Speak loudly but naturally.
ii. The way to read the audio meter on Panasonic: The signal occasionally peaks in the red area (with about 2 red blocks), that’s equivalent to -12dB in FCP.
iii. Don’t use Sony A1 which doesn’t work well with the lip mic.
Following are links to a couple of very useful You Tube demos that Ka Ho discovered, for classic 3-point lighting. While they are well done, please bear in mind for most news and documentary situations, we will only normally achieve 2-point lighting…. ie. a key light (set more straight on to the interviewee rather than at 45 degrees as suggested in the demo) plus a back light (or kicker), working in tandem with the key light. There won’t be too much shadow on the face because of the absence of a fill light, but if it bothers you, then try using the reflector (usually supported on a chair to one side of the interviewee) to bounce light from the key to that side of the face. If you DO have a third light on location, it will invariably be used to do something interesting on the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcMX1RcNRYA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkfv78919ek&feature=fvw
V-light and Pro-light kits are availble for check-out. If you use them to set up 2-point lighting, you are recommended to use the V-light with diffuser as the main light, and the Pro-light (close the barn-door a bit to control the light shape) as kicker.
Diffuser and Blue gels are available in the kit.
As we only have 4 light kits, please request in the reservation e-mail if you need them.
To get familiar with the operation of radio/wireless microphones, here is a simple step-by-step Guide to Radio Mics.
News Package Formula Download Here
Important: Please do not film your projects in the JMSC office. The sitting area is for newspaper reading and meeting. There also maybe confidential documents in the office. You are welcome to film in DM Lab and Post-production suite.
A Final Cut Pro sound mix guide has been uploaded for your information. You can download it below.
In this course, you are required to have a portable harddrive for editing your video stories. Here is the specification of the hardrrive recommended:
- Portable (Do not require any external power source)
- Preferably equipped with Firewire 800 connection socket
- Or – Equipped with USB 2.0 connection (cheaper but slower)
- Capacity 320Gb – 500Gb
Lacie and WD are the most common brands available in local computer centres. They cost about $1,000HKD. It should come with 2-3 year local warranty.
The harddrive is universal to any OS (Windows/Macintosh) when it is newly acquired. You can configure your harddrive in 2 partitions,
so that it is compatible among Windows (FAT 32) and Macintosh. You can do this by using “Disk Utility” (Go –> Utilities –> Disk Utility) on Macbooks.
FAQ 1: Where can I buy the harddrive?
Ans: You can purchase the harddrive in Wanchai Computer Centre. Take bus 40/40M/23 from HKU and get off at Wanchai MTR bus stop.
The computer centre is on the opposite side of the road (next to a football field).
FAQ 2: How much video can I store on the harddrive?
Ans: Every 5-min video occupies 1Gb of space. So let’s do some calculation…
FAQ 3: Why do I need to purchase a harddrive?
Ans: It is because the computers are used by a few classes, i.e. around 60 students. Each time you will be randomly given a computer. In
addition, you risk losing data if you store them on public computers. Besides, you can build your own multimedia portfolio with the harddrive.
FAQ 4: Can I use my existing harddrive?
Ans: You need to re-configure your harddrive (back-up existing data and re-format) if it is not configured for Macintosh. However, older
harddrives may not be fast enough for video editing.
FAQ 5: What can I do if I cannot afford a harddrive?
You may acquire a cheaper one with only USB 2.0 connection. However, harddrives with USB connection are sometimes not fast or stable enough for video editing, especially HD video editing, so we recommend Firewire 800 harddrives. Let us know if you have any difficulties.