Blog Archives

Today, Apple updated Final Cut Pro X (10.5), Motion (5.5.) and Compressor (4.5) to support new computers with Apple silicon, along with a variety of bug fixes. Here’s the list.

accusonus believes that audio effects can be both powerful and easy to use. Supporting all major editing software, the ERA 5 bundle includes 13 plug-ins to fix common audio problems. Here’s a first look at what’s inside.

When you need to KNOW that your audio meets the technical spec, neither Premiere nor Final Cut can help. But Adobe Audition can. Watch as Larry Jordan shows how to use amplitude statistics to make sure your audio has the right levels and is distortion-free.

I first wrote this article to work-around a bug in Final Cut Pro X. But, Apple fixed the bug. Now, this is a step-by-step guide to importing chapter markers into Apple Compressor, which is useful for media created outside of Final Cut Pro X.

Final Cut Libraries store stuff. But how that stuff is organized is up to you. Here are a variety of thoughts on working with libraries in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Regardless of which video editing software you use, storage is more important than your computer for multicam editing. Here, Larry Jordan presents the three storage criteria that multicam editing demands – and why they are important.

Multicam recording captures an event using multiple cameras. Multicam editing displays all those angles during the edit. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows why and how to use with proxies for multicam editing in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Multicam recording captures an event using multiple cameras. Multicam editing displays all those angles during the edit. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to create a montage of video or stills using multicam techniques in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Multicam recording captures an event using multiple cameras. Multicam editing displays all those angles during the edit. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to work with multi-channel audio in a multicam clip using Apple Final Cut Pro X.

The answer is “Maybe.” This detailed article explains the fundamentals of high-speed networking, illustrates how to connect a Mac to a 10G Ethernet network, then measures performance between 1G and 10G connections, with a focus on video editing.

Josh asked me to explain the pros and cons of using internal, direct-attached, and network-attached storage for media editing. Here’s an overview, along with recommendations on what you should consider for your own system.

This article details what I learned trying to access often corrupted digital images that are 15 – 25 years old. It illustrates the software I use to recover images, video codecs that are obsolete and techniques I used to preserve media for the future. This covers AppleWorks, PICT, PhotoCD, JPEG, TIFF, audio, and video media.

You exported your video file only to find that it is WAAAY too big! Here’s an explanation of file sizes, codecs and media workflow for beginners.

Apple release bug-fix updates to Final Cut Pro X (10.4.10), Motion 5 (5.4.7) and Compressor (4.4.8). Here’s what was fixed and what’s still broken.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to use several new – but hidden – Viewer features in the latest 10.4.9 version of Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to use several new – but hidden – Browser features in the latest 10.4.9 version of Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to use the new ISO and white point settings to adjust ProRes RAW media using the latest 10.4.9 version of Apple Final Cut Pro X.

I first wrote these “Media Planning Guidelines” as a series of bullet points to help us think about media and the storage necessary for video editing. In this article, I expand these to explain my thinking to help you make better media decisions for your next project.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan discusses the impact of video frame size, frame rate and codec on storage capacity and video editing, whether you use Adobe Premiere Pro or Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan explains why converting video frame rates often causes video playback to stutter, whether you use Adobe Premiere Pro or Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan explains why H.264 and HEVC media are considered inefficient for video editing, whether you use Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro X.

One of the headline features in the 10.4.9 update to Final Cut Pro X is a number of improvements to proxy editing. Here’s an illustrated tutorial on what they are and how they work.

Smart Conform, the new re-framing feature in Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.4.9, is a good start. It does what Apple says, but there are limitations. Here’s an illustrated tutorial showing how this works.

Apple released a flood of small changes with the 10.4.9 update to Final Cut Pro X that didn’t get a whole lot of press. Let me take you behind-the-scenes in this illustrated tutorial to explore these smaller gems.

This morning, Apple released significant – and free – updates to Final Cut Pro X – to version 10.4.9 – along with Motion and Compressor. Emphasizing workflow enhancements, here are the details.

Apple Motion is a very fun way to explore and experiment with motion graphics. Here’s how to create a motion graphic generator (background video) you can use inside Apple Final Cut Pro X.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create a countdown video in Final Cut Pro X that displays remaining minutes and seconds. Then, I show how to embed it into Keynote for a presentation.

A product review of five powerful Mac-based audio plugins to repair common audio problems that are easy-to-use and deliver great results. They support Final Cut Pro X, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve and are worth adding to your toolkit.

CommandPost is a free, flexible, customizable tool that allows editors to get far more out of Final Cut Pro X than they would ever expect. Here’s an illustrated tutorial to this powerful software.

A LUT (LookUp Table) is a conversion table that instantly changes pixel values from one setting to the next. Final Cut provides two different ways to apply LUTs to your footage: the Inspector and the Custom LUT effect. This article describes how to use the Custom LUT effect.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan answers a question on how to get rid of “fuzzy edges” in a chroma-key using Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan answers a question showing how to use Apple Final Cut Pro X to match the color between video clips shot using different cameras, one of which was an iPhone.

Voice-over work combines acting with technology to create magic. It’s your voice telling stories directly into the imagination of the listener. Here are some tips to make it better.

Presented by Larry Jordan, this four-part webinar series covers the basics of editing with Apple Final Cut Pro X. In this short video tutorial, Larry shows how to create and modify keyframes to create animation in Final Cut Pro X.

Presented by Larry Jordan, this four-part webinar series covers the basics of editing with Apple Final Cut Pro X. In this short video tutorial, Larry shows how to use Generators with Infographics in Final Cut Pro X.

Presented by Larry Jordan, this four-part webinar series covers the basics of editing with Apple Final Cut Pro X. In this short video tutorial, Larry shows how to create a variety of video speed changes – from hold frames to speed ramps – using Final Cut Pro X.

Here’s a hidden keyboard shortcut for Apple Final Cut Pro X that allows moving Primary Storyline clips without moving any clips connected to them. (Contributed by Don Smith.)

There is difference in how the same color is displayed in Premiere, Final Cut and QuickTime. This made worse when looking at media on a P3 display. Here’s what you need to know.

Here is an interested workaround to fool Apple Final Cut Pro X into importing just portions of a clip, rather than the entire clip. This is especially useful when you have extremely long media files, but only need to use a very short section.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan presents how to apply, modify, render and trim transitions in Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to create and use Roles for timeline display and audio mixing in Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan illustrates how to move clips, and other elements, using timecode in Final Cut Pro X.

Unlike “normal” still images, working with a layered Photoshop (PSD) file in Apple Final Cut Pro X provides a variety of options that can be useful in a video edit. Here’s what you need to know.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to create, modify and search on keywords in Apple Final Cut Pro X. He also illustrates how to create Smart Collections.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to use the Precision Editor in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

A detailed, illustrated workflow on how Larry Jordan creates his weekly webinars from pre-production through to post. This includes software, settings, tips and tricks.

The Ken Burns effect makes creating moves on still images fun and easy. When used properly it can quickly bring a still image to life. Here’s how to use it in your next Apple Final Cut Pro X project.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to create and customize keyboard shortcuts in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan illustrates a hidden feature in Apple Final Cut Pro X that can improve media handling during import.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan explains what the Media Import settings mean and how to optimize them for editing in Final Cut.