Blog Archives

Smart Alex is a utility that monitors your hard disks and warns you if they are likely to fail. Current in beta, here’s more information on how the program works.

A short article illustrating the new features in Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.3.3.

In this short video excerpt, Larry Jordan shows a very simple and fast way to trash preferences for Apple Final Cut Pro X. This is a great way to fix problems with the software. You don’t need to do this very often, but, when you do – this is the way to do it.

In this short video excerpt from a recent webinar, Larry Jordan explains what Activity Monitor is and how to use it to spot problems and verify Macintosh system performance.

An explanation of what may be wrong when Final Cut Pro X won’t relink to a file.

An illustrated, yet simple technique to fix audio levels that were recorded too loudly using Adobe Audition.

In the Wild West that is the Internet, technical quality is often ignored. But, in the worlds of broadcast, cable or DVDs, knowing that your file will pass technical muster can make the difference between making or missing the deadline. Pulsar QC, from Venera Technologies, is file analysis software, developed for the studios but priced for independents, will test your media files for technical quality; as this article explains.

11 Tips to Trouble-Shoot Apple Compressor.

Disk Utility changed with the release of Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan). It no longer supports creating RAID 0 or RAID 1 volumes or repairing permissions. This article explains what you need to know.

In this short video excerpt, Larry Jordan uses Adobe Audition CC to remove clipping from an audio recording and restore the original dynamic range of the audio.

An illustrated tutorial on how to deinterlace interlaced video clips when editing in Final Cut Pro X.

An easy way to reset an incorrect aspect ratio when using standard-definition video.

What you need to know to avoid or fix corrupted Library files in Final Cut Pro X. Updated March, 2020, with new information and more resources.

An illustrated explanation of how to measure free space on your hard disk – and why you need to do this – along with an explanation of how to improve performance by minimizing file “swapping.”

A short Q&A session where Larry Jordan explains what to do when Final Cut Pro X thinks your hard disk is a camera.

This illustrated article explains what you need to know about cache files in Motion 5.x.

The answer to how to prevent Final Cut Pro X from seeing your hard disk as a camera; along with a suggested way to name folders to easily track media.

In Part 2, we continue our description of what works and what doesn’t when setting up a video streaming system for the Internet using Wirecast and Wowza.

An explanation of how to choose the right version of ProRes for your project.

A fast way to find and relink to a missing file in Final Cut Pro X.

A Q&A with Kevin Monahan, Support Product Manager-DVA at Adobe Systems discussing tips and techniques with Premiere Pro CC.

Some SSD drives are not compatible with Mac OS X Yosemite (OS X 10.10). Read this article to see if you have a problem – or how to fix your gear if you are already in trouble.

A detailed description of what Library Backups are in Final Cut Pro X, where they are stored and how to use them.

Technical questions and answers on Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.1.

A detailed explanation of how to use the video scopes to make skin tones look normal for a variety of ethnic skin types. These techniques apply to Final Cut Pro X, Final Cut Pro 7, Premiere Pro CC and CS6, as well as other video editing software.

Secret insider tips to opening the right libraries inside Final Cut Pro X.

A quick list of shortcuts, problems and workarounds when editing with Final Cut Pro X.

Lots of details tips and techniques to keep your Final Cut Pro X editing system running at peak performance.

A quick, detailed troubleshooting video showing how and when to trash Final Cut Pro X preference files.

A report on how a writer resolved a corrupted Final Cut Pro X project file.

A series of Macintosh trouble-shooting procedures for the video editor> Safe Boot, Create New User, and Trash Preferences.

A list of current export problems from within Final Cut Pro X.

When Google changed YouTube’s API, it broke the YouTube export option in Final Cut Pro X, as this article explains.

This short video tutorial shows how to remove hum, reduce background noise and adjust levels, using the Audio Enhancement tools in Final Cut Pro X.

This article show why images displayed in Final Cut Pro 7’s Viewer look better than those in the Canvas.

5 Tips to export media faster when using Final Cut Pro X.

This article explains how to relink media in Final Cut Pro X when it goes offline.

Here are a variety of ways to improve FCP X performance and stability.

Here’s a simple way to reset preference files for Adobe Premiere Pro.

William Hohauser contributes an article solving sluggish FCP X performance in Lion.

The Activity Monitor in OS X is one of those unsung utilities that I find indispensable. It allows you to look inside five key areas of your computer to tell you what’s going on. Best of all, you can’t hurt anything using it – because its simply a monitor.

Always check to see if Final Cut supports your camera before you buy it.

Are you getting the “render error: insufficient disk space” message? You just need to create more free space on your hard disk by deleting files you don’t need.

Stuttering, frozen display is one of the hallmarks of non-native video. FCP can edit it, but can’t play it smoothly.

Common Final Cut Pro X trouble-shooting and performance tips, including how to trash Final Cut Pro (FCP) X preference files.

Using multiple drives for media is an EXCELLENT technique. Final Cut fully supports it.

I am advocating LTO-5 tape drives for archive and backup of our Final Cut Pro media. However, I still have not gotten this unit to work on my MacPro.

Although there’s no universal answer for this question, in this article we look at what RAID system or otherwise, that I personally recommend using for various types of video editing.

I am not a fan of Capture Now, however, for some formats Capture Now is the best option. I like the workflow one subscriber suggests in this article.

Inevitably, adding too many FireWire devices will cause problems. In this article we discuss some things to think about to keep your system running smoothly and avoid, at all costs, the dreaded “beach ball” .