Blog Archives

One of the reasons Final Cut Pro X is so fast is that it completes a lot of its work in the background. The Background Tasks window monitors all this activity. Here’s how to use it.

If you haven’t used the Timeline Index, you are missing a powerful tool to help track and organize the contents of your projects. Here’s what it does and how to use it.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to access, add, modify and delete keyboard shortcuts for Adobe Premiere Pro.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan illustrates how to optimize Premiere Pro’s preference settings for video editing.

A backup strategy for video production and editing to make sure you can find the assets you need when you need them.

ChronoX is a very useful app for testing your system in a real-world setting to help you maximize its performance. Here’s a detailed look at what it is and how it works.

An illustrated tutorial to two new Premiere features: Effect filtering and keyboard shortcuts for marker colors.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan illustrates how to display and color grade ProRes RAW media in Apple Final Cut Pro X. (This also includes a bonus technique on using the Balance Color effect for HDR media.)

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan show how to setup and configure dual computer monitors, video range checking and HDR tone-mapping.

An explanation of how Apple Final Cut Pro X handles ProRes RAW images, along with a link to an Apple white paper to learn more.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create a highly-compressed HEVC movie with transparency (alpha channels) using either the macOS or Apple Compressor.

An illustrated, detailed tutorial on how to create an effect in Apple Motion to be used as a template inside Final Cut Pro X.

A detailed, illustrated tutorial on how to move custom Motion templates designed for Final Cut from one computer to another.

Productions were introduced by Adobe as a collaboration feature. But, even if you are a solo editor, there’s a lot to like in Productions. Here are Larry Jordan’s thoughts on Productions.

There are three ways to move clips between projects in Premiere. Here’s a quick step-by-step tutorial on what they are.

An in-depth look at the latest release of ArGest Backup 4.0 from TOLIS Group. This is specifically designed for archiving assets to LTO tape. This review uses the LTO-8 tape format.

In this short video excerpt, watch as Larry Jordan demonstrates a very fast way to move a project from Premiere to Audition for audio mixing, then back to Premiere for final output.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows faster ways to trim, move clips and create freeze frames – all with the keyboard – in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to enable hidden keyboard shortcuts to add, remove and toggle audio fades in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how format 3D text, then add a cast shadow in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to copy the same clip into multiple events inside the same Apple Final Cut Pro X library.

An illustrated, step-by-step guide to creating a lecture video using video and PowerPoint/Keynote slides in Adobe Premiere Pro.

This is an illustrated, step-by-step tutorial on how to import SRT captions into Adobe Premiere Pro, adjust them, trim them for time, export them as a stand-alone SRT file, then import them into YouTube.

This is an illustrated, step-by-step tutorial on how to import SRT captions into Apple Final Cut Pro X, enable them, trim them for time, export them as a stand-alone SRT file, then import them into YouTube.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows a fast way to set and modify durations for clips in the Browser and Timeline of Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to create, import and modify captions in Apple Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro.

An illustrated tutorial on how to import, modify, adjust and export captions in Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

An illustrated tutorial on how to import, adjust and export captions in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create a grid in Motion that can be used in Final Cut, with adjustable line widths and color. These are very useful for performance videos.

Simon Says On-Prem is a secure, fast, and easy-to-use transcription system that supports all major NLEs. It’s designed for editors needing a high volume of accurate transcripts with absolute security. Here are the details.

This technique works as well or better than any other color correction technique I’ve seen in Photoshop in removing color casts. Best of all, it’s easy! (And, this also works inside Adobe Premiere Pro CC!)

There are two single-camera editing techniques that drive me nuts: Shifting eye contact and unnecessary jump cuts. Here are techniques to solve both those problems.

Victor asked me to outline an organizational structure for narrative storytelling in Final Cut Pro X. While there is no “best” way, here is a system you can use and modify for your next project, with some very cool keyword tricks.

Apple is discontinuing KEXTS in a future version of the macOS. Here’s what you need to know now.

This “cookbook” is designed to provide a checklist to quickly create, view and edit multicam sequences in Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

This “cookbook” is designed to provide a checklist on how to quickly create, view and edit multicam clips in Final Cut Pro X, along with links to learn more.

An on-going challenge for traditional filmmakers is integrating vertical video into a horizontal timeline. Here’s a fast and easy option when you need something that looks good and need it right now.

An on-going challenge that traditional filmmakers face is integrating vertical video into a horizontal timeline. While there is no “perfect” way to do this, here are two easy options to consider.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create a video including a lecturer with PowerPoint or Keynote slides, using Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Live web streaming ranges from the very simple to the highly complex. The key factor is audio. Here’s a summary of options, plus a ton of links to help you do your own research.

Adobe published a guide to working remotely using Creative Cloud tools. Here’s the information and a link.

How to retain the highest image quality when exporting media from Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Burning Blu-ray Discs is possible on a Mac, but bugs in Apple Final Cut Pro X make creating Blu-rays harder than it should be. Read the workarounds here.

Color temperature is the measure of the perceived color of white light on a scale from warm (gold) to cool (bluish). We work with it every day in lighting. Here are some interesting facts about it that you may not know.

This is a detailed look at Apple’s Afterburner card for the 2019 Mac Pro. This explains what it is, what it does and when to considering buying it.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create custom effects along with custom folders to store them in for Apple Final Cut Pro X.

This is a table of updated file sizes for all iPhone video formats, based on frame size and frame rate. Use these to plan your storage needs.

Double-system sound is where you record the video on one device (a video camera, for example), while the audio is recorded on a separate device (such as a digital audio recorder). Many DSLR and video cameras don’t have high-quality audio …

Double-system sound is where you record the video on one device (a video camera, for example), while the audio is recorded on a separate device. This illustrated tutorial shows how to sync these different files and get them ready for editing in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Keywords allow us to label a clip, or portion of a clip, so that we can find it when we need it again later; quickly, easily and with a great deal of specificity. Here’s a tutorial on how they work.