One of the problems with writing a weekly newsletter is that, while it is easy to write detailed articles of a single subject, it is hard to write about interesting things that don’t require a lot of space. But every day, I get announcements from developers and comments from readers that are really cool, but the newsletter doesn’t have an easy way for me to share them.
Many of these I post to Twitter or Facebook, but that’s not the same. So, this week, I want to get caught up by creating a collection of unrelated stuff.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEW PRODUCT: DIGITAL HEAVEN DH_SUBTITLE
Digital Heaven is a London-based plug-in developer started by Martin Baker. They’ve been creating useful utilities for Final Cut Pro for a long time and I have a high regard for their products.
Recently, they released a new version of DH_Subtitle for Final Cut Pro X. This $29.99 plug-in “makes it easy to create boxed style ‘burned-in’ subtitles directly in Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5. Traditionally, this style of subtitles has been very time consuming to create, with the need to make a correctly sized shape on a different layer for each line of text. DH_SubtitleX automatically creates the background box according to the text entered and also offers consistent vertical positioning, no matter how many lines of text a subtitle may contain.”
Click here to learn more. http://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/dh_subtitlex
FINAL CUT PRO X: A FAST WAY TO REMOVE CLIP RANGES
One of the new features in the 10.0.6 update to Final Cut Pro X is the ability to select multiple ranges – either in the same clip or between multiple clips.
And FCP X remembers those ranges so that when you return to a clip, the In and Out remain as you left them.
But, if you need a fast way to remove ranges in the Event Browser from a clip, a selected group of clips, or all your clips — here’s a fast way to do it:
Gone.
Cool.
FINAL CUT PRO X: IMPORTING A CLIP RANGE
In this tip, I want to correct a mistake. Another benefit in the 10.0.6. update to Final Cut Pro X is the ability to import selected ranges for more than one clip at once. However, this only works when you are importing camera native media that requires transcoding.
If you are importing an existing QuickTime movie, the entire movie is imported (or linked, if you choose not to copy it to the Events folder).
Recently a reader shared the following tip, which I then shared with several others, that if you hold the Shift key when clicking to set an In or Out when importing a QuickTime movie you are able to specify a range for import. As the screen shot seems to indicate, this allows us to import a range for a clip.
However, while this LOOKS like it should work, it doesn’t. FCP X imports the entire clip, regardless of whether a range selected. When importing a QuickTime movie, FCP X imports the entire clip. You are only able to import ranges for camera native media that requires transcoding.
PREMIERE PRO CS6: MULTICAM TRICK
The latest version of Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 has significantly improved multicam editing. Gone is the four camera limitation. Multicam clips now support as many angles as your computer and storage system can handle.
Also, you can now add multiple clips – either video or stills – to the same track. This is useful in building montages, or when you have timecode breaks.
To open a multicam clip for editing, right-click the multicam ICON in the Project panel and select “Open in Timeline.”
This opens the multicam clip into its own Timeline, where you can add tracks, clips, change audio playback settings, add effects, or otherwise modify the multicam clip.
INTERESTING TUTORIALS
If you are looking for interesting articles and tutorials on Final Cut Pro, make a point to visit Ken Stone’s website: http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html
Ken has been writing about Final Cut Pro as long as I have and, if you haven’t discovered his site, the holidays provide a good time to visit.
NEW PRODUCT: TANGENT FX
Tangent FX is a new company, created by some very talented graphics design folks, who have developed some very creative transitions for both Final Cut Pro X and After Effects.
If you are looking for some very clever eye-candy, check out their new products here: http://www.tangentfx.com
I especially like their 2D Ring wipes and Slash effects.
ADOBE AUDITION MEDIA
If you purchases Adobe Audition and are looking for supplemental audio material to go with it, you’ll find it here:
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/entitlement/index.cfm?e=auditionloopology
NEW BOOK: THE EDITING OF STAR WARS
Linton Davies sent me a note about his latest book: “The Editing of Star Wars.”
His blurb says: “‘The Editing of Star Wars: How Cutting Created a Classic’ is a close reading of the editing in the 1977 film ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’, written by Linton Davies. It’s based around the idea that editing decisions are not made in the abstract, but within the context of the rest of the film, and an analysis of them should work the same way.”
I’m skimmed this and if you are interested in deconstructing a classic from an editing point of view, you’ll enjoy this book. He has both paperback and Kindle versions.
Here’s the link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Editing-Of-Star-Wars/dp/1471677729/
NEW PRODUCT: BLOCK POP
Dylan Higginbotham has created another interesting set of Final Cut Pro X transitions called: “Block Pop.”
Block Pop is 23 customized Final Cut Pro X transitions that break video into blocks, then transform it into a second shot.
Very cool – AND he has a free trial. Check it out here: http://stupidraisins.com/block-pop-final-cut-pro-x-transition
FCP X: AVOID PROBLEMS WITH STILL IMAGES
I’m getting a lot of reports that Final Cut Pro X slows down dramatically as you add still images to your projects. We’ve been able to isolate some of the problems, so if you are having problems, check out the following tips:
NEW PRODUCT: DIGITAL HEAVEN’S PRO PLAYER
If you’ve been working in media for a while, you know that the new QuickTime Player X can’t hold a candle to QuickTime Player 7. For all-around versatility, QuickTime Player 7 is an indispensable part of any editors toolkit.
But it is no longer state-of-the-art, where video technology is concerned.
So, several companies have stepped up and created replacement players. One of these is Digital Heaven, with their Pro Player. This, too, has a free trial.
What I like about this player is that it has a clean look, a variety of useful playback commands, and makes viewing timecode and other essential information about your video really, really easy.
Learn more here: http://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/pro-player
UPDATE: A reader pointed out that QuickTime Player 7 is still available on Apple’s website. You can get it here.
APPLE’S LIST OF SUPPORTED CAMERAS
I get a lot of email from readers asking if their camera will work with Final Cut Pro X.
So, to save time, here is the official list from Apple of supported cameras:
http://help.apple.com/finalcutpro/cameras/en/index.html?
APPLE’S LIST OF SUPPORTED GRAPHICS CARDS
And, here’s the list of supported graphics cards for Final Cut Pro X:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4664
ADOBE’S LIST OF SUPPORTED GRAPHICS CARDS
And, to round out the collection, here’s the list of graphics cards supported by Adobe Premiere Pro CS6:
http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/tech-specs.html
GOT A TIP OR PRODUCT?
If you are a developer with a new product or version, please let me know and I’ll help spread the word.
Or, if you have a cool tip that you think others would like to know, let me know and I’ll add it to another blog in the near future.
And, as always, let me know what you think.
Larry
