Final Cut Express? Many Questions.

I'm interested in shooting a short film in the near future. I'm looking to invest in a camera that will be under $1000.00. I'm also looking to use Final Cut Express to edit the footage. I believe Imovie will not offer enough editing options, and FCP will offer more than I need. I'm looking mainly to do simple cuts, transitions, put my footage in letterbox mode with the hopes of it looking like a real film, etc.
So here are my questions:
First off: With what I've written above, am I right in thinking FCE is a better option than FCP? Keep in mind I've never really done any work in video editing, but am anxious to purchase a new camera, shoot my film, edit it myself, etc.
Second: Will a HD camcorder work well with FCE? I'm currently looking to purchase a Canon HV 20. Link to the camera itself:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=177&mo delid=14869
Third: I want to purchase a laptop to use FCE and edit my future film. Will a black Macbook work well (upgraded with 4 GB of RAM)? Strong enough graphics card on that macbook? Or am I forced to move up to a Macbook Pro? (My thinking is that the Macbook Pro is unnecessary unless I want to use FCP.) Correct?
Answers to these questions and any additional advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!!!

Hi(Bonjour)!
HDV and FCE HD:
I shoot and edit in HDV with FCE HD without problem, but there are some points that need clarification.
1) HDV is converted upon capturing process within FCE to Apple Intermediate Codec movie. Regular HDV take the same amount of hard disk space as regular DV, but AIC needs aroung 49 Gig/hour of space.
2) HDV colorspace and compression sheme doesn't support well color correction or compositing (at least not as well than DV).
3) Rendering process is very very long one, and to play realtime effect you need a pretty fast CPU and many RAM.
4) A dedicated external hard drive runnig at 7200 rpm is a must to avoid drop frame on playback/capture/print.
5) Print to tape must be done overnight because it took a rule of 5 to 6 time the length of your sequence to operate.
6) HDV is astoning when viewed in a 1 to 1 pixel ratio on your computer screen, but it take at least 1920 X1080 pixel to do so. Apple Cinema HD display from 23" can do the job.
7) There is not easy/affortable way to distribute HDV on DVD right now. Your only option is to use your camcorder as VCR hooked on HD TV set, or use an Apple TV.
8) Final Cut Pro (part of Final Cut Studio 2) handles HDV natively but push hard on CPU. Compressor and DVD studio Pro allows to burn (in some forma right now, but with limitation) HD DVD disk.
9) I shoot in HDV but sometime, I downconvert from camcorder (Sony allows this) to DV upon capturing in DV NTSC in Final Cut Express. The result in a very good image (many pixels shrinked to fit the DV dimensions) in a standard def movie distributed on regular DVD or wide screen DVD.
10) HDV is still captured on tape, despite many manufacturers offer hard drive, DVD or card storing system for ohter flavor of HD like AVCHD. Tape is an affordable way to archive your material.
Final Cut Express HD 4 supports AVCHD.
Michel Boissonneault

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Final Cut Express: Audio question. Please help!

Hi, I'm new to Final Cut Express and I have a random question.
I have a 2 minute video that I put into my timeline sequence. I added photos over some of the video and now I decided that I want to delete the rest of the video and audio since 2 minutes is too long. Well, now it will allow me to delete the video but not the audio. Does anyone know how to make in/out points for just the audio? and to cut it? Every time I make an in/out point, it only allows me to do it for the video. Now, I have this two minute-long audio that I need to get rid of that I just can't seem to delete/cut.
If anyone out there can help me, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks.
~Alice

You're making In and Out points in the timeline right? Make sure the autoselect buttons are black for the tracks you want to select.

Final Cut Express Output Question

Hello...
I've just started working with Final Cut Express 4. I imported my DV 4:3 ratio footage using the DV-NTSC setup. I put together some basic material and wanted to test the output quality. I exported as a Quicktime Video. This gave me a resolution or 720 x 480. When played in Quicktime at the actual size the video is very crisp. However, when I increase the size of the playback window the video quality decreases and just looks horrible.
Ultimately, I need to export my final movie to a DVD to be played on a "normal" television, "non-widescreen", with a 4:3 ratio. When I do make the final DVD in iDVD will the footage be poor video quality, or is there some other settings I should choose to have a higher quality video be produced?
I just don't want create this major project and have all the settings wrong for final output.
Thank you in advance for any and all help.
~ Jarrod

When played in Quicktime at the actual size the video is very crisp. However, when I increase the size of the playback window the video quality decreases and just looks horrible
What did you expect? That's what happens when you stretch video larger than it's native resolution. It should display fine on any standard TV.
-DH

Final Cut Express 4 Question

Hi guys!
I am trying to edit a video in FCE4. I have my DVD Movie Segment ("DMS") open and my Canvas ("C"). When I take the edited portion from my DMS and insert it into my C, the picture is cutting off my guys head. In other words, it is making my picture to large for the frame. Does anyone know how to fix this? It's rather urgent. I appreciate any help!
Thanks!
Moondahgi

DVD footage should not really work directly in FCE, so you are pretty lucky you have stuff to look at.
If you wish to resive the Canvas it may simply be the View as already mentioned.
At the top, middle of the Canvas Window is a number with a % sign, click it and select Fit to Window and check the Correct for Aspect Ratio field.
The above only changes the Canvas display not Sequence or clip properties.
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Aperture/Final Cut Express

Hi
Anybody out there got any idea if the Aperture plug-in "Aperture to Final Cut Pro" will work with Final Cut Express
Many thanks in anticipation
Steve

Apparently not. Read the last line in this post:
http://fcpdaily.com/2010/04/fcp-free-aperture-to-final-cut-pro-plug-in/

Final Cut Express/Aperture

Hi
Any body out there got any idea if the Aperture plug-in "Aperture to Final Cut Pro" will work with Final Cut Express
Many thanks in anticipation
Steve

from: http://connectedflow.com/aperturetofinalcut/
+System Requirements+
+Aperture to Final Cut Pro requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later and Aperture 1.5.1 or later.+
+Exported sequences require Final Cut Pro 5.1.2 or later.+
+Aperture to Final Cut Pro does not work with Final Cut Express.+

Does Final Cut Express 4 work with mac mini and other questions...?

I have a few questions I need help in answering... I would appreciate opinions on the following:
I am about to make a purchase of a new mac. I already have a mac mini PPC, but it is too slow...
Here is what I am thinking.
Mac mini, 2GB mem, 160GB hard drive. Will this new mac mini work with Final Cut Express 4?
Or should I go with the more powerful iMac?
I like to make movies on my mac but I hate iMovie 08 so I constantly use iMovie HD 06. Should I go to Final Cut Express 4 or just stick with iMovie HD 06?

There is no doubt that FCE 4 will run on an Intel mini - the GMA graphics processor is compatible. There is also no doubt that an iMac would give you somewhat better overall performance, though it's important perhaps to note that as complex as FCE is, it is actually a little less demanding on hardware than iMovie has traditionally been, so the difference between a mini with 2Gb RAM and a similarly equipped iMac will not be all that great in FCE, though it will become a little more noticeable if you continue to use iMovie 6.
The main reason for the performance difference between iMovie and FCE is that in order to provide a reasonably sophisticated video editing package that will run on very basic hardware, Apple relied heavily on caching techniques, meaning that while FCE basically spools from video and relies on CPU power, iMovie constantly moves data to and from the hard drive. The mini's hard drive is a (relatively) slow device in comparison to the iMac's - thus the iMac runs iMovie rather more seamlessly. In FCE, the difference is, as said, rather less clear unless you were to go for the top-end model.
If your budget can stretch to an iMac it makes sense to go that route simply because the extra power and overall performance (and the better graphics processor) will give you greater flexibility down the road. On the other hand, if funds are tight and you need to spend as little as reasonably possible, a mini will do fine, and is sufficient;y inexpensive that in a couple of years could be sold off and replaced without severe financial implications.
In terms of the choice between FCE or iMovie, beware that if you haven't used FCE before, the transition is not easy, and the learning curve for it is pretty steep. That said, it has far greater power and flexibility in terms of what you can achieve with it than has ever been possible with iMovie.
That said, for casual and home use, iMovie (version 6 at least) has plenty of power and tools for the majority of projects. iMovie 8 is, in many ways, deeply flawed for those who want that sort of power and workflow tools, being that it is designed for quick and easy creation of movies, not creative and considered productions. It has it's uses, but if you have experience with iMovie already, v8 is really not intended for you at all.
All that said, I've used iMovie 6 on systems will a lot less power than the current Intel minis, and have found it stable and workable, so I have no doubt it would work well on any current Mac.

Sony DCR-TRV140 w/Final Cut Express 4 - Capture format question

A big thanks to the forum for patience and direction. You all have helped me get an older digital camcorder hooked up to the Mac to date.
I'm now able to capture video from the camcorder to FinalCut Express.
So, on to today's question...
I have a Sony Digital Handycam DCR-TRV140. I know that it's NTSC (mainly because it says so right on the side of the camcorder). But I don't know what capture settings to use in Final Cut Express to get the best quality video onto the Mac, and ultimately onto DVD's or digital files I publish to my family over the net.
So when I go to the menu path Final Cut Express -> Easy Setup, I have a number of options to choose from... I (think) that I know that the best format option to choose from the dropdown is NTSC... But I don't know what to choose from the drop down list.
Here's a picture of the drop down list:
https://wu20hg.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pNUoJrOOSdf-4NJq3OjEIyrt38TEU64-Pid2LRNbw kG9grywxFV1qA2NshK8uSxl6eiTlYiq4uNbG86CJRUantQ/FinalCutExpressTim1.tiff
Specifications for the Sony camcorder can be found here:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=1055 1&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11027762
or here
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DCRTRV140-Digital8-Camcorder-Streaming/dp/B0000634T4/ ref=cmcr_pr_producttop
Can you help me decide what is the best option to choose? If it depends, maybe you could explain what it depends on...?
Many thanks!
Tim

The differences among the Easy Setups have to do with audio sample rate, device control, and widescreen shooting.
The Anamorphic setups are for widescreen. If your camera doesn't shoot widescreen (16:9), you can ignore them.
DV media is generally recorded with audio at 48kHz or 32kHz. Choose according to the audio recorded by your camera (some offer different record options). If you capture with the wrong audio selected in your FCE Easy Seutp, you'll get a warning message at the end of the capture.
What FCE Setup are you using at present? I'm guessing it's either DV-NTSC Firewire Basic or DV-NTSC DV Converter. If that's working for you, stick with it.

Final Cut Express keeps stopping and saying "Too many files open"

Final Cut Express keeps stopping and saying "Too many files open". I don't see how this is the case as I only have the one project open...

Try here:
http://www.fcpbook.com/Misc1.html
Al

Sorry I'm new to Final Cut Express. How do you make an image (jpeg file for example) move across the screen slowly as I've seen in many films.

Sorry I'm new to Final Cut Express. How do you make an image (jpeg file for example) move across the screen slowly as I've seen in many films.

Neil from bristol wrote:
… How do you make an image … move across the screen …
by setting KEYFRAMES
(read, what FC/e's built-in Help-feature tells about it)
resize and set pic to start position
set keyframe
move playhead in timeline to desired length
set pic to end position
set keyframe …

Final Cut Express Audio Listening Question

I just installed Final Cut Express and have imported an iMovie project. When I listen to it the audio does not play. Instead I get a beeping sound. The wave forms show that the audio is there but I can't listen to it and I can't turn off the beeping. Is there an easy explanation for this?
Many thanks.
BTW, I also exported the iMovie as a quicktime movie and then imported it. Got the same result even though the quicktime movie playes perfectly.
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Thanks, that seems to be the problem. Not very satisfactory though.
How do I render the audio as is suggested in the link?
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)

A few quick questions before I buy Final Cut Express

I am looking into purchasing FCE because iMovie doesn't meet my needs.
I am currently using Pinnacle Studio to make music highlight videos.
A lot of what I do requires slow motion, or speeding the video up to match the music.
I also use effects like "old film" scratches and sepia tones or B&W.
Does it sound like Final Cut Express will help me????
Thanks,
Chuck

Hi(Bonjour)!
FCE HD can does those effects and many more.
But you'llo have to follow a steppier learning curve than iMovie.
Michel Boissonneault

Question re Final Cut Express Capabilities

I'm about to make the jump from another editing system over to Final Cut Express 4.
One of the things I want to be able to do is line up and load three different angles from three different cameras and be able to edit "on the fly" as the scenes play. I have a concert video, shot in a studio, with three cameras on tripods. Now I've got three tapes and I want to load them all into memory and then crossfade or cut between angles on-the-fly.
As well, I want to be able to shoot interviews with two cameras, each one pointing at the different people interview. Can FCE handle two different simulataneous inputs and then store the scenes in such a way that I can then cut between the two during the editing process?
Is there additional software or hardware needed for this? In my ten-year-old editing machine I've been using, this can be done ... but it's a major workaround and a major effort. And in the later versions of my same old machine, they had a feature called "Quad Cam" which showed up to four scenes on your monitor playing simultaneously, but it was expensive and needed a fast processor, which I didn't have. I suspect my new MacBook Pro will handle this, assuming FCE4 is able to do it.

Hi
The Multi Camera function in FCP is very time saving. And there are other functions
in FCP that might add to the value to take the leap.
The Color correcting tool was so much better and Color included (even more sofisticated)
DVD-Studio Pro
AND - Compressor !
Still to get more than one Camera to hard disk in live.
I tried a simpler version of this "Capture Magic HD" - only SD but
on a PowerBook G4 1.5GHz
one extra FW-port on a PSCIA (or whatever) card - to get an extra individual FW-port
and TWO Cameras in real-time download to internal hard disk.
EACH Camera Must have a true FireWire port - not a split one as on Mac 400/800
(they are one and the same)
It worked as a charm. Ready to be edited immediately after Capture.
Yours Bengt W

Camcorder Question/ Final Cut Express 2

Hello All,
I am looking to buy a new camcorder as my old one (Sony DCR-PC100e) has died on me. Am thinking of the Canon. Like the look of the XM2 but notice that on this board a lot of people talking about the HV20 and HV30.
I need mini-DV, am not bothered about HD necessarily cos I don't have an HD tv or anything else that's HD. Obviously am using a Mac, and need it to be compatible with Final Cut Express ( iahve version 2.0.3...old, I know, but suits me fine for now).
Any strong opinions on which one of these is better? XM2 or HV30.
The semi-pro version that Sony has, the DCR-VX2100-E is way too expensive....looks like the Canon XM2 is around £1500 or so?
Would appreciate any feedback, Thanks.

I have got the HV20 but cannot comment in depth on how good it is as I have only shot about 5 minutes of footage!
However, it received excellent reviews last year and is available for well under £600 new.
There are some 10 huge web pages to this review but they are worth wading through. The other reviews are shorter:-
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Canon-HV20-Camcorder-Review.htm#
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/macuser/reviews/115215/canon-hv20.html
http://www.simplydv.co.uk/reviews/camcorders/canon/hdv/canon-hv30-review.html
Ian.

Final Cut Express Question

Hello;
I want to upgrade my Final Cut express v.2 to v.4 but I cannot find my main disk. I have the serial number but I was wondering, if I get the upgrade disk to go to v.4, do I need my disk for v.2 or do I just need the serial number?
Thanks

You only need the serial number.
When installing on the upgrade disc you wil be notified that it's an upgraqde and will be prompted for a full version serial number.
Enter the numbers, the full version then the upgade numbers, and away you go.
Al

Final Cut Express? Many Questions.

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