Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer

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Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer
Final Cut Pro 7
Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer
Kevin Mullin, UMKC Communication Studies Dept.
This guide was written for FCP Version 7
Starting Final Cut
Start the program by clicking on the Final Cut Pro (FCP) icon on the dock. The dock is
usually hidden at the bottom of the screen, but it also may be at the left or right edge of
the screen.
Initial Setup
     When you first start FCP, it may open someone else's project. If that happens, go
        to File>Close Project. When it asks you if you want to save changes, say NO.

      If there is not a tab in the Browser window named "Untitled Project", then go to
       File>New Project. Once the “Untitled Project” tab has appeared, go to File>Save
       Project As. The default location is the Documents folder, but save to your
       personal folder. In the Comm Studies Media Lab computers, you can find it again
       but going to Finder>Desktop>Instructor Shortcut>Your Personal Folder
       (Providing you created the folder properly prior to opening Final Cut)
      Name your project something that describes your project, such as “Volleyball”, or
       “When Zombies Attack”, not “News Package” or “My Story”, “My Movie”, etc.
      Confirm Project save by looking at project tab in Browser window, which should
       have new project name.

Scratch Disk-VERY IMPORTANT
                                                     The Scratch Disk is where
                                                      video/media is stored. If you neglect
                                                      this setting, then your footage may
                                                      end up in someone else's folder,
                                                      which could be deleted.
                                                     If a Scratch Disk setting window
                                                      opens upon starting Final Cut, that
                                                      usually means that the scratch
                                                      settings were set to an external hard
                                                      drive that is no longer connected to
                                                      the computer. Don’t worry, just set
                                                      the settings to your Personal Folder.
Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer
   Go to FCP Menu>System Settings>Scratch Disk Tab, Check the top line in
       window's location is set to your Personal Folder.
      If you need to change location, click Set, find your folder and click Open, and you
       can now verify that the correct location has been set.
      Finally click OK
      CHECK THE SCRATCH DISK SETTINGS EVERY TIME YOU
       START EDITING!!!

Camera/SD Memory Card Connection Options
There are two main options when it comes to hooking up the camcorder or card reader
to the computer to transfer your video footage to the computer.
    • The first option is to simply hook up the camcorder to the computer via a USB
       cable. Be sure the camcorder is in “play” mode.
                      • The second option is to eject the SD card from the camcorder,
                          insert into a compatible card reader & connect the SD/Card
                          Reader combination to the computer via a USB cable.

                      •   You’ll know that your camcorder/card is properly mounted on
                          the computer when a removable drive icon pops up on the
                          desktop.

   •   It is important to follow these directions to properly import the footage into Final
       Cut. Please resist the temptation to just drag the files off the SD card to the
       computer. Doing so will make things much more difficult when you go to
       edit.

   •   The files that the camcorder records are initially incompatible with Final Cut and
       must be transcoded before Final Cut will be able to edit them. Luckily, Final Cut
       easily transcodes the footage for you.
Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer
Transfer/Ingest Video Footage Into Final Cut

                                               Go to File>Log and Transfer, to open
                                                the transfer window.
                                               Click on the Gear Icon at the top of the
                                                Log & Transfer window to access the
                                                import preferences.
                                               Under the AVCHD Plugin/AVCHD
                                                dropown menu, select Apple ProRes
                                                422 (LT)

      After a few seconds, your clips should pop up in the Log and Transfer Window,
       shown Below:
Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer
   Transfer/Ingest Process
     You have several options when logging your clips before transferring the
       footage from the card to the computer, such as:
       ■ Setting in/out points on individual clips to only transfer the portion of the
           clip you want.
       ■ Clicking on the Name Preset will provide you with different clip naming
           options.
       ■ You also have the ability to enter clip information such as Scene,
           Shot/Take, Angle, & Log Notes
     When you completed any logging/naming changes drag the clip(s) to the
       transfer queue in the lower left hand portion of the window labeled, “Drag
       Media Here”.
     Once the clip has been dragged into the transfer queue, it will begin
       transcoding.
     When transcoding is complete, the transfer queue will be empty and your
       transcoded clips will appear in the browser window.
     Close the Log and Transfer Window when the transfer process is complete.
Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer
   Alternative Footage Transcode Method
     If for some reason, your clips don’t appear in the Log and Transfer Window,
       there is an alternative method for transcoding your footage.
     Locate and open the free utility, MPEG Streamclip
     Go to List>Batch List, which opens the window below:

       Clicking on Add Files will open a file requester to add your footage from the
        card. Select the .mts files in this path:
        CANON/PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM
       Select all the .mts files and click To Batch which will open the following
        window:
                                                                 Click the Fix
                                                                   Timecode Breaks
                                                                   checkbox and then
                                                                   click OK.
                                                                 You will then select
                                                                   the destination folder
                                                                   to where your footage
                                                                   will be transcoded.
                                                                   Select the Capture
                                                                   Scratch folder inside
                                                                   your personal Final
                                                                   Cut Project folder.
Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer
   After selecting the Destination folder, your files will be added to the batch
    window. If you get an error, just select the Open Anyway button.
   Select the Apple ProRes 422 (LT) option under the Compression menu.
   Drag the “Quality” slider all the way to the right (100%).
   All the other settings do not need to be changed.
   Finally, click To Batch

   Click Go on the Batch window and the transcoding will begin.
   After the transcoding is complete, quit the MPEG Streamclip application.
   In Final Cut, go to File>Import>Files, which will open a file requester allowing
    you to locate and select the files you just transcoded.
   The transcoded files will now appear in the Final Cut browser window.
Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer
Backing Up a SD/CF Card
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR SD CARD AFTER EACH SHOOT!!

       There are times when it is a good idea to back up your footage prior to
        transcoding into Final Cut, such as:
        ■ When you do not have Final Cut or MPEG Streamclip out In the field when
            shooting and you need to clear the card to resume shooting.
        ■ You’re shooting for someone else and you’re not sure what they will be
            editing with, so you should backup the footage in its native format.
       Insert the SD/CF card into a compatible card reader connected to your Mac
        via a USB cable, simply insert the card into the card slot your Mac if it has
        one, or attach the camera in playback bode if the card is still in the camera.
       You’ll know that your camcorder/card is properly mounted on the computer
        when a removable drive icon pops up on the desktop.
       In Finder select Go>Utilities which opens the Utilities Folder. Find & open the
        Disk Utility.

                                                             Select the SD/CF
                                                              card, and click New
                                                              Image.

                                                             Name your backup,
                                                              designate where to
                                                              save it and Click Save.
                                                               Make sure to give it a
                                                              name that makes
                                                              sense.

       Let the Disk Utility run. The finished file will have a .dmg (disk image)
        file extension. You have now successfully made a back up copy of your
        card.
       The .dmg file that you created can now be duplicated and saved as a
        backup of your SD card.
       When you need to open the backup card, double click on the .dmg (disk
        image), and your card will mount on the desktop. It can be accessed
        like the original card.
Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer Final Cut Pro 7 Canon HFS-30 Footage Transfer
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