Final Cut Pro, Avid, and After Effects Training

Editing Effect Templates in Final Cut Pro X

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:19:10 -0500

If you are a Final Cut Pro X user, you may find that certain built-in effects and generators are fairly limited in terms of parameters that you can adjust.

For example, the built-in gradient generator doesn't allow you to change colors.

Well, the fix is simple. This tutorial requires that you have Motion 5 installed. If you have Motion 5, you can make changes to any built-in effect within Final Cut Pro X. You can then create new effects with all the parameters and adjustments that you need.

Check out this short tutorial on how to publish new parameters within Final Cut Pro X by using Motion 5.

Click on the title of this blog for the full tutorial.

Animating Lights in Marquee with Keyframes

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:31:03 -0500

If you are an Avid Media Composer user, you've probably realized that the Marquee Title tool is extremely powerful.

While many parts of the software are extremely intuitive, there are some things that make your head spin. One of those things, is the ability to view keyframes when animating lights.

Check out this short tutorial on how to the view the keyframe graph for light objects within the Avid Marquee title tool.

Click on the title of this article to view the tutorial.

Color Mask in Final Cut Pro X

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:40:05 -0500

Learn how to use a color mask in Final Cut Pro X to change the color of a specific area within a video clip.

Click on the title of this article for the full FCP X tutorial.

Importing Hi-Res Images into Final Cut Pro X

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 12:25:13 -0500

Here is short tutorial on how to import hi-res images from iPhoto into Final Cut Pro X. Also, In this tutorial you will learn the following:

Creating a video slideshow from your hi-res photos
Changing the duration of all your clips at the same time
Adding multiple transitions all at the same time

Click on the title of this blog to read the full tutorial.

Multi Camera Editing in Avid Media Composer

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:24:10 -0500

Check out this short Avid Media Composer tutorial that has been updated from my previous multi-camera tutorial.

Auto-Save Attic Avid Media Composer

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:36:37 -0500

The latest version of Avid Media Composer 6.0 has 99 undos. However, there are a couple of scenarios that may require an additional steps to recover from a bad situation.

If you close your project, the undo list will reset.
If you accidentally delete a sequence from a bin, you cannot undo that function.
If an Avid Media Composer bin becomes corrupted, the undo command won't help out.

Here's a short Media Composer tutorial that show how to recover a bin from an earlier point in time.

Before watching this tutorial keeps the following in mind:

There are many different version's of Avid Media Composer out there. The latest version is 6.01. Unfortunately, the location of the Avid Attic has changed over time.

There directory location is different locations for PC and MAC.

As of today (Media Composer 6.01) the Avid Attic is located at:

On a MAC: Internal HD / Shared / AvidMediaComposer / Avid Attic
On a PC: C:/ Users / Public / Documents / Avid Media Composer / Avid Attic

Click the Title of this article to continue reading the tutorial.

3D Objects in Avid Marquee

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:27:32 -0500

Learn how to create 3D objects in a true 3D environment using Avid Media Composer's Marquee Software.

Continue reading for a full text transcript of this tutorial.

Import FCP 7 projects into FCP X

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:12:29 -0500

With the latest update to Final Cut Pro X (10.0.3), you can now import your Final Cut Pro 7 projects into FCP X.

There's a company called Intelligent Assistance that makes an application for converting your old Final Cut Pro 7 projects to Final Cut Pro X projects. Don't worry, for those of you who want to go the other way.... meaning FCP X to FCP 7, they have an app for that as well.

You can purchase the application through the Mac App store. It's only $10.00!

So, I did a basic test converting a project with some cross dissolves and an audio track from Final Cut Pro 7 into Final Cut Pro X, and it worked flawlessly!

Now, the only odd-ball thing, is that each sequence is converted into something called a Compound Clip into Final Cut Pro X. It's really not that big of a deal, but you'll need to break apart your compound clip in order to see all the video and audio clips.

Don't worry, the documentation provides very simple methods that walk you through on how to accomplish that.

I'm very impressed with the number of elements that can be converted. Some quick notes that caught my interested include the ability to convert the following:

Nested Sequences are Converted to Compound Clips
MultiClips are Converted to FCP X Multiclips
Split edits are maintained
Audio Levels (including keyframes and pans) are maintained
Motion Tab Settings are converted directly over including (scale, opacity, distort, position and composition settings)
Constant Speed changes
Markers
31 compatible transitions
72 FxPlug and FXScript plugins are converted over
32 various audio filters

*This is NOT a complete list, but it contains a few things that caught my eye as being a good thing!

There are a couple of items that will not carry over which include:

Titles Created with Title 3D title tool
Variable Speed Changes
Filter Settings
Drop Shadows and Blurs using the Motion Tab
Travel Mattes using the Alpha or Luma Composite Modes

Again, this is not a complete list, so please ready the documentation.

Apple Updates Final Cut Pro X

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:30:19 -0500

Today Apple has updated Final Cut Pro X through the App Store.

Important notes of interest include:

Multicam editing with support up to 64 angles.
New advanced controls for chroma keying
Ability to manually relink projects and events to media
XML 1.1 support

XML support is a huge addition to uses who want to convert old Final Cut Pro 7 projects to Final Cut Pro X projects. The application from Intelligence Assistance is available through the Mac App Store and only costs $10.00

There are also updates for Motion 5 and Compressor 4.

GeniusDV now offers classes for learning Final Cut Pro X.

Exporting from Final Cut Pro

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:21:32 -0500

Exporting from Final Cut Pro can sometimes be frustrating. This is especially true if you run into video interlace problems.

I had originally intended to write this article for Final Cut Pro X users. However, this article will also benefit users who are using Final Cut Pro 7 along with Compressor 3.0. So please, forgive me a ahead of time if you are not a Final Cut Pro X user.

I was inspired to write this article, because GeniusDV has received support calls from frustrated customers who are having issues exporting high quality video that looks clean on a progressive display.

Don't worry, the steps in this tutorial are identical for Compressor 3.0 and 4.0.

(Click on the title of the blog to continue reading the full article)

Free Final Cut Pro 7.0 Tutorials

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:20:07 -0500

In an effort to celebrate the now 'retired' Final Cut Studio software, GeniusDV is giving away all of our Final Cut Pro 7.0 tutorials!

GeniusDV is offering one last Final Cut Studio class that starts Jan 23rd - Jan 26th in Orlando, FL. Seating is limited to the first 5 individuals. That being said, because of the continued popularity of Final Cut Pro 7.0 we will still continue to offer 'onsite' and customized Final Cut Pro 7.0 training.

If you decide to make the jump to Final Cut Pro X, be sure to check out our updated training class schedule!

Enjoy the following tutorials!

Final Cut Pro Tutorials for effects
Camera Flash effect with freeze frame Part 1
Photo Flash Frame Effect Part 2
Camera Flash Freeze effect using Apple Motion Part 3
Pleasantville tutorial
Wind Blur tutorial
Blur Face in Final Cut Pro
Transport Beam tutorial
Light Zoom filter tutorial
Ken Burns effect
Creating a Moving Filmstrip
Creating customized wipes in Final Cut Pro
Creating a running timer or counter in Final Cut Pro
Luma Key Effect
Speed Ramp Effect with curves in Final Cut Pro
Play a clip backwards in Final Cut Pro
Alpha Wipe Transition Effect
Rotated Motion Path in Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro Tutorials for editing
Using the Add-Edit tool versus the Blade tool in Final Cut Pro
Re-formatting 4:3 Media for a 16:9 Hi Def Sequence in Final Cut Pro
Importing AVCHD - H264 Media into Final Cut Pro
Multi-camera Editing tutorial for Final Cut Pro
Learn to use modifier keys with Final Cut Pro
Exporting (WMV) Windows Media Files from Final Cut Pro
Trimming Clips in Final Cut Pro
Importing Image Sequences or using Stop Motion in Final Cut Pro
Using Media Manager in Final Cut Pro
Reformatting 4x3 Media for Hi def in Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro / Boris 3D Tutorials
Creating 3D text using Boris Title 3D
Title Crawl effect with glow
Title 3D type on effect
Title 3D effect using the tracking parameter
Creating Glass text effect with Boris Title 3D

Apple Motion Tutorials
Cloning or Repairing an image using Apple Motion
Creating 3D extruded text in Apple Motion
Tracking a Mask in Apple Motion for Color Correction
Using Masks to re-fill a tequila bottle in Apple Motion
Creating a glowing title in Apple Motion
Human Torch effect in Apple Motion
3D reflection in water with Apple Motion
Creating Text on a Path with Apple Motion
Fogwriter effect with Apple Motion
Image stabilization with Apple Motion
Using Apple Motion Audio Behaviors
Using lights with Ken Burns effect
Creating Particles on a Path
Light Streak effect using Apple Motion
Wrapping text around an object in Apple Motion
Flying Stars using Character Map with Motion
Animated Masks and Tracking with Apple Motion (jump through fire)
Four Point tracking in Apple Motion (replacing television image)
Hold Out Matte using Final Cut Pro and Motion (glowing football player)
Exploding Text effect
3D lighting in Apple Motion
Sequencing Text effect in Apple Motion

Apple Color Tutorials
Creating the Pleasantville effect in Apple Color
Introduction to Color Interface
Using Tracking Data in Apple Color for Color Correction
Configuring Preferences in Apple Color
Using Secondary Color Correction to fix a bad shot in Apple Color

SoundTrack Pro Tutorials
Removing audio noise with FCP and SoundTrack Pro
Removing audio pops using SoundTrack Pro and Final Cut Pro
Time shift effect using SoundTrack Pro and Final Cut Pro

Compressor / DVD Studio Pro Tutorials
FCP to DVD Studio Pro workflow tutorial
Creating Droplets with Apple Compressor

Photoshop for Final Cut Pro Video Tutorials
Creating a glass bug with Photoshop
Using photoshop filters on video clip

Pleasantville Effect Media Composer 6

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:03:23 -0500

With the introduction of Avid Media Composer 6, we'll be hard at work redoing many of our popular tutorials.

Check out this short tutorial on creating the Pleasantville effect using the new Media Composer 6 interface.

Adobe On Location

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:21:06 -0500

Whether you are a Final Cut Pro user, Avid Media Composer user, or Premiere user, we'd like to introduce you to Adobe On Location. In our opinion, this is an incredible application that is sometimes overlooked in the professional video industry.

It ships with the Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium. Trust us on this one, this software is really a nice addition to any video production professional.

Do you own a HDV camera which records to MiniDV cassette tapes, and have wondered what to do about it? I have given my Canon XHA1S the evil eye for some time now, but have not decided to upgrade to another model. The technological advances come so fast that it is difficult to make a reasonable choice, and waiting a few months may be priceless.

Adobe On Location may be the tool that helps you improve your footage until you are certain of what to do after HDV.

Importing video from a camera in Final Cut Pro X

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:12:20 -0500

FCPX's Import Camera tool makes it stunningly easy to import video from your camera and jump right into editing. This brief walkthrough illustrates just how easy that can be, whether you intend to import all of the video from a camera, some of the shots, or even selected portions of shots on the camera. Enjoy the video, and see the bonus protip after the jump...

Running Final Cut Pro on a PC with Windows

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:26:53 -0500

UPDATE: I've got some bad news for Windows fans who were hoping Final Cut Pro would run on a Windows operating system. With the introduction of Final Cut Pro X, it's unlikely you will ever see a version that will run natively in Windows. Apple has rewritten FCP using more than just modern coding techniques like 64-bit programming. The new Final Cut Pro X is built on technologies exclusive to Apple's Mac OS X operating system.

If you're committed to editing on a Windows machine, Adobe Premiere is the most direct alternative to Final Cut Pro. Avid Media Composer also runs on Windows. It's popular in high-end workflows, but more expensive and more difficult to learn. We teach Adobe Premiere and Media Composer classes for both Windows and Mac.

The good news is that moving to the most popular editing software in the industry is cheaper and easier than ever. Even an entry-level MacBook Air ($999 at time of writing) will run FCPX, albeit slowly—and the price of Final Cut Pro has plummeted to just $299 for a license good on every Mac you own or use. There's even a free, full-featured trial available for your Mac if you want to test drive Mac OS and Final Cut.