What is the HD in Final Cut Pro
HD stands for High Definition Video. If you are new to the video production industry, you might want to pay attention to two popular HD formats. The HD in Final Cut basically refers to the ability to capture High Definition Video directly through a firewire cable. This greatly simplies the HD editing process.
These are the Sony HDV format, and Panasonic's DVCPro HD. These formats are attractive for Final Cut Pro users, because you do not need any additional hardware or capture cards. You can simply use the firewire port on the back of your Macintosh. Be aware, the hard drive requirements to capture HD video are much higher than standard DV video. Typically, firewire drives should be of the firewire 800 type, with a drive speed of 7200 rpm's or higher.
At last count, I counted 14 different HD formats which are:
1280 x 720 (16:9) at frame rates: 23.976, 24, 29.97, 30, 59.94, 60
1920 x 1080 (16:9)at frame rates: 25 (50i), 29.97 (59.94i), 30 (60i) 23.976, 24, 29.97, 30
If you decide to go with any of these formats, you will need an additional HD hardware capture card. Make sure your device is an approved HD device so it will work with Final Cut Pro.
