Logging Footage with Final Cut Pro

Have you ever tried to log some footage and had trouble getting the log and capture setup to recognize that your camera/deck is there? Perhaps you see that the window shows "VTR OK" but you still see color bars in the log and capture window. The camera/deck is playing but you don't see an image on the screen. This can be one of the most frustrating scenarios. You want to simply get the footage to start logging so that you can continue to work on other things in the background. Maybe you're missing part of the big game because you can't get your camera working right. 

Is it the camera? Is it the computer? Is it the connection? As it turns out, all of these things need to be in complete harmony or you won't be able to log anything. The first thing that you should check when you're trying to log the footage is that the camera has the correct settings. If you captured in HDV then make sure that you don't have the down-convert settings on. Make sure that the firewire setting is set to HDV and not to DV. Make sure that the camera is in VTR mode and not camera mode. 

The computer settings need to match the settings that the camera has. This is actually very simple in Final Cut Pro but can be frustrating if you don't do it right. Under the "File" menu, click on the "Easy Setup" option. In the window that will show up, find the setting that you configured your camera to display. From here you should be all set to log and capture.

If you find that these steps didn't get your camera to be recognized, you'll usually be able to fix the problem with a simple restart of the camera and the computer!

Introduction to NLE

NLE: Non-Linear Editing. NLE is a type of video editing that does not require the splicing and joining of tape or film. In a linear editing scenario, the editor must find a clip or segment of film and set in and out points on the clip. This is done with many clips until all necessary clips are ready to be pieced together. The clips are then joined together IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER from the first clip to the last. It is necessary to have an in point and an out point in the timeline (or the reel) and an in and out point on the clip as well (thus, four "points" altogether). Linear editing can be a very tedious process. 

With the aid of computers, non-linear editing is made possible. Non-linear editing requires only three "points" when incorporated into the timeline. For example: if an in point and an out point are set on a particular clip, that clip can be placed on a timeline where only an point is specified. Because of the nature of the digital interface, it is not required to set an out point on the timeline because the out point is figured by the non-linear system based on the out point of the clip. Not needing to figure out where to set out points on the timeline can save the editor a lot of time. In another example, if in points and out points are set in the timeline, than it is only necessary to set an in point on the clip that will be placed. The editor need not set the out point as well because the out point will be figured based on the out point of the timeline.

Examples of popular non-linear editing solutions are Avid, Final Cut Pro, and Adobe Premiere. I am an avid Final Cut Pro user (and have been since version 1.0). The benefits of using non-linear systems have brought Hollywood producers on board to master feature films using non-linear solutions. Napoleon Dynamite was edited using Final Cut Pro. The new version of King Kong was produced using a program called Shake along with Final Cut Pro. The speed and ease of use that non-linear editing brings to the table has allowed this form of editing to dominate the production industry.