FCPX Workflow
09 08, 12 Filed in: Video Production | Macintosh Software
I mostly produce chronological travel videos mixing still photography, video, titles (wildlife identification, etc.) and music. Over the years I have developed a specific workflow that helps me streamline the editing process. - by David R. Beebe
I mostly produce chronological travel videos mixing still photography, video, titles (wildlife identification, etc.) and music. Over the years I have developed a specific workflow that helps me streamline the editing process.
First, sync the clock of all camera sources you plan to use. Yes, you can tweak the differences later but it is much easier (and easy to do) before. Clean lenses and sensors as needed. Charge all your batteries.
During the trip, download photos into Aperture. You can rate images but don't bother with fine edits on a laptop. If backup storage is limited, delete any unwanted master images from Aperture and empty its trash. I create a project for each travel day. Since camera clocks are in sync, all images from all cameras are already in chronological order.
Archive AVCHD video to your backup drive too. See my "Backup of Camera Flash Memory In The Field" note from 4/10/11 for details.
When you are ready to start post-production, decide where you want the working files to be and prepare that HD. Since 2009, I've been working in a 16:9 format so it really helps to crop the still images ahead of time. In Aperture, filter the list of images by rating (usually 3 stars or higher). Edit each image as necessary then make a duplicate of the version (it will add - Version 2) to the image's name. Crop Version 2 to 16:9. When you are done, filter the list of images for Version 2 and export them full sized to your FCPX's HD. I use the timestamp template for the export's filename. This follows the same naming structure FCPX uses when importing video clips from AVCHD. Import the stills into FCPX.
Scan whatever material you collected during the trip such as maps, drawings, ticket stubs, logos.
Import AVCHD video into FCPX.
Stabilize video as needed with iStabilize or with FCPX's much improved built-in option.
You are ready to start editing. All your objects will mix nicely in chronological order making it a lot easier to keep track. With the timeline built, add music (see my Timecode Calculator note from 12/21/11.
Share BD to external burner first. Watch it and if no changes are needed, share BD to disk image for safe keeping. Note, this works out much better than making a disc image with Toast since Toast saves all 25GB regardless of what was used in the project. Do the same for SD if you need to produce regular DVDs too. Share up to 15 minute long segments to YouTube or save for your Apple devices. The last thing I do is export the final project to QT Pro Res 422 to disk. This is a large file but less that saving all of the project files. It gives me the opportunity to export to a newer format in the future.
First, sync the clock of all camera sources you plan to use. Yes, you can tweak the differences later but it is much easier (and easy to do) before. Clean lenses and sensors as needed. Charge all your batteries.
During the trip, download photos into Aperture. You can rate images but don't bother with fine edits on a laptop. If backup storage is limited, delete any unwanted master images from Aperture and empty its trash. I create a project for each travel day. Since camera clocks are in sync, all images from all cameras are already in chronological order.
Archive AVCHD video to your backup drive too. See my "Backup of Camera Flash Memory In The Field" note from 4/10/11 for details.
When you are ready to start post-production, decide where you want the working files to be and prepare that HD. Since 2009, I've been working in a 16:9 format so it really helps to crop the still images ahead of time. In Aperture, filter the list of images by rating (usually 3 stars or higher). Edit each image as necessary then make a duplicate of the version (it will add - Version 2) to the image's name. Crop Version 2 to 16:9. When you are done, filter the list of images for Version 2 and export them full sized to your FCPX's HD. I use the timestamp template for the export's filename. This follows the same naming structure FCPX uses when importing video clips from AVCHD. Import the stills into FCPX.
Scan whatever material you collected during the trip such as maps, drawings, ticket stubs, logos.
Import AVCHD video into FCPX.
Stabilize video as needed with iStabilize or with FCPX's much improved built-in option.
You are ready to start editing. All your objects will mix nicely in chronological order making it a lot easier to keep track. With the timeline built, add music (see my Timecode Calculator note from 12/21/11.
Share BD to external burner first. Watch it and if no changes are needed, share BD to disk image for safe keeping. Note, this works out much better than making a disc image with Toast since Toast saves all 25GB regardless of what was used in the project. Do the same for SD if you need to produce regular DVDs too. Share up to 15 minute long segments to YouTube or save for your Apple devices. The last thing I do is export the final project to QT Pro Res 422 to disk. This is a large file but less that saving all of the project files. It gives me the opportunity to export to a newer format in the future.