Book Image

Final Cut Pro Efficient Editing

By : Iain Anderson
Book Image

Final Cut Pro Efficient Editing

By: Iain Anderson

Overview of this book

Final Cut Pro (also known as FCP, previously Final Cut Pro X) is Apple’s efficient and accessible video editing software for everyone, offering powerful features that experienced editors and novices will find useful. FCP is the quickest way to transform your raw clips into a finished piece, so if speed is important, make this a key tool in your editing arsenal. Final Cut Pro Efficient Editing is a comprehensive best practice guide for all editors. You’ll not only learn how to use the features but also find out which ones are the most important and when you should use them. With the help of practical examples, the book will show you how typical footage can be assembled, trimmed, colored, and finessed to produce a finished edit, exploring a variety of techniques. As you progress through the book, you’ll follow a standard editing workflow to get the feel of working on real-world projects and answer self-assessment questions to make sure that you’re on track. By the end of this Final Cut Pro book, you’ll be well versed with the key features of this app and have all the tools you need to create impressive edits.
Table of Contents (20 chapters)
1
Section 1: Importing and Organizing
7
Section 2: Rough Cut to Fine Cut
13
Section 3: Finishing and Exporting

Working with multiple cameras and audio recorders

While a single camera is often all you need, shooting with multiple cameras brings many benefits and can be especially useful during live events when you simply can't ask your subjects to give you another take. A second camera also works as a backup should your main camera have an issue, such as a failed battery, being out of focus, or if someone's standing in front of it:

Figure 2.24: Two angles with a similar focal length, but from different perspectives

Figure 2.24: Two angles with a similar focal length, but from different perspectives

The second angle isn't just a backup; you want the two (or more) angles to provide different perspectives because there's not a lot of benefit in two cameras capturing similar content. Angles that are too similar don't work well in the edit either. Two sequential shots that show almost the same thing are called a jump cut, and while their use has become more common, it's something that is best avoided if you have the option...