DVcreators.net has been known as the world leader in Final Cut training since the day Final Cut Pro 1.0 was released.We were the training company Apple chose to help launch Final Cut Pro with training on disc, in workshops in over 60 cities and all major trade shows. We have taught alongside Randy Ubillos, the creator of Final Cut Pro (and talked him into adding some cool features to the application!). We’ve helped hundreds of thousands of FCP editors further their Final Cut Pro knowledge. Most of the people currently writing books and teaching Final Cut Pro are our former students!
Since the release of Final Cut Express, people have been asking for an Express-specific training course. Finally… here it is!
Final Cut Express Foundations, created in Final Cut Express 3.5, the latest version of the software, is the quintessential Final Cut Express editing course, guiding users through every step of the essential editing process from organizing projects through capture, basic editing and fine-tuning to exporting the final project for delivery in the highest possible quality. Complete with student project files, Final Cut Express Foundations is the only chunkalized™ Final Cut Express training in the world!
During the course, you’ll build “Mr. Right”, a short comedic tale of revenge and intrigue that steps you through editing a real world project incorporating many editing techniques and challenges that may arise in any project.
See for yourself! Check out the following demo movies from Final Cut Pro Foundations:
(the links above are simply Quicktime movie excerpts, and are NOT presented in our Chunkalized™ learning environment. They are provided just to give you a glimpse of the product quality and content, but won’t give you a feel for the actual learning experience. But they are neat, eh?)
Click here to ask a question about this course or Final Cut Express.
The DV Enlightenment DVD is a brilliant and highly enlightening course in Hollywood lighting for DV from DVcreators.net for anyone wanting to shoot stunningly beautiful, cinematic quality footage—for filmmaking, marketing projects, broadcast, special interest video, education or any other purpose.
DV Enlightenment is an illuminating lighting course from DVcreators.net presented in our unique, real-world brand of training, covering everything from essential lighting concepts and techniques to advanced secrets and tricks.
This shot illustrates proper positioning of sun, camera and subject
This course is for anyone wanting to shoot stunningly beautiful, cinematic quality footage—for filmmaking, marketing projects, broadcast, special interest video, education or any other purpose.
Click here to ask a question about the DV Enlightenment DVD.
outline
Light Properties • understanding light and shadow • hard & soft light • color temperature • light direction • motivated lighting
Lighting Gear • soft boxes • umbrellas • gels • reflectors • flags • black wrap • cookies
The DVcreators.net Four Point Lighting Method • A brilliant, comprehensive lighting method for getting gorgeous looking footage in any location for any mood • key light options • fill & ambient light • lighting ratio • backlight, rimlight & kickers • background lighting • high key & low key lighting
Working with Sunlight • the Hollywood secret to shooting beautiful footage outdoors • positioning camera, subject & sun • shooting interiors with daylight • diffusers • magic hour
Lighting Greenscreen• top secret DVcreators.net method for evenly lighting chromakey backgrounds
White Limbo • evenly lighting white backgrounds and a secret keying technique
Black Limbo • how to “drop out” a dark background
Bright Ideas • a series of illuminating tips and tricks for getting cinematic looks in a variety of situations • lighting special effects • using practicals • accent lighting • candlelight • TV & computer light • the killer single light technique • fog
Requirements: DVD player or computer with DVD playback Availability: Ships same or next business day Total Running Time: 56 minutes Price: $99.95 – $75 special price!
Click here to ask a question about this disc or lighting.
DVcreators.net has been known as the world leader in Final Cut Pro training since the day Final Cut Pro 1.0 was released.
We were the training company Apple chose to help launch Final Cut Pro with training on disc, in workshops in over 60 cities and all major trade shows. We have taught alongside Randy Ubillos, the creator of Final Cut Pro (and talked him into adding some cool features to the application!). We’ve helped hundreds of thousands of FCP editors further their Final Cut Pro knowledge. Most of the people currently writing books and teaching Final Cut Pro are our former students!
Final Cut Pro Foundations is the quintessential Final Cut Pro editing course, guiding users through every step of the essential editing process from organizing projects through capture, basic editing and fine-tuning to exporting the final project for delivery in the highest possible quality. Complete with student project files, Final Cut Pro Foundations is the only chunkalized Final Cut Pro training in the world!
During the course, you’ll edit together “Mr. Right”, a short comedic tale of revenge and intrigue that steps users through editing a real world project incorporating many editing techniques and challenges that may arise in any project.
Check out the following demo movies from Final Cut Pro Foundations:
(the links above are simply Quicktime movie excerpts, and are NOT presented in our Chunkalized™ learning environment. They are provided just to give you a glimpse of the product quality and content, but won’t give you a feel for the actual learning experience. But they are neat, eh?)
What will I learn in this course?
Final Cut Pro Foundations is focused on the goal of helping you perfect the fundamental set of tools, techniques and operations that make up 90% of the editing process of any project, from a corporate training video to an Academy-award-winning film.You’ll learn the easiest way to perform essential editing operations as well as a constant stream of precious and valuable secrets, tips, tricks, timesavers and techniques that will greatly improve the quality of your future projects and your editing experience.When you finish this course, you will know:
• the best way to set up your editing system
• how to organize your project for a fast and efficient workflow
• the most important keyboard shortcuts and timesaving tips• the fastest way to capture your video• using matched action edits to create a seamless edit
• how to fine-tune the timing and flow of your edit with the ripple tool
• the right way to use Final Cut’s title tool
• setting up real time extreme to avoid redlining and rendering while editing• how to avoid out of sync video and audio
• finding audio peaks and an awesome secret for getting location sound without distortion• how to export Quicktime movies with pristine quality for DVD or the web- the quality difference will knock your socks off!
• what to do after your project’s finished to free up space on your drives yet still be ready to re-edit if needed
How is the course presented?
We believe that in order to master any software, you must do, not just watch.Final Cut Pro Foundations is taught in our unique, innovative chunkalized™ learning environment, where you will actually build the tutorial project yourself in Final Cut Pro, with the help of your virtual instructor. Each technique and process is presented as a series of clear, easy-to-understand steps.
Why is this course far superior to the plethora of other training books and discs?
Instead of covering tools and concepts in an artificial order dictated by the software, the knowledge in Final Cut Pro Foundations is presented in the context of completing a real world project. So, when working on your own projects, you’ll immediately be able to put what you’ve learned to work.
What if the course goes too fast or too slow?
In our chunkalized™ learning environment, you must verify that you comprehend and have completed each step in the process before your virtual instructor moves on. You learn at your own pace. Quickly move through sections you understand, have your virtual instructor repeat steps or sections, take “lab time” and experiment whenever you wish because you are the only student in this class. You have total control. If the course goes too slowly, you can play several chunks before switching into Final Cut Pro.
What if I have a question?
No one should learn alone. We have included an ”Ask a Question” button that posts your question on our forums for thousands of other Final Cut Pro users to answer. You are always welcome to join us to ask questions, offer advice, and share tips with other students and your instructor.
Should I buy Final Cut Pro Foundations if I’ve been editing in Final Cut Pro for years?
The course is mostly designed for new users, with material that will be familiar to anyone who has editing with Final Cut Pro for a while. However, any editor who has not yet attained the mastery of Final Cut Pro they desire will find going through the whole course from the beginning solidifies and improves their understanding of Final Cut Pro and the editing process in general.
We do guarantee that in the constant stream of cool tips, shortcuts and secrets, you’ll learn at least a few new tricks that will help you in every project you edit.
And, there are some sections, for example, on exporting, or media mangement, that could be worth the price of this course all by themselves even for very experienced editors. For example, if you only learned how to make your exported files look 1000% better than they do now, is that worth $59?
Course Outline
Introduction • Foundations • Editing Workflow • Video Formats • Digital Non-Linear Editing Process • System Set-up • Folder Organization • Interface Orientation • Browser • Viewer • Timeline • Canvas • Preferences • Easy Setup • Audio/Video Settings • System Settings • Capture from Tape • Log & Capture • Audio Capture • Interface and Tape Control • Capturing on the Fly • Rough Cut • Viewing and Trimming • Building Your Edit • Matched Action Edit • Insert Edit • Ripple Tool • Post-Production Visuals • Title • Superimpose Edit • Title Safe • Real-Time Extreme • Transitions • Audio • Track Forward Tool • Exporting • Printing to Video • Post Post-Production • Media Manager
Final Cut Pro Foundations course
For new users to intermediate editors
Requirements: recent model computer with Mac OS X, 1024 X 768 or larger monitor
Availability: Download NOW!
Price: $59.95
Click here to ask a question about this course or Final Cut Pro.
LiveType is a sophisticated and powerful motion graphics and titling application. Unfortunately, most users are only scratching the surface of this software—and not realizing the real potential of LiveType. The included documentation and other educational products show the obvious features but don’t begin to explore the true power waiting deep within LiveType.
LiveType PowerStart is for anyone wanting to unlock the hidden potential of LiveType, to truly comprehend how the software works, discover secret shortcuts and timesavers, and absorb a stream of awesome looking techniques, tips and tricks for creating mind-blowing eye candy.
But LiveType PowerStart goes beyond helping you master the software—it is also a learning experience about creating motion graphics: designing titles to support your message, making choices and customizing elements to fit your project, learning how to make titles and graphics interact with each other, as well as integrating your LiveType projects into your Final Cut Pro (and Final Cut Express!) workflow for titles as well as a textures and object library.
Download today and make the software you already own much more valuable!
NOTE: The version of LiveType included with Final Cut Express has fewer textures and objects than the version included with Final Cut Pro. Although all the techniques shown in the LiveType PowerStart course apply equally to both versions, there are some elements shown in the tutorials, like a matte shape and a LiveFont, that are not included with the Final Cut Express version of LiveType. We don’t consider this a major issue, since you can just substitute a different matte and LiveFont and get the same effect.
For new users to professional editors
Requirements: Mac OS X, QT 7+, 1024 X 768 or bigger monitor
Click the “option” popup menu in the lower left part of the main menu screen, and choose “download free objects and textures from LiveType Central” in either NTSC or PALThis will start the files downloading in the background. While downloading, you can continue watching the course (or any other course).
3.
Once all the files have completed downloading, you will have 3 folders on your Desktop.
4.
In a Finder window, go to your hard drive’s Library/Application Support/LiveType folder.
5.
If you do not have a folder called “LiveType Data” in this folder, then drag the downloaded “LiveType Data” folder from your Desktop to your Library/Application Support/LiveType folder.
OR
If you already have a folder called “LiveType Data”, then drag the contents of the downloaded LiveType Data folder into your existing LiveType Data folder.
6.
Go back to your Desktop and open the Objects folder. Drag the “12_Inch_Design” folder from inside the downloaded Objects folder to the Objects folder in your LiveType folder.
7.
Go back to your Desktop and open the Textures folder. Drag the “12_Inch_Design” folder from inside the downloaded Textures folder to the Textures folder in your LiveType folder.
That’s it!
The next time you launch LiveType you will see your cool new objects and textures from LiveType Central! Check out their other collections, and enjoy!
Read these simple steps for calibrating an NTSC monitor in the instruction manual of the Marshall monitor.
1. Allow the monitor to warm up for at least 5-10 minutes.
2. Display SMPTE split-field color bars on the monitor using an external source.
3. Enable Monochrome mode.
4. Locate the pluge pattern (super black, black, and gray bars) at the lower-right corner of the screen. Adjust the Brightness knob until there is no visible difference between the super black and black bars, but the gray bar is still visible.
5. Adjust the Contrast knob until an even grayscale appears along the top bars.
6. Disable Monochrome mode.
7. Enable Blue Check Field mode and adjust the Color knob so that the outermost bars (white and blue) appear to match in brightness.
8. Composite NTSC only: Adjust the Tint knob until the third bar from the left (cyan) and the third bar from the right (magenta) appear to match in brightness.
9. Disable Blue Check Field mode.
Click on the picture above to watch the movie!
We want to give you the opportunity to explore the art of keying. Taking the background out and dropping in something different is a special effects technique that has been around for years. However it was not until recently that we have been able to get broadcast quality results in both a fast and inexpensive manner. Quality Chroma keying is now for everyone.
Possibilities
Think about being able to shoot a background plate in Hawaii to use in the middle of a New York winter (although you may want to make sure that you have plenty of heat in your studio for swimsuits and tropical Mai Tai’s on that one). Now how about being able to capture a restaurant atmosphere without having to rent out and hire everyone in the place? Really, the possibilities are endless. You can have a million dollar mansion, showy corporate office or a fancy broadcast studio with just a few clicks of the mouse. It’s up to your imagination to dream it up and you can pull it off.
Worried about the Quality?With the many HD recording formats available, we now have more pixels to work with than ever as well as a color space that can adequately capture enough information to make keying more believable than ever. The good news is that its even at a price that a budget filmmaker can afford. A Canon HV20 is a good example of a sub $1,000 camera that can capture great quality footage at a phenomenal price.
Worried about the Rendering?Right now even a base model laptop is capable of handling HD Chroma keying in a reasonable amount of time. This opens up a whole new dimension to video content creators looking to spice up their productions. We’ve gone from days of waiting to minutes, seconds and even real-time.
Light your subject for the background.You’ll notice that we have included a few files to let you see for yourself what it is like to composite a foreground and background together. Two of the example backgrounds work and look realistic. You’ll see that the foreground subject was intentionally dimly lit. If we place our subject into a bright, sunny Hawaii beach background it just doesn’t work.
Want to try keying HD?We’ve uploaded a few sample clips we shot for you to try your hand at compositing with Blue Screen. The clips were shot in our studio using the Reflecmedia Chroma key system. We found a few tips that may help you should you choose to try your hand at chroma keying:
1. Light your Foreground Subject appropriate to make your Composite believable. Dim background? Use low-level lighting on the set. Sunny background? Brighter lighting. Take color cues from the background and match those colors onto your talent using colored gels on your lights. Also, watch for lighting placement, window on the left – light from the left.
2. A slight Blurring of the Background can give more realistic results. You can intentionally shoot your background slightly out of focus to avoid Rendering a Blur in Post.
3. The optional $495 Mattenee software chromakey plug-in produces the best results for drag and drop keying, but at the sacrifice of speed. In test after test, the Rendering Time is 10 times longer that of other keying plugins.
4. In Production, watch for shiny surfaces and “Spill” – to avoid additional work in post. You’ll see both of these in our example.
5. Fine hair, small edges, hands and fast moving objects shot in a compressed format such as DV/HDV can be challenging to key. Try to minimize shooting these types of subjects if possible. Shoot two versions if necessary, one close up, one wide.
7. In camera, make sure Sharpening is set to Zero or Off. Artificially sharpened edges can actually introduce unwanted background artifacts on your foreground subject.
In this movie, do-it-yourself handyman Eric Schultheis shows a method of making a professional quality backdrop for video or photography very inexpensively, and tips for mounting it in a basement or garage.
This movie shows how easy it is to encode to any size, any bitrate FLV movie, upload it, then have DV Kitchen create an entire HTML page for you with window title, page title, movie caption, and Jeroen’s FLV Player, the most popular on the web.
When you’re finished with your edit, how should you export?
Well, it depends.
METHOD #1. Reference movie
If you want to export a temporary file as quickly as possible, export a reference movie.
File > Export > Quicktime Movie
UNcheck “Make Self-Contained”
Pros:
If you’ve rendered your sequence, this is the fastest way to export
The file size is very small – it only contains audio and pointers to the video files, no actual video
Cons:
The exported file is fragile and not portable. If any of the referenced video files (including render files) are moved, renamed or deleted, or if the ref movie is moved to a different computer, the reference movie will not open. This means you should use the ref movie right away, for example, to import into DV Kitchen to publish on the web. It is definitely useless as an archival movie to save for future use.
If your sequence is in DV format, the quality of text, graphics and animations will be very poor.
If your sequence is in HDV format, the quality of text, graphics and animations will not be as good as it could be, especially fast moving or intricate CG.
If you are converned about quality, try a short test export of a section containing titles, graphics or an animation and view it in Quicktime Player.
METHOD #2. Native format movie
If you want to export quickly, but want an exported movie that is permanent and self-contained, export a native format movie.
File > Export > Quicktime Movie
Make sure “Make Self-Contained” is checked
Pros:
If you’ve rendered your sequence, this is faster than the 3rd option below
Cons:
If your sequence is in DV format, the quality of text, graphics and animations will be very poor.
If your sequence is in HDV format, the quality of text, graphics and animations will not be as good as it could be, especially fast moving or intricate CG.
METHOD #3. lossless PNG movie
If you have completed an important project, and want a perfect quality export, and don’t mind if it takes a while, this method quickly, but want an exported movie that is permanent and self-contained, export a PNG codec movie.
This way, now or anytime in the future, you can:
encode this movie to x264, H264, FLV or WMV (or any other format) with DV Kitchen
drag it into DVD Studio Pro or iDVD to author an SD DVD
import it into Encore or Toast to author a Blu-Ray DVD
take it on a Firewire drive to a dub house to transfer to a broadcast format for cable/satellite, or for a film festival
or any other conceivable use.
You can copy the exported movie to a cheap terabyte Firewire or even USB drive to archive it and save room on your main drives.
I recommend the PNG codec, because it is lossless, and it is compatible with almost any software that accepts Quicktime files.
If you are concerned with how long it will take, try a test export (with a 5 second sample) and time it, then try one of the methods above and time that. This way, you can easily calculate how long the entire export will take. If the 5 seconds took 10 seconds to export, this is a 2-1 ratio- so a 2 hour timeline will take 4 hours.
Here are the steps:
1.
In Final Cut Pro, go to File > Export Using Quicktime Conversion
In iMovie, go to Share > Export Using Quicktime
With other apps, look for something called “Export Quicktime Movie” or similar
2.
Choose ”Quicktime Movie” (or ”Movie to Quicktime Movie” in some applications) from the format popup menu
3.
Click the “Options” button:
4.
Click the “Settings” button in the Video panel and set Compression Type to PNG and Depth to Millions of Colors.
5a.
If your project is DV anamorphic (16:9/widescreen), click “Size”, choose “Custom” from the menu, and type 720 for width, 405 for height. (Otherwise, skip to 5b)
5b.
If your project is any other format besides DV anamorphic, click “Size” and choose “Current” from the menu. (Ignore whatever numbers pop up in the fields)
We generally recommend checking “Deinterlace”.
But what if your footage was shot progressive? Like 24p pr 30p?
Well, if you shot 24p, and are editing in a 60i timeline, you still have interlacing due to the 2:3 pulldown. Also, if you edited your show in an interlaced timeline, any title moves, animations, zooms and pans of still images or even dissolves will appear interlaced, and you will get better perceived quality if you deinterlace.
The only exception to this would be if you are editing in a progressive timeline.
6.
Click the “Settings” button in the Sound panel and set it up like this:
7.
Uncheck “Prepare for Internet Streaming”, then click “OK” and “Save”.
That’s it!
Now your exported movie is safe and ready to delivery in any format – regardless of what happens to your source footage or files.
Final Cut Express Foundations excerpt 1
NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH 
LiveType PowerStart excerpt 1
This will start the files downloading in the background. While downloading, you can continue watching the course (or any other course).
