VERSIONS
You will be creating the following versions and variations of your "First Fridays" episode - each as a different sequence:
Long Version - This is your initial version, after all the fat has been trimmed, transitions created, B-roll and credits added. This is the version that you will use to export each of the individual performances from. (When editing, don't worry about the duration, just remove the boring parts, but try to keep it under 118 minutes).
DVD Version - This version should not be longer than 118 minutes either (although you can fit up to 148 minutes, aim to keep it around 118). Ideally, the long version and DVD version should be the same.
Individual Performances - Interns should plan to export the entire performance for each artist for Ingesting and Dominizing. You will also use this sequence to pull your Selects.
Selects - The goal is to find one or two of the performer's best sections which we can then post on YouTube and our MySpace page. (Note: Selects should be under 10 minutes for YouTube.)
PROJECT TRACKING
Be sure to update your progress on the Intern/Volunteer Task List in GoogleDocs so staff/other interns can be aware of your progress.
EDIT PROCESS
Folder Management
- Log into the FirstFridays08 partition on the server (see staff for the password)
- Go to the Desktop > First Fridays
- Create new Episode Folder: e.g., "ep14_jan08"
- Create 2 Folders inside of the Episode Folder "Media Files" & "Project Files"
- Set Scratch Discs (ALWAYS remember to do this every time you open your project!) Menu: Final Cut Pro > System Settings Set everything to your "Media Files" folder, except "Autosave Vault" which gets set to the "Project Files" folder.
- Save your project to "Project Files."
Log and Capture
- Create a new bin in the Browser (File > New > Bin, or Apple+B). Name it "Raw Footage"
- Initiate Log and Capture (File > Log and Capture, or Apple+8)
- Under the "Logging" tab, Log Bin is "Raw Footage," and name each tape in the "Reel" field "Tape 1," "B-roll," etc.
- Under the "Capture Settings" tab, Device Control: FireWire NTSC, Capture/Input: DV NTSC 48 kHz
- The easiest way to capture whole tapes is to start the tape in the Mini DV deck (you may want to Fast Forward and Rewind through the tape first), make sure the tape is playing in the Log and Capture Preview Window, Then hit the "Capture Now" button. A preview window will open showing the footage you are capturing.
Troubleshooting: If you have problems with "drop frame errors", etc it sometimes works better to capture the entire tape to the Internal HD of the system you are working on and then moving it onto the network drive (FirstFridays08) and into your Media Files folder. Ann, Deb, or Tony can tell you how to do this using the shared folder.
Getting Clips from DVD Using MPEG Streamclip
There will most likely be breaks in the content between tapes. You can use MPEG Streamclip to convert clips of the missing portions of the show from DVD.
- Insert DVD
- Open MPEG Streamclip
- Drag DVD icon into the MPEG Streamclip viewer
- You may see "Warning: the stream may contain Timecode breaks." Choose FIX NOW and then click PROCEED. If you are not prompted to do this, go to Edit>Fix Timecode Breaks. Select PROCEED. This will take a few minutes to complete.
- Set the IN "I" and OUT "O" points where the clip should begin and end
- Press Command and "T" or go to EDIT< TRIM in the Menu bar
- From the file menu, choose the option to export to Quicktime
- Compression should be set to "Apple DV/DVCPRO - NTSC; Quality: 100%; Frame Size: 720 x 480
- Select "Make Movie" and save to your capture folder
What if the show is running long?
After the initial assembly and trims, you may find that the show still needs some significant cutting for time. There may be individual numbers or whole sequences that can come out, but you should probably consult with Tony at this point. Here is an example email:
Hi Tony,
I made some initial cuts, and it still needs to lose about a half hour.
Here are my recommendations for segments to chop - times approximate, in order of expendability:
KGNU: 10 mins. - very static, and they are talking about events that will probably have come and gone by the time this airs.
Bunny Trailer/Elephant's Dream - 15 mins.: This got accidentally interrupted and resumed during the broadcast anyway.
Mike Wesch Film - 10 mins.: I like this, and it fits with the theme, but there's no real easy way to cut around it, either going in or coming out. But I'd definitely cut other stuff first in terms of content.
Etc.
Color Correction
Color-correcting individual shots takes a lot of time, and thus most color-correction is done to the entire project as a final step. But if its necessary on individual clips, Double click the clip you want to apply color correction to, so that it appears in the viewer. Go to Effects > Video Filters > Color Correction > and choose Color Corrector or the 3-way Color Corrector. A tab with that name will appear in the viewer, with color correction tools. Be sure that you are viewing your changes on an NTSC monitor.
Tip: There is a "Drag Filter" control in the upper left hand corner of the Color Corrector. By dragging this icon to a clip on the timeline, you can apply the same filter and settings to that clip.
Audio Normalizing
You want to normalize the audio so that it is at approximately "-12db". While the audio should never completely peak (triggering the red dots at the top of the Audio Meters) it can bounce around a bit; the goal is not to create perfectly flat levels, but to create an average level of -12.
To do this, make cuts in your audio track and raise and lower the entire clip's audio level. Extensive audio leveling is generally not required.
This can also be done using keyframes, although this method is not recommended.
Creating Chapter Stops
You can set Chapter Markers at the exact position of your playhead by double clicking the "M" key (make sure no clips are selected). This will set the marker and open the marker window. Name the marker (Chapter 1). Click Add Chapter Marker, then click OK. Repeat for each chapter.
Adding Credits
You'll need to revise the credit
Either have deb or Ann invite you to the FF Credits Google Doc, or visit here
Finishing
Be sure to apply a Broadcast Safe filter when you are completely finished editing and render the entire sequence. We also suggest you apply a final 3-way color corrector to the entire project (either by selecting all the clips, or by nesting them and applying the filter to the nest). Generally, a slight drop to darken the blacks only, and a slight increase in saturation will result in a better-quality final video.
Highlight all the clips in your sequence (Apple + A) and go to Effects > Video Filters > Color Correction > and choose Broadcast Safe.
With the filter applied to all your clips, click on a part of the timeline with no tracks, so that no clips are selected. Go to Sequence > Render All > and choose Both. It will take a while to render the entire sequence with the Broadcast Safe filter applied.
Exporting for Broadcast
Export your sequence using the following path:
File>Export>using Quicktime Conversion
Change the following Video settings
"Compression" > DV/DVCPRO-NTSC
"Compressor Quality" > Best
Change the following Sound settings
check the box next to "Little Endian"
Also, uncheck the box next to "Prepare for Internet Streaming"
Export to your media folder.
Exporting DVD Version Using the Compressor
File > Export > Using Compressor. In the Batch tab you should see your project. There will be a button in the Setting field with two arrows. Choose DVD Best Quality 120 Minutes 4:3 > Dolby 2.0, then choose also DVD Best Quality 120 Minutes 4:3 > MPEG-2.50Mbps 2-pass 4:3.
Next, set the destination source for both items: choose Other, and create a new folder in your Final Cut project file for the DVD version and choose Open. Then choose Submit in the Batch tab. This should open the Batch Monitor, which will show you the progress while these files are being created.
Exporting Selects
Export selects as Quicktime files (as above) and then convert them into Flash files using the Flash Video Encoder to reduce their file size for quick uploading and processing. Then post them on to both MySpace and YouTube. (See either Deb or Tony for usernames and passwords)
INGESTING & DOMINIZING
Help for this step can be found on the Denver Open Media website; linked here: ingesting and DOMinizing
FORMATTING & BURNING A DVD
Help for this step can be found on the Denver Open Media website; linked here
Exporting to YouTube and posting to Myspace
Its a good idea to post a few of your favorite songs to YouTube, and to embed them in the artists MySpace page so we get some more visibility. We generally suggest that clips made for the web do not fade to black in the end, but end with a logo or URL so that the final frame serves a purpose.