UNDERSTANDING EDITING SOFTWARE
Using our preliminary footage, we explored the editing software "Final Cut Pro 7" This is the software we were intended to
use during the editing of our final product. We played around with tools and features the software included and started to
get an idea for what we were doing. Kinza and Mustafe were unfamiliar with the software as they have no previous experience so this was a good opportunity to learn basic sequencing and editing. We then went through the key features and explained what each one is used for and how we would go about using it in our editing process.
FINAL CUT PRO
This is the main interface that final cut presents. It has four main windows that allow you to view what you are editing - the browser, viewer slug, canvas and timeline. The browser allows us to import footage and sound and select the clips that we want to include in the timeline. The viewer slug allows us to edit the footage with effects (such as colour grading) or adding text. The canvas shows us what our product would look it once it has been exported - the 'front end' of the production. Finally, the timeline, which divides the footage and the sound, allowing us to crop, cut and re-arrange the footage and sound.
VIEWER SLUG
The cross on the screen shows us the positioning of the clip within the frame. In this case, it is centered. We can use this to expand the clip (zoom into a specific part of it) and rotate the entire clip. We can also use this window to add text or add some effects or filters to the footage. This is also where you would alter the appearance of the footage, such as the brightness .
THE TIMELINE
Using the tool palette, we can edit the clips on our timeline. The timeline shows what clips are being shown at what time. The scroller at the bottom allows you to expand or reduce the intervals shown at the top. Reducing the intervals gives more precision and a wider space to cut and crop clips.
TIMELINE CONTROLS
V means Video | A means Audio.
These tools allow you to mute or hide one bar. This is helpful when overlapping videos and moving audio or creating sound bridges. You can also lock certain audio or video clips while working on the others.
CURSER/SELECTION
You can select or deselect a clip.
SELECT FORWARD
Select all of the clips in front of the arrow
SLIP
ZOOM
Zoom in or out of the clip - Expand or reduce the intervals between each timing on the timeline.
PEN
TOOL
PALETTE
EDIT SELECTION
In a selection of clips, you can deselect certain clips or select some more.
ROLL
BLADE
Cut a clip at the point of the blade.
CROP
Crop a clip to your selection.
THE BROWSER