Apple Pro Training Series. Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System. A Technical Guide to Real-World Post-Production

Lesson 2. Setting Up for Online and Offline Workflows

Setting up your project involves making a few basic decisions, yet setting up correctly can make the difference between a smooth workflow or one that is fraught with difficulty. By taking the time to investigate each component of your system and the ramifications of your choices, you can avoid problems. For instance, working through all the tape requirements of your project might save you from using an inappropriate tape format and let you avoid having to transfer everything from, say, DV to BetaSP.

Online and offline editing share many basic editing principles, and it's advantageous to examine both workflows when determining your project requirements.

The first step in learning how to set up your project is to understand the basic editing formats: standard definition video (SD), high definition video (HD), and data files. You also need to understand the various components of your project, which can be broken down into two different categories: media (the tapes and hard drives you'll use to store your picture and sound) and hardware (computers and displays; the more permanent aspect of your project). This lesson lists the most common forms of a given component as well as factors that will influence your choices. With this in mind, your task of selecting the components will boil down to a few straightforward decisions.