LOG IN AND TRANSFERRING FOOTAGE TO FINAL CUT

If you use a mini DV camera like the one I used in class for lecture, you should have no problem logging footage to your external hard drive.

FINAL CUT EASY SET UP
Before you connect the camera to your computer, make sure that Final Cut's Easy Set up corresponds with your camera. If you are shot footage with a similar camera used during in-class lectures, then open Final Cut and at the top menu select: Final Cut Pro > Easy Set Up.

You will see a window appear with two options. the first will be "Format" and the second "Use."

For Format, choose NTSC.
For Use, choose DV-NTSC FireWire Basic

If these don't work, check your camera to make sure it is digital if it is not, I suggest to use the reference manual I recommend in my syllabus.

CAMERA AND EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE SET UP
Connect your camera and firewire hard disk to your computer. If you only have one firewire port on your computer, use the 6 pin cable for your camera and the 4 pin for your external firewire drive.

LOGGING FILES
At the top menu select File > Log and Capture. A window with some color bars will appear. This one will read "Preview Disabled." Don't worry, the lines will disappear once you begin logging material.

The Log and Capture window will have a set of options on the right. make sure to select the "logging" tab.

Describe your file (this name will also become your name), and describe it. You may also make log notes on the proper area at the bottom of this menu.

At this point you should be able to manipulate your camera with the play controls at the bottom of the log and capture screen, right below the color bars.

Set the "in" and "out" points by pausing the footage when desired and selecting the in button (to the left at the bottom) and the out button (to the right). You may capture one at a time by then selecting "Clip" at the bottom of the right hand side controls of the Log and Capture Window.

You can also batch them by first logging the clips by selecting the "Log Clip" button, select and name all your selections and then choose them on your project bin, to then click the "Batch" button at the bottom of the Log and Capture window.

If you follow these instructions, all your files should be uploaded to your assigned external hard drive. Once you do this, you will then be able to begin editing your files as explained in the Introduction to Final Cut Lecture.