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VIDEO ARTICLES

New ! Compressing Different Video Formats into One QuickTime Movie
I ran into an interesting problem over the weekend that I want to share with you because the solution is more complex than at first blush. Here's the problem: I was asked to create a video for posting on line. The video had two components: me on camera talking, and screen shots, both of which were different sizes and formats. This article describes the process of creating a single, compressed file composed of multiple format video. (Published: Mar. 2010 ; Compressor v. 3.0x, 3.5x)

New ! Apple Announces A New Video Format -- iFrame
Recently, Apple announced a new video format - iFrame - and Sanyo announced new cameras that support that format. This article looks at this announcement and speculates on what this means for the video professional. (Note: Currently, Final Cut Pro does not support iFrame files.) (Published: Mar. 2010)

New ! Problems with QMaster
QMaster allows you to combine multiple computers into a render farm to make video compression run faster. It also allows you to combine multiple processors on one computer to compress video faster. One of these choices works MUCH better than the other. This article explains what you need to know. (Published: Mar. 2010 ; Compressor v. 2.x, 3.0x, 3.5x)

New ! Viewing Video Fields
By default, Final Cut only displays one field of video - this makes images much easier to view while editing. But, sometimes, you need to see both fields. This very, very short article explains exactly what you need to know. (Published: Mar. 2010 ; Final Cut Pro v. 4, HD, 5.0x, 5.1x, 6, 7.x)

New ! Commentary: A Love Letter to LiveType
With the release of Final Cut Studio (3), Apple signaled that LiveType was not long for this world by no longer bundling it with the suite of software. However, FCP 7 still supports LiveType files. This is a shame, as I truly like working with LiveType. This article details what makes LiveType fun to use, and features in Motion that would help us make the transition. (Published: Mar. 2010 ; LiveType v. 1.x, 2.x)

New ! Technique: Those Amazing Angle Brackets
As Eric Mittan writes: "My favorite keyboard shortcuts are those that are contextual. The function of the keys in question change in the context of what task is being performed, or what item is selected, or what tool is chosen in order to get a different, if slightly related result. (Published: Mar. 2010 ; Final Cut Pro v. HD, 5.0x, 5.1x, 6, 7.x)

New ! Technique: Creating A Vignette
Vignettes are a great technique for highlight something, or softening edges. This article explains how to create a vignette in Final Cut Pro, as well as some ideas on how to adjust it to create different effects. (Published: Mar. 2010 ; Final Cut Pro v. 4, HD, 5.0x, 5.1x, 6, 7.x)

New ! Technique: Generating a Gradient
Gradients are a smooth ramp from one color, or shade of gray, to another. Gradients can be easily created in Final Cut Pro, but the button to do so is very hidden. In this article, I show you how to create a gradient, how to adjust it, and provide some ideas on what you can do with it. (Published: Mar. 2010 ; Final Cut Pro v. 4, HD, 5.0x, 5.1x, 6, 7.x)

New ! Technique: Understanding Gamma Settings
Gamma settings control the gray-scale midpoint. The reason this is significant is that Macs, video, and Windows all use slightly different settings. This means that video that looks good on one system, may look washed out or too dark on others. Snow Leopard, however, has changed the rules. In this article, I explain what gamma is, how to use it, and where to set it. (Published: Mar. 2010 ; Final Cut Pro v. 7.x)

New ! Thoughts on the New Versions of ProRes
Wtih the release of Final Cut Studio (3), Apple has expanded the ProRes codec family to now include five variations. This article briefly outlines the differences between them, along with suggestions on which to use for what purpose. (Published: Mar. 2010 ; Studio Suite v. 3)