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Fix Audio Drop-outs During Video Editing [v]

In this short video, Larry Jordan explains the potential causes of audio drop-outs during video editing. He’ll also provide some ideas on where to look for a fix.

Is It Possible to Edit Video Without Connecting to the Web?

There are several security reasons for editing video where the computer is not attached to the Internet. But, if you do, which video editing software will work without the web?

3 New Mask Effects in Final Cut Pro

Recent updates to Apple Final Cut Pro added several more mask effects, three of which I illustrate in this tutorial: Corner mask, Graduated mask, and Image mask. Here’s what they look like and how to create them.

Review: Hawaiki Keyer 5, from FxFactory

Hawaiki Keyer 5 is a high-quality, infinitely-adjustable chroma-key plugin for Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut Pro and Motion. Offering controls that simply aren’t available on other keyers, when you need to create a truly clean chroma-key, even with substandard production, you need Hawaiki Keyer, from FxFactory.

Solve Difficult Chroma-key Problems with a Stationary Mask

I created a green-screen shot that was impossible to key because the foreground elements kept keying out due to reflections. Here’s how to use a solid matte in Adobe Premiere or Apple Final Cut Pro, or even DaVinci Resolve, to fix this.

Review: Background Remover from FxFactory – Magic in a Mouse-Click

Background Remover, from FxFactory, removes backgrounds behind people without requiring a green screen or a stationary background. It works in Apple Final Cut Pro & Motion, along with Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. It creates amazing results effortlessly and quickly. Here’s a review.

How To Estimate the Lifespan of an SSD

There are two key questions we ask whenever we buy storage: How fast does it go and how long does it last? We’ve got a pretty good handle on SSD speeds. Trickier, though, is determining endurance (life-span). Here’s what you need to know.

Find Duplicated Media in Final Cut Pro

What causes those strange hash marks at the top of clips in Final Cut Pro? Actually, they are indicating a good thing – here’s what they are and how to turn them on or off.

Which to Pick: Connected Clip, Storyline or Compound Clip in Final Cut Pro

Apple Final Cut Pro has four ways to place clips: In the Primary storyline, a connected clip, a connected storyline, or  a compound clip. There are several differences between these. Here’s how to choose which to use.

How Rendering Affects Export Speed in Apple Final Cut Pro

So, I wondered whether Final Cut Pro exported faster if you rendered the timeline before exporting. The answer surprised me – most of the time, it doesn’t. Here’s what you need to know to speed your exports.

Find Unused Media in Final Cut Pro

Have you ever wanted to find a shot you haven’t used yet? Yeah, happens to me all the time. Fortunately, Final Cut Pro makes it easy. Here’s how to either find the media you are using, or find the media you are NOT using.

Hidden Feature: Rate Clips in Final Cut Pro

There’s a hidden rating feature in Final Cut Pro that can help you organize your clips. It’s been there since FCP was first released over a decade ago. However, in recent years, Apple has deemphasized this to the point you …

Review: Video Walls 3.0, from Luca Visual FX

Video Walls 3.0, by Luca Visual FX, is an extremely well-thought-out, highly-flexible series of 3D video wall effects. The controls are detailed and the results are mind-boggling. Even better, though, the defaults work without any modifications, so if you are pressed for time, you don’t need to tweak anything to get an outstanding effect.

UPDATE: Capturing Video from Tape for Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro

Recently, I’ve gotten a lot of email from people trying to capture video from video tape. This used to be easy… but with changes to Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple Final Cut Pro, it has become more challenging. Here’s what you need to know.

Review: OWC Express 1M2 – A New Speed Champion

For speed, solid construction, ease of use and portability, the OWC Express 1M2 is amazing. Faster than Thunderbolt, about the size of a deck of cards. Fits in your pocket. Oh… and no power brick. Here’s mu review.

How and Why to Use SSDs to Improve Computer Performance

This article takes a closer look at improving video editing and computer performance using SSDs and provide specific suggestions on the gear to buy and how to configure your system.

Export Segmentation in Final Cut 10.7 and Compressor – Faster But…

Export segmentation is one of the new features in Final Cut 10.7 that becomes available when you upgrade to macOS Sonoma. This harnesses the power of multiple media engines in Apple silicon chips to accelerate H.264 and HEVC exports in FCP or Compressor. While this makes exports faster, it also has other benefits – and limitations.

How to Configure Final Cut or Premiere to Use SSDs, Instead of Hard Disks [v]

In this short video, Larry Jordan explains how to configure either Apple Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro to use SSDs instead of hard disk drives (HDDs).

Smart Collections are “Saved Searches” in Apple Final Cut Pro [v]

In this short video, Larry Jordan demos Smart Collections – which are simply saved searches – in Apple Final Cut Pro.

Create Custom Video or Audio Effect Presets in Apple Final Cut Pro

Many projects use the same effects – and effect settings – over and over. Creating these each time is a waste of time. Why? Because Apple Final Cut Pro makes it easy to create custom effects, reuse them as often as you need, even share them with other editors. Here’s how.