Free Tutorials

2983 articles.

FCP X: Importing iMovie Projects

iMovie user can easily move both iMovie Projects and Events into Final Cut Pro X. This tutorial explains how to do it.

Audition: Recording an Interview

Recently, I’ve started working more with Adobe Audition, which is part of their Production Premium suite of products. Audition is similar to ProTools and Soundtrack Pro in that it handles audio recording, editing, and mixing.

QuickTime: Display Closed Captions

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to display, or hide, closed captions in QuickTime X or QuickTime 7.

QuickTime: Display Chapter Markers

Chapter markers were traditionally the domain of DVDs. However, both QuickTime movies and MPEG-4 movies for the web can also contain chapter markers, which makes navigating through a long movie a lot faster when you are trying to find a specific section to review. Here’s how to display them in QuickTime 7 and QuickTime X.

FCP X: Open in Timeline

Open in Timeline is a hidden menu item in Final Cut Pro X that allows you to modify a clip in the Event Browser without removing it from the Event Browser. This technique allows you to solve problems that are not easy to solve any other way.

FCP X: Understanding Optical Flow

Optical flow, and it’s less sophisticated cousin, Frame Blending, are techniques that Final Cut Pro X uses to smooth playback of extremely slow-motion clips. This tutorial shows you how to apply and use them in FCP X.

FCP X: The Limiter Filter

The purpose of the Limiter filter in FCP X is to make soft audio louder while preventing the louder passages from distorting (which happens when audio levels exceed 0 dB). In fact, when used properly, the Limiter filter virtually guarantees that your audio won’t distort; as this article explains.

FCP 7: Send Files to Adobe Audition Using OMF

The best way to improve the quality of your picture is to improve the quality of your sound. However, what that means in real-life is moving files from your video editing software into audio editing software.

FCP X: Match Audio Between Clips

Final Cut Pro X provides a very easy way to match audio between clips. This is useful when you have recorded the same talent on different days using different mics.

Using the Activity Monitor

The Activity Monitor in OS X is one of those unsung utilities that I find indispensable. It allows you to look inside five key areas of your computer to tell you what’s going on. Best of all, you can’t hurt anything using it – because its simply a monitor.

FCP X: Adding Video to a Shape

Recently, I wrote about how to add video to a shape in Final Cut Pro 7 While adding video to shapes is reasonably easy in Final Cut Pro 7, it is almost impossible in FCP X. So, this week I decided to create a video tutorial on adding video to a shape in Final Cut Pro X.

A Morality Tale

Always check to see if Final Cut supports your camera before you buy it.

Merging Audio and Video Clips

Is it possible to permanently link video and audio clips together? Larry teaches you how to create a Merged clip.

More Render Space Needed

Are you getting the “render error: insufficient disk space” message? You just need to create more free space on your hard disk by deleting files you don’t need.

Editing Audio Only

The easiest way to control editing audio or video to the Timeline is with the patch panel. However you can also use the Button List to search for shortcuts.

When Digital Cinema Desktop Preview Doesn’t

Stuttering, frozen display is one of the hallmarks of non-native video. FCP can edit it, but can’t play it smoothly.

Problems with Soundtrack Pro

Soundtrack Pro suffers from the same problem as Final Cut Pro – both applications can only access 4 GB of RAM.

FCP 7: Traveling Keyboard Shortcuts

Is it possible to carry custom Final Cut Pro keyboard shortcuts in a pen drive and install it on another machine? Here’s a technique to help you.

Transcoding HDV to ProRes

What is the best version of ProRes to use for HDV?

Pick The Right ProRes For Canon 7D Video

Which version of ProRes should you select in Log and Transfer for a Canon 7D? Which is better for the Canon 7D format?