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The lafcpug FCP FAQ is a collaborative project to build a free guide for Final Cut Studio users. Feel free to share your knowledge with us. Just be sure to understand how to edit and/or add to the FAQ.

Contents 1 lafcpug Index of FCP FAQs 2 Getting Started FAQs 3 Log and Capture FAQs 4 Editing FAQs 5 HD Formats FAQs 6 Exporting FAQs 7 Importing FAQs 8 Audio FAQs 9 Effects FAQs 10 DVD FAQs 11 Troubleshooting 12 Glossary of Video Terms 13 Misc Stuff 14 Wiki Stuff

lafcpug Index of FCP FAQs

Getting Started FAQs

• Where can I get plug-ins for FCP?
• Will FCS run on my computer?
• How do I connect an external monitor?
• How much Ram do I need?
• How much storage do I need?
• How to set up to edit widescreen
• What is dropframe and non-dropframe timecode?
• What devices work with FCP?
• How do I register Quicktime Pro?
• Which brands of external drives are recommended?
• Should I get FCP or FCE?
• How do I calibrate my broadcast monitor?
• Can I install a single copy of Final Cut Studio on more than one computer?
• DPI: (and when to use it)
• What Codec Handles Alpha Channels?

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Log and Capture FAQs

• I can't capture (or save) files over 2GBs
• FCP says it Can't find Timecode
• FCP reports Timecode Breaks
• FCP 4.5 (and older) drops frames with 10.4.9 capture
• How do I capture and edit with anamorphic 16:9 footage?
• How do I digitize 24p 24pA?

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Editing FAQs

• Video plays in Viewer but stutters in Canvas
• F9, F10, F11 keys don't work
• Why is my canvas white?
• Why is my canvas red?
• What's that green checkmark/yellow triangle?
• Why do I have to render?
• Scaling stills causes strobing
• No image in Canvas
• Where's my audio scrubbing?
• Nudging clips on the timeline
• Why are my still picts green?
• How do I insert or overwrite a sequence into timeline?
• How do I color correct my clips?
• How do I apply multiple transitions to a track?
• How do I make my 4:3 footage work in a 16:9 project?

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HD Formats FAQs

• Can't capture HDV Video.
• Understanding HD
• What's the best workflow for working with HDV?
• HDV won't play on an external monitor
• DV to DVCPRO HD with Compressor
• How does HDV work?
• How do I work with P2 media?
• (NTSC) Title/Action safe Template in a 16:9 frame
• After upgrading to FCP 6.0.2 Log & Transfer no longer works

Exporting FAQs

• How do I get Time Code burn-in?
• How do I export to WMV?
• How do I export still images?
• How can I compress for the Web?
• Compressor 2 NTSC and Pal Conversion
• Why does my 16:9 export display as 4:3 in Quicktime?
• How do I use XML to open my project in an earlier version of FCP?
• How do I get my sound out to a CD?
• How do I upload my Movie to YouTube with Maximum Quality?
• Which XML version should I use?

Importing FAQs

• How do I import Flex of ALE Files with Cinema Tools?
• How do I import P2 Footage?
• Lots of Still Picts make FCP Sloooow
• 16:9 Motion Files import as 4:3.
• How do I import PowerPoint Projects?
• Photoshop Layers not importing.
• How do I handle AVI files?

Audio FAQs

• How do I capture four (or more) tracks of audio at once?
• I hear popping & clicking sounds
• Imported songs from a CD
• Why do I hear beeping?
• Some sections of my audio are missing or sputtering
• I'm having sync problems
• No audio from movie file (MPEG) after I import
• How can I get rid of background noise?
• Boosting audio levels
• Where can I find music to use in my projects?
• How to combat mysterious audio dropouts

Effects FAQs

• How do I get good slow motion?
• How to fake a camera flash
• Can I do black and white, while one thing stays in color?
• How do I create gunshot muzzle flashes?
• How do I make my video look like film?
• My effects/titles look awful
• How do I make a telephone voice?
• How do I make a clip play in reverse?
• Changing clip speed without changing duration
• How do I light a greenscreen?
• How do I blur a face or an object like in “Cops?”
• How do I create a widescreen matte?
• How do I make my 4:3 footage work in a 16:9 project?
• How do make my video look like a cartoon?
• How do I get symbols, accents & international characters?
• My effects/titles look terrible once they are on the timeline in Final Cut.
• BORIS : Filters not showing in FCP 5.1 and up

DVD FAQs

• What brand of DVDs should I use?
• Why Do MY DVD's Play On My Computer but Not ON A DVD Player?
• How do I put chapter markers in my DVD?
• How do I get my DVD into FCP?

Troubleshooting

• How do I trash my preferences? 
• FCP won't launch 
• Serial number issues 
• I'*m getting dropped frame warnings. 
• How do I reinstall/uninstall FCP? 
• FCP can't see my camera/deck after upgrade 
• I'm not getting any picture on my external monitor 
• Why does my system seem slow or unresponsive? 
• FCP 5.1.2 crashes on start up 
• What maintenance should I do? 
• How do I fix an Out of Memory alert? 
• Can't eject disk. 
• Why is my canvas/viewer bright green? 
• How do I post a screen capture of my problem?
• How do I downgrade QuickTime? 
• Quicktime Version Downloads 

Glossary of Video Terms

• Glossary of Video Terms: A to H
• Glossary of Video Terms: I to P
• Glossary of Video Terms: Q to Z

Misc Stuff

• Wages, Payment, Contract and Copyright

Wiki Stuff

• Configuration settings list
• MediaWiki F.A.Q
• MediaWiki release mailing list
• Test Page