FCP 101 - Introduction to Final Cut Pro

Course Description

This three-day, hands-on course teaches all the tools and techniques that make Final Cut Pro one of the best editing tools in the business. This class is designed to help students become familiar with the user interface while learning how to perform editing functions. Students will work with real-world media to learn practical approaches to video editing—from basic techniques to powerful advanced features.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Use libraries to organize and manage media and projects
• Apply exceptionally fast editing techniques for video and audio
• Fine-tune clips in the timeline
• Apply effects and transitions, and retime clips
• Work with 3D titles, 360 video, and multi-cam clips
• Create captions
• Manipulate images with the color correction effects
• Students will also finish and share their final project

Who Should Attend

This class is designed for anyone looking to edit professional-quality video with Final Cut Pro and who prefers hands-on and interactive instruction to best explore its functionality.

Prerequisites

Students should have the following prerequisite knowledge prior to attending the course:

• Knowledge of macOS and basic computer navigation
• Basic knowledge of editing terminology is highly recommended

Instructor in Action

Course Outline

Note: The curricula below comprise activities typically covered in a class at this skill level. The instructor may, at his/her discretion, adjust the lesson plan to meet the needs of the class.

Lesson 1: Getting Started

• Download and prepare lesson media files
• Understand the basic Final Cut Pro workflow.

Lesson 2: Importing Media

• Define the clip, event, and library containers
• Understand the differences between internal and external media files
• Create a camera archive
• Import files using Media Import and the Finder

Lesson 3: Organizing Clips

• Apply keywords to a clip and clip ranges
• Search and filter clips by keywords
• Add notes and ratings to a clip
• Create Smart Collections
• Detect people and composition within clips
• Understand and assign roles

Lesson 4: Making the First Edit

• Create a project
• Understand the attraction and repulsion behaviors of a storyline
• Append, insert, and rearrange clips within a primary storyline
• Batch edit a storyboard of clips
• Ripple, Roll, and Slip edit clips
• Use the Blade tool
• Replace a gap clip, ripple delete, and join through edit
• Perform connect edits
• Create and edit in a connected storyline
• Adjust audio levels
• Share the project to a media file

Lesson 5: Revising the Edit

• Define and distinguish between the two types of project duplication
• Understand the replace edit options
• Use markers for clip sync and task notes
• Create and edit with an audition clip
• Refine clip duration using Trim to Playhead and Trim to Selection

Lesson 6: Enhancing the Edit

• Vary the playback speed of clips
• Modify the look of clips with effects
• Use transitions
• Adjust the transform and compositing controls
• Create compound clips

Lesson 7: Finishing the Edit

• Add and modify a lower third
• Add and modify a 3D title
• Split-edit audio and video
• Keyframe audio
• Adjust an image using the Color Board, Color Wheels, and Color Curves

Lesson 8: Sharing a Project

• Export to a media file
• Post media to an online host
• Create a bundle for multiple platforms
• Understand the ? XML workflow
• Integrate Compressor export options

Lesson 9: Managing Libraries

• Differentiate between external and internal media
• Import media as referenced and managed
• Move and copy clips within and between libraries
• Consolidate media files in one location

Lesson 10: Advancing Your Workflow

• Identify manual options for new projects
• Sync dual system recordings
• Create a chroma key
• Understand the multicam workflow
• Understanding the tracker in Final Cut Pro
• Locating duplicate shots in the timeline