Podcast Academy

Many of us have successfully migrated over to Final Cut Studio 2. I think it is safe to say that in this space Final Cut Pro and Soundtrack Pro are the most utilized applications in the bundle. What is the bottom line in terms of the learning curve? If we assess the suite cumulatively, I would be the first one to agree with the following statement: the studio suite is intimidating, especially if you are experiencing these applications for the first time, or if you simply had limited past exposure.

Have no Fear! The one thing that fascinates me about this toolset is how the incorporated applications can be used at various levels of complexity. For example: If you are a Mac user, and you are a podcast/videocast producer, the required $1300 fee for the box is probably one of the smartest investments one could possibly contemplate. Shoot some HD video, edit in Final Cut, tweak the audio in Soundtrack Pro, export to Compressor. Finish up by encoding a distribution video, an enhanced podcast, and a simple MP3. It’s all done seamlessly. Final Cut Pro is also gaining popularity in Hollywood. This software was used to post produce the motion picture Zodiac and many others. Need I say more? You now have the opportunity to own the software used by the industry’s leading professionals. Super cool if you ask me …

Prior to the latest FCP Studio release, I had no experience working in the fascinating world of 3D graphics and compositing. Now, thanks to Motion 3, I find myself totally consumed in this virtual environment. For me this is typical. If something catches my interest, it’s a done deal. I become totally consumed until I feel that I have reached a comfortable level of understanding and knowledge in order to enhance my own personal creativity. As for Motion, I have a few suggestions that I hope will help you to accelerate the process of acclimation.

First, grab a piece of stock footage or a clip from your personal media collection, and incorporate it into a Motion project. Place the playhead at the point where you would like text to appear. Activate the Text Tool, draw a text box over the video clip, and type a simple text reference. Now grab a random Behavior from the Library and drag it over the incorporated text. Play the clip, and watch the magic of Motion in RT. This movie can be exported and incorporated into a video sequence, or it can be used on a stand alone basis. The point is - the process is dead simple. By practicing simple work-flows, your proficiency will improve in no time.

If you are currently experimenting with 3D Compositing in Motion, you may have noticed an absence of detailed documentation included in the Motion PDF manual. [accessible from the Help Menu]. It turns out Apple provides a 100+ page supplemental PDF that focuses on all aspects of 3D animation featured in Motion. This document is a fantastic read, and it will definitely help you to develop a full understanding of all the new features.

Many experienced producers use Live Type for lower thirds, titles and text animation. This is another fantastic option. In my honest option I believe as long as you keep things simple and pace yourself, you will find that Motion is a wonderful tool. It is easy to grasp and fun to work with. Use it to enhance your video productions, and don’t be afraid to experiment.