Digital Video Editing (Final Cut Express)

Course Outline

Digital Editing

Week 1 Intro to Final Cut Express and Editing
Getting Started with Final Cut Express: Introduction to the course, Editing process overview, FCE suite overview, The importance of planning, Adjusting preferences. Understanding the Interface: Browser window overview, Viewer overview, Canvas overview. Timeline overview, Tools and Audio Meters overview, Configuring the workspace. Editing samples.

Week 2 Importing and organizing
Importing Your Footage: Importing from tape, Importing audio files from CDs, Importing photos, Using iPhoto, Importing an iMovie project. Organizing Your Story: Going beyond, Selecting clips, Creating subclips, Using markers, Deleting clips, Storyboard editing, Making a three-point edit, Assembling a rough cut.

Week 3 Precise cuts and Intro to Audio editing
Trimming Your Story: The trimming tools, Using multiple tracks to edit, The Trim Edit window, Dynamic JKL trimming, Keeping in sync while trimming. Editing Audio: Editing audio overview, Setting audio levels, Panning audio, Creating audio transitions, Narrating with the Voiceover tool, Essential audio filters.

Week 4 Transitions and titles
Using Transitions: Creating a video transition, Editing a transition, Choosing good transitions, Saving custom transitions. Adding Titles: Titling overview, Lower thirds, Adding credits, Boris text, LiveType overview, Importing a Photoshop file.

Week 5 Colour and effects
Colour Correction: Colour correction overview, Using the Color Corrector, Fixing exposure, Reusing an effect, The Broadcast-Safe filter. Compositing and Effects: Understanding RT Extreme, Essential filters, Keying, Composite and transfer modes, Changing clip speed, Using the Flicker filter and Image Stabilizer, Rendering effects.

Week 6 Output options
Exporting Your Project: Before exporting, Exporting to tape, Exporting for the web, Exporting for DVD, Exporting for an iPod, Conclusion, Where to go from here.