Capturing and Footage Blog

When editing filmed footage using final cut express, it is important to set up a scratch disk, this is how files and footage are saved and rendered which happens when adding effects and transitions. Setting up a scratch disk is done in order to tell Final Cut where to store certain files. For example, when you capture video, you can set it to store that video in a certain location. To set new scratch disk setting for my advert footage, first, I chose Final Cut Express > System Settings. Final Cut, stores captured media in a folder called ‘Capture Scratch’ in a folder called ‘Final Cut Express Documents’ in your user Documents folder, which you can change in System Settings. As I was working in a shared environment, I changed the System Settings to my own project folder and saved on the external hard drive. When importing captured footage off the mini DV tape, the first time, it didn’t work as I didn’t know that to do this the camera had to be turned on and connected before opening final cut express. When I realised this, I managed to transfer the media successfully however it did take quite a long time. I also found it hard to filter through all the footage in the browser to find the clips that I actually wanted to use in my advert. As I forgot to use colour bars before every clip I had to cut some of the clips by a few seconds which didn’t help when trying to create continuity.