Objectives:

  • Capture video footage to the computer for editing

Simple Log and Capture Procedure


This is how you take your video and copy it into the computer. In video terminology, we call this "capturing" the footage. The basic steps are as follows:

  1. Start by making a new folder on the desktop. Make sure it clearly identifies you/your group. If I can't easily see who it belongs to, I may delete it by accident! When you first turn on the Mac, you are automatically in a program called the Finder. All you need to do is click on File > New Folder. Then type your name.

  2. Connect your firewire to the computer, then to your camera. Always connect to the computer first.

  3. Turn on your camera in VCR mode.

  4. Open up Final Cut Pro.

  5. Click on File > New Project.

  6. Click on Save As and save your project in your folder.

  7. Click on File > Log and Capture. You will now be able to control the rewinding, playing, and fast forwarding of your camera directly through the computer's keyboard.

  8. Important key strokes to remember:

    • Space bar - start and stop play (use your thumb)
    • k - stop
    • j - rewind (double tap the key to go faster)
    • l - fast forward (double tap to go faster)
    • left arrow- rewind one frame at a time
    • right arrow - forward one frame at a time
  9. Rewind your tape to the section you want to start copying into your computer.

  10. Click on the button that says "capture settings."

  11. Click on the button that says, "scratch disks."

  12. Click on the top button that says, "set."

  13. Guide the settings to make sure it's your folder that the computer will capture the video into. If you skip this important step, your raw footage will be placed in someone else's folder.

  14. Click OK to close the capture settings window. You are ready to actually start capturing.

  15. Start to play your video (space bar) and immediately click the "capture now" button.

  16. Don't try to capture every little thing you shot. Keep capturing until the piece you want to capture is finished playing, then click the Esc key to escape (stop).

  17. If you are using one of the more recent versions of Final Cut Pro, you will now have a file in your browser that says "untitled1." Don't leave it named that. Type in a relevant name for your first piece of captured footage. If you are using an older version of Final Cut (say FCP 3, which we have on some systems), you will now need to drag your captured footage into the browser first and then name it. If the clip is de-selected before you can name it, shift-click it and then you will be able to change it's name.

  18. Click File > Save All.

  19. Repeat the capturing process until you are done.

    Most important step: Don't forget to set your capture disk settings!

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