User Guide

5
103
5 Working with Media Assets
This chapter covers the following:
 About Caching (p. 103)
 Checking Out, Editing, and Checking In a Media Asset (p. 105)
 Preparing Media Assets To Be Used on a Computer That Is Not Connected to the
Final Cut Server Network (p. 107)
 Exporting Media Assets (p. 111)
This chapter explains how to edit media assets, including video clips and graphics, in
applications other than Final Cut Server. You can edit a managed copy of a media asset
by checking out the asset, editing the checked out file, and then checking the edited
file back in. A separate workflow is provided for preparing media files to be used in a
new Final Cut Pro project that you create while disconnected from the Final Cut Server
network. You can also copy or export an unmanaged copy of a media asset from
Final Cut Server.
About Caching
Caching an asset downloads the asset to the Final Cut Server cache on your local
computer. After you’ve cached a media asset, you can check it out and work with that
managed copy in another application, or you can drag a copy of the media asset from
Final Cut Server or export a copy of the media asset and create an unmanaged copy.
After caching an asset, you can tell the asset is cached because the asset’s thumbnail
changes to a lighter gray color.
Note: If your Final Cut Server system is connected to an Apple Xsan storage area
network (SAN) device and the edit-in-place feature is enabled, your assets are always
cached and ready to use. For more information, contact your Final Cut Server
administrator.
Final Cut Server prompts you when you need to cache an asset, so caching often only
requires you to click the Add to Cache button that appears in the dialog. However, you
can also manually add an asset to your Final Cut Server cache.