2009

Create a hierarchy of clearly named bins
It’s important to prevent the Browser from becoming difficult to navigate. You can use
bins like folders, to help you organize large numbers of clips into manageable groups.
You can create a simple structure for your project, with separate bins for audio clips, video
clips, Motion projects, and sequences. You can also use bins to separate the clips you
intend to use for individual scenes, or to subdivide audio clips into music, sound effects,
and voiceover clips. Whatever bin structure you decide to use, the structure should make
it easy to find individual pieces of media quickly.
Use log notes and labels in the Browser to help sort and find media
The Browser in Final Cut Pro is actually a powerful database that lets you add complex
information to every clip in your project. When you display items in the Browser in list
view (using the View as List command), a series of customizable columns appears to the
right. Many of these columns contain data that’s intrinsic to each clip, such as frame size,
duration, tracks, and compressor; however, there are many more columns of information
that you can populate yourself, including, but not limited to:
• Log note
• Label and Label 2
• Good
• Master Comment 1–4
• Comment A and B
• Description
• Scene
• Shot/Take
You can enter text in these columns either directly within the Browser or using the Item
Properties window. Once populated, these columns can be used to sort items in the
Browser in either ascending or descending order. You can even create multiple-column
sorts.
Add markers and notes to your clips to identify key sections
You can prepare your media for editing by playing through clips you’ve ingested and
placing markers to identify key sections that you may want to use in the future. Each
marker you place can have a name and comment attached to it, which will appear in the
Viewer whenever the playhead is positioned over the marker. You can use the Name and
Comment fields to identify cut points between shots and takes, call attention to key
moments of action, or even create a partial transcription of important dialogue by placing
markers at the beginning of each annotated line. Markers can be further identified using
colors, to help you distinguish between markers that have different purposes.
46 Chapter 2 Ingesting and Organizing Your Media