Video:Final Cut Pro: How to Import Footage

Transcript:Final Cut Pro: How to Import Footage

Hi, I’m Nick and today for About.com, I’m going to teach you how to import files into Final Cut Pro X.

Importing Footage from Computer Files

Final Cut Pro X allows you to import files in multiple ways.  Clicking on the File tab allows you to select the Import option, with further options including files, iMovie projects and XMLs.  You can also right-click in the event library and select import in the pop-up window, or by pressing the keyboard shortcut Shift+Command+I.

To import files that are already on your computer, simply find the files you want and select.  You can select multiple files by holding the Command key and clicking on them, or you can simply highlight the folder to import everything inside of it.  Once selected, you can either import into an existing event or create a new one, depending on how you want to organize your project.  You also have access to a multitude of other options, including Organizing, Transcoding, Video and Audio options.  These can be altered after a clip has been imported, so if you’re unsure of the exact settings you want, don’t worry!  When you’re ready, click Import.

Now your clips are imported, you can choose many different viewing settings, for example, you can view each clip with a thumbnail frame every 10 minutes, 10 seconds or 1/2 a second!

Organize the Imported Media Files

There are also several different ways to organize your imported files.  Right click the event and select New Smart Collection.  Now you can categorize your imported files to match a specific setting, for example, if you want to highlight still images only, click the plus button, select Media Type and then Stills.  Your original files will stay in your main event, but the Stills folder will contain only still images.

This works for many different options.  For example, if you want to create a separate folder for video clips, use the same method, creating a smart folder, selecting Media Type and then choosing Video With Audio.

Don’t forget, you can view and alter additional information for each clip by clicking on the Inspector button.  Here you can rename your files and adjust filter and effects for video and audio settings.

Import Camera Footage into Final Cut Pro X

The other import option available in Final Cut Pro X is Import From Camera.  This allows you to import media directly from a camera device, for example, an inbuilt iSight camera, or an iPhone.  Simply select the files you want to import and click the ‘Import’ button.  Again, you can alter viewing options by adjusting clip height and showing or hiding waveforms depending on personal preference.

One of Final Cut Pro X’s early problems was file import compatibility.  You can check whether your camera device is compatible or not by visiting Apple’s support website.  Here, you can also view a full-list of compatible file types, including H.264, HDV and AVCHD.  File types such as .MXF and .MTS have been known to be problematic.  To get these to work, you may need to purchase additional conversion software such as Pavtube HD Video Converter.  Make sure you check your camera device before you buy!

Now you know how to import files into Final Cut Pro X.  For more FCP tips and tricks, visit compute.about.com.