Appendix 1

Finishing on Digital Video, the Online Edit
There are many other uses for an EDL. As this is plain text, and it contains every aspect of the picture
edit in plain language, it can be used in many situations where edit information is needed. You may
even want to export one just to archive in the postproduction book with the cutting logs and other
important information.
It is also possible to export the edit as a Final Cut Pro XML fi le. In some ways, this is similar to
exporting an EDL. It, too, is plain language with some unusual formatting, but the format here is
totally different. It’s a “markup” language, similar to the HTML used on the Internet. Like an EDL,
an editor who knows how to write in this format can actually edit with it (not that anyone would).
But it can be used to batch certain changes like changing shot names.
Because it contains all of the information contained in the Final Cut Pro project fi le, it makes a
great archive system. Even if Final Cut Pro 17 will not open your project fi le ten years from now,
it will likely be able to import the old XML and update it. And like an EDL, it can be opened
in a text editor or even a spreadsheet such as Excel, printed and placed in the postproduction
book.
Some online editing systems can import this fi le and some can import a modifi ed version. Here, too,
it can function in the same way the EDL was historically used. Check with your online facility and
see if they can use Apple’s XML format. It comes in two types, XML1 and XML2. To export an
XML, go to: Edit menu > Export > XML.
Other output formats are used in postproduction houses that are not supported directly in Final Cut
Pro. Final Cut Pro plug-ins are available to export these formats. If your post house is using one of
these formats, they will likely be able to get you a copy of the plug-in so that you can export in their
format.
Using Media Manager
A faster way to online is to stay in Final Cut Pro. Many online facilities have a Final Cut Pro room.
Some are exclusively Final Cut Pro. This makes online editing simple and straightforward.
As with all fi nishing, your edit in the timeline should be clean and not contain any overlaps or
uses of video in extra video tracks unless they are a super or effect. Collapse everything else
into V1.
The next step is to use media manager to make an off-line sequence. This may need to be performed
at the post house. Most post houses use high-end video boards that require special codecs not supplied
with Final Cut Pro. They may be able to give you a copy of their codec so you can install it
on your system, but you can simply let them create the off-line sequence.
E-mail the post house a copy of your Final Cut project fi le. They can open it and look it over for
problems. And they can run media manager, which is the next step. Or if you have the proper codec,
you can do it on your system.
Figure 6.3 shows Media Manager. Use this to create a new off-line sequence. This refers to the new
sequence being created with all media off-line. Go to the File menu, Media Manager. Choose Create
Offl ine in the media section. You will need to set the sequences to the codec used by your fi nishing
facility.
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