New Stuff - Cool Stuff
Dec. 23, 2013
In This Issue
Become a Member
All Kinds of Cool Stuff
FCP X: Media Management
FCP X: Update Events & Projects
Apple Releases Final Cut Pro X 10.1
FCP X: Manage Libraries
FCP X: Manage Projects
Compressor: Compress for DVD
FCP X Training
Top 3 Lists
Compressor 4 Training
Larry's New Subscription Service


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WOW!  WHAT A WEEK!!

Larry Jordan Apple releases the new Mac Pro and updates Final Cut Pro X to version 10.1.  We have all-new, in-depth training on the new version -- and Christmas is only two days away!

Whew!  Happy Holidays, everyone!  It's been a heck of a week.

ANNOUNCING ALL NEW TRAINING
FOR FINAL CUT PRO X 10.1

Apple added hundreds of new features to this latest release, so we decided it was time to redo all our Final Cut training.

134 movies - more than 15 hours of training - all designed to get you up to speed with this new version quickly. New training for a new version of FCP X.

I designed this training to get you started in a single chapter: Chapter 2: Quick Start. OR, just watch the movies with "NEW" in their title to find out the new features. OR, watch everything to master Apple's latest software.

Whether you are a new or experienced user, you'll learn more than you ever expected from our training. 

Click here to purchase your copy today!

P.S. Subscribers, starting tomorrow, we are launching new Compressor 4.1 training, available to subscribers only. Subscribe today to learn this new compression software.

WOW, WAS I WRONG!!

Remember last week, I wrote up a "Secret Tip" on how to convert QuickTime movies to MP4?  Well, it doesn't work. Not at all, not even close.

When we launched our new Final Cut Pro X training to our subscribers, I followed this procedure to create all the MP4 files we needed for streaming.

Within minutes of launch, the reports started coming in that the videos wouldn't play on Chrome or Firefox. And, some Safari users had problems too.  After several hours of frantic scrambling, we realized it was a problem with how I compressed the files.

Changing the file names works fine as long as you play the files in QuickTime player, but most Browsers choke.  If we export the file from QuickTime 7 Pro to convert it to an MPEG-4, QuickTime Player crops 18 lines from the top and bottom of the frame, then stretches the image vertically, destroying readablity.

So, I went back and recompressed the files - all 134 of them - using Compressor and MPEG-4, set to the Main profile. This resulted in files 20% bigger than what we had, but everything plays perfectly.

I uploaded the last of the correctly compressed files late Saturday night. Oh, and I also removed that "Secret Tip" article from my website. Sheesh. 

THE NEW MAC PRO

Unless you enjoy living under a rock, you know that Apple released the new Mac Pro's this week. Well, the good news is that Apple loaned me a Mac Pro for three weeks for testing. (Thank you, Apple!)

I've been reading the unboxing and initial speed reports on the web. So, my Christmas present to myself - and you - is to write up the specs for a Mac Pro system assuming you are not made of money, but want to get the best bang for the buck.

My plan is to post this write-up by Christmas afternoon.  Maybe a bit later - I expect a fair amount of giggling as I'm testing this. I'll have more on this new screamin' machine, later in the week.

LARRY'S 4K SEMINAR

By the way, now that both FCP X and the Mac Pro are out, we are full-speed-ahead on our 4K & Final Cut Pro X seminar. (And, yes, I'm bringing the new Mac Pro to the seminar so you can check it out for yourself!)

One-day ONLY - Tuesday, Jan. 14 - in Burbank, CA.

This is going to be a great way to explore the challenges of shooting and editing high-resolution media.

Click here and register today -- the Early Bird Special ends Dec. 31! 
 
SHORT NOTES

If you updated to Final Cut Pro X 10.1 and are wondering where all your audio sound effects went, you may need to download them again. Open Final Cut Pro X and go to the Final Cut Pro menu. Then, select "Download Additional Content" to restore all your audio effects.

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED BUZZ INTERVIEW

Buzz newsletter bullet This week on The Buzz, Philip Hodgetts joined Mike Horton and myself discussing the release of the Mac Pro and the latest updates to Final Cut Pro X. Philip, as always, has lots of good insight on both the new hardware and software.  If you want the inside scoop, listen to this interview.

Listen to Philip Hodgetts' interview here.

Listen to the entire show here.

We are now offering complete text transcripts for each Digital Production Buzz episodes, courtesy of Take1.tv.  Read the transcript for this show here.

SIX NEW ARTICLES THIS WEEK!

Generic newsletter bullet I have five new articles, and one new video, this week. If you are planning to update to Final Cut Pro X 10.1, it is really important that you read the first of these articles.

Plus, as always, I've updated our Top 3 lists.  Enjoy! 

ARTICLE: FINAL CUT PRO X 
Media Management is the Biggest Change
in Final Cut Pro X 10.1
If you only read one article about Final Cut Pro X, read this one.

The old Final Cut Events and Final Cut Projects folders have been replaced by libraries. And you need to update them in order for the new program to use them.

Updating is not hard, but it is EASY to make a mistake. Read this article to prevent unnecessary stress and lost hair.

VIDEO: FINAL CUT PRO X
Update Events and Projects
   
Building on the previous article, this eight minute video shows how to update Events and Projects to the new version of Final Cut Pro X.

Once you understand how updating works, you can decide the best way to update your existing projects and media.

ARTICLE: FINAL CUT PRO X
Apple Releases Final Cut Pro X 10.1  
   
This article was released at the same time that Apple released the new version.

It provides an overview of the new features in the software.

It has been THE most popular article on my website by far this week.
ARTICLE: FINAL CUT PRO X
Final Cut Pro X 10.1: Manage Libraries 
   
Since the latest update, my email has been flooded with questions on media management.

This article looks at all the different ways to manage libraries - the new container for media, events, and projects.

Everything you want to know about libraries -- plus some secret tips that I'll bet you didn't know -- all in one place.
ARTICLE: FINAL CUT PRO X
Final Cut Pro X 10.1: Manage Projects  
   
This continues the theme of media management in Final Cut Pro X v.10.1.

This article looks at all the different ways to manage projects. With the new release, projects are more like the traditional sequences in Final Cut Pro 7.

Everything you want to know about projects -- plus more secret tips that I'll bet you didn't know -- all in one place.
ARTICLE: COMPRESSOR 4.1 AND 4.0
Compress Media for DVD 
   
Figuring out the best compression settings for DVD media is a perennial question in my email.

The last time I wrote about this, Compressor 3 had just been released.

So, in celebration of the launch of the new Compressor 4.1, I've revisited this subject for both Compressor 4.1 and Compressor 4.0.
BRAND NEW!  JUST RELEASED!! 
FINAL CUT PRO X 10.1: WORKFLOW & EDITING             
All new training for Apple's latest: Final Cut Pro X v.10.1!
 
From initial setup and media management to editing and output, there's no finer training on the market.

* Need to get started in a hurry? We condensed everything you need into one chapter.

* Need to learn just the new features? We've got you covered.

* Need in-depth training on everything you need to know to become a video editing pro? Start at the beginning and work your way to the end.

You'll be amazed at how much you learn!

UPDATED WITH ALL THE LATEST FEATURES.

Over 130 movies, more than 15 hours of training, covering every version since Final Cut Pro X was first released.

Save time, save money, save your sanity. Watch this training and learn how it's supposed to work.

TOP THREE + 1 LISTS 
   
Here are the most popular articles, webinars, and audio interviews for the past seven days across all my websites.

Articles

We expanded this list to the Top 4 for more variety:
For an index of all our articles, visit here.

 

Webinars

This list is based on the webinars watched most often by our monthly subscribers. For a list of all our webinars, visit here.

 

Digital Production Buzz Audio Interviews  

  • Norman Hollyn: Teaching the Craft of Editing at the USC Film School
  • Sean Mullen: Rampant Design Tools: Cutting Edge Visual Effects
  • Thom Calabro: Picking the Right Lens for your Camera

For a list of all the audio interviews we've conducted on The Buzz, visit here. 
NEW TRAINING
Learn Apple Compressor 4 
   
Ultimately, all our projects end up on the web. Which means that if we don't know how to compress our video to make it look good, all our work during production and post is wasted.

In this in-depth video training, Larry Jordan shows you how to make the most of Apple Compressor 4.

Whether you are a new or experienced editor, this training will help you make your media look and sound great!
We are committed to providing the highest quality training at the lowest possible price and distributing it as widely as possible.

From subscriptions to individual downloads to free techniques and articles -- we've got your back.  And there's lots more to come.

Thanks!

Larry Jordan
Larry Jordan & Associates
www.larryjordan.biz

P.S. I always love hearing from you. Feel free to write.