Apple Pro Training Series: Getting Started with Final Cut Server

Description

Designed for video-production professionals, Final Cut Server sets the standard for intuitive media asset management, making it easy to manage large collections
of media files efficiently. In this Apple-authorized reference guide, system integrator Matthew Geller takes you on a comprehensive tour of the software, covering everything from tools for tracking, reviewing, and approving jobs to automating complex sequences of tasks in a busy post environment. Along the way, Geller shares essential workflows that will shave hours from your post-production jobs. You’ll learn techniques for searching, cataloging, and finding the right asset quickly, as well as how to handle large quantities of real-time HD video, audio, and still image assets in a fast-paced production environment.

Administrators will find a comprehensive overview of how to set up and configure this powerful collaboration tool, how to customize it to serve individual sites, and how to automate workflows and manage storage locations, users, and groups.

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Working with Productions in Final Cut Server

Table of Contents

SECTION 1: Using Final Cut Server

Chapter 1

Final Cut Server Philosophy
        Philosophy Overview – What is Final Cut Server?
        Client / Server / Device paradigms and diagrams
        Asset / Production / Metadata / Job paradigms and diagrams
        User / Group paradigms and diagrams
Final Cut Server Interface
        System Requirements – Minimum/Recommended
        Downloading and Installing Final Cut Server (Java Client)
        Logging into Final Cut Server
        Interface Overview – Callouts of each section

Chapter 2

Working With Assets
Getting Assets into Final Cut Server
    Drag & Drop Techniques
    Scanning
    Using Watch Folders
    Adding & Editing Asset Metadata
Searching for Assets within Final Cut Server^
    Understanding Search methods
    Search Terms
    Viewing multiple items
    Using Context Menus – with Callouts
Enriching Assets in Final Cut Server
    Adding & Editing Asset Metadata – with Callouts
    Annotating Assets – with Callouts
    Locking / Unlocking Assets
    How to Re-Analyze Assets
Getting Assets out of Final Cut Server
    Previewing Assets
    Understanding the Cache to Use button
    Drag & Drop Techniques
    Checking Assets Out and In
    Archiving / Purging Assets
    Understanding the Copy Function

Chapter 3

Working with Final Cut Pro Projects
Adding FCP Projects to Final Cut Server
    Drag & Drop Techniques
    Using the Create Final Cut Pro Asset Button
    Viewing Project Elements
            Viewing and Editing Project Metadata
    Adding Elements to Projects
    Annotating Elements – with Callouts
Shot-Selection for Clip Media
    Shot Selection Window – with Callouts
    Saving Shot-Selection as FCP Sequences
    Making frame stills
Check-Out and Check-In
            Checking Out a Project
            Identifying who has checked out a project
            Checking In a Project
        Archiving and Restoring Projects

Chapter 4

Working with Productions
Creating Productions
    Production Types
            Viewing and Editing Production Metadata
    Adding Assets to Productions
        Searching for Productions – refers back to skills taught
            in "Searching for Assets," above
            Viewing and Working with Production Assets

Chapter 5

Working with Devices   
Searching a Device for Media – refers back to skills taught
        in "Searching for Assets," above
Viewing Device Content
    Viewing Individual Files
    Viewing File Details – with callouts

Chapter 6

Working with Jobs   
Searching Jobs – refers back to skills taught
        in "Searching for Assets," above
        Viewing Job Details – with Callouts
        Job Retry
            Automatic
            Manual
            Viewing and Troubleshooting logs
        Adjusting Final Cut Server Preferences
  
SECTION 2: Basic Final Cut Server Administration (System Preferences Admin Area)

Chapter 7

Administration Overview
The role of Final Cut Server administrator
Final Cut Server Background

Administration Tools within the System Preferences Pane
        The Administration Tabs

Defining Groups and Permissions
        Using Workgroup Manager to create users and groups
        Adding Open Directory Groups to Final Cut Server
        Assigning Permission Sets to Groups
        Refers to docs for defining Permission Sets

Defining Devices
        Preference Pane Overview
        When to use Local / Network / Xsan
        Understanding Scan & Transcode Settings
        Refers to Docs for Java Client method
        Refers to Appendix for details on specific devices

Defining Watchers
        Preference Pane Overview
        Refers to Docs for Java Client method

Defining Metadata Subscriptions
        Preference Pane Overview
        Refers to Docs for Java Client method

SECTION 3: Advanced Final Cut Server Administration

Chapter 8

Administration Tools within the Final Cut Server Interface
        The Administration Tabs

Defining Transcoding Settings
        Creating Custom Transcoding Settings in Compressor
        Creating and Editing Transcoding Settings
        Linking Settings to Multiple Devices

Defining Devices
        FTP Servers
        Network Filesystems
        Xsan
        Remote Final Cut Servers

Defining Watchers
        Creating and Editing Watchers
   
Defining Scheduled Events
        Creating and Editing Scheduled Events

Defining Metadata Subscriptions
        Creating and Editing Metadata Subscriptions

Defining Responses and Response Details
        To Subscriptions
        To Scheduled Events / Scans
        To Watchers
        Metadata Field Substitution
        Copying
        Scanning
        Purging
        Emailing
        Defining Job and Log age

Adding / Editing Metadata
Metadata paradigms and diagrams
Creating and Editing Metadata Fields
Creating and Editing Lookups for Metadata Fields
Creating and Editing Metadata Groups for Metadata Fields
Creating and Editing Metadata Sets
Modifying Specialized Metadata Groups
            Editing Thumbnail, Tile and List View Sets
            Editing Asset and Production Filters

Adding / Editing Permission Sets
        Permissions paradigms and diagrams
        Creating and Editing Permission Sets

Admin Preferences
        Preference settings overview

Chapter 9

Workflow Scenarios
        Various Common Workflows
        Paradigms, Diagrams and Instructions
       
Appendix

I. Installation Best Practices
A list of prerequisites to make the most out of an FCS implementation.
    • Using VPNs for outside access
    • Proper DNS and Open Directory Configuration
    • Customer Profiles: how to pick the best one
    • FCS as NAS Head vs. FCS as Xsan Citizen
    • Limiting Bandwidth on Final Cut Server

II. Final Cut Server Resources

III. Glossary

V. Index

Updates

Errata

Page145 - “Priority (in Metadata Map) is such that lower numbers are higher priority.” should be “Priority (in Metadata Map) is such that higher numbers are higher priority.”

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