Entering a Clip Name and Other Logging Information
The following clip properties can be entered in the Logging tab of the Log and Capture
window, as well as adjusted later in the Browser: Name, Description, Scene, Shot/Take,
Angle, Log Note, and Good.
Specifying the Clip Name
The clip name in the Name field is generated automatically from the Description,
Scene, Shot/Take, and Angle fields. However, only the fields whose checkboxes are
selected contribute to the clip name. Underscores in the clip name separate the
content of each automatically included field. For example, the clip name “Man Talking
3_23_4” is generated from the Description “Man Talking”, the Scene “3”, the Shot/Take
“23,” and the angle 4.
There are two features available to several fields:
 Slate buttons: Click the Slate button to increment the last number or letter in the field.
 If the current field doesn’t end with a number, a “1” is appended.
 If the field ends with a single character (such as “A”), the character is incremented
alphabetically (in this case, to “B”).
 Combinations of numbers and letters, such as “893z”, are incremented as well (for
example, to “894a”). Uppercase and lowercase characters are preserved.
 Checkboxes: Click a checkbox to add a field’s text to the Name field.
For more information, see “
Choosing Names and Log Information for Clips
” on page 251.
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To name your clip:
1
Select the checkbox next to the log properties you want to include in the name of the
clip—Description, Scene, Shot/Take, and Angle.
2
Enter a brief description of the clip in the Description field (click the Slate button to
increment this field by 1).
Note: After you log a clip, the last number in the Description field is automatically
incremented.
3
Enter a scene number in this field (click the Slate button to increment this field by 1).
4
Enter numbers for the shot and take in the Shot/Take field (click the slate button to
automatically increment the field by 1).
5
If the footage was part of a multicamera shoot, enter a camera angle number in the
Angle field (click the slate button to automatically increment this field by 1).
To clear the Description field along with the Shot/Take fields:
m
Option-click the Slate button next to the Description field.
To clear the Shot/Take field:
m
Option-click the Slate button next to the Shot/Take field.
To reset the Shot/Take and Angle fields to “01”, do one of the following:
m
Click the Slate button next to the Scene field.
m
Option-click the Slate button next to the Scene field. This clears the Scene field in
addition to resetting the Shot/Take and Angle fields.
This happens no matter what the number was before (assuming a new scene will
begin at the first take).
Chapter 16
Logging Clips
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IV
Adding Notes and Marking Good Shots
As you are logging, you may want to add notes to the clip. If you think the current clip
is worth capturing, or if you at least want to remember that you considered it useful for
your project, you can mark it as Good. These notes and marks can help you later on as
you assemble your program.
To enter logging notes for a clip:
m
In the Log Note field, enter comments and editorial notes about the clip.
Control-click this field to choose from a list of recent Log Note comments in the
current project.
To mark a clip as a good shot:
m
Select the Good checkbox.
If you select this checkbox, a checkmark appears in the Good column of the Browser.
This is helpful if you want to log every shot on all of your tapes, but mark only a few
shots for capture. Later, in the Browser, you can use the Good property to sort and
search clips.
Confirming Your Logging Information
Before you log a clip, you can choose to have Final Cut Pro confirm the clip name, Log
Note, and Good property before the clip is logged.
To have Final Cut Pro verify that the name and logging information is correct:
m
Select the Prompt checkbox next to the Name field.
Note: If the Prompt checkbox is unselected, Final Cut Pro logs the clip without asking
you to confirm, when you click the Log Clip button. For more information, see “
Logging
a Clip
” on page 266.
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Logging, Capturing, and Importing