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16 Ingesting Media Files
Final Cut Express allows you to transfer footage recorded
on non-tape-based media to your computer.
This chapter covers the following:
 About File-Based Media (p. 219)
 Working with AVCHD Footage (p. 220)
 Sample Media File Workflow (p. 222)
 Working with the Log and Transfer Window (p. 224)
About File-Based Media
Historically, video footage has been recorded on videotape. As digital acquisition
quickly replaces analog technology, camcorders are starting to record footage as files
on non-tape-based media such as hard disks, solid-state cards, and optical discs.
Final Cut Express can transfer file-based media to your computer using the Log and
Transfer window.
This chapter describes how to use the Log and Transfer window.
Final Cut Express allows you to ingest video and audio recorded on non-tape-based
media and then edit the resulting media files just as you would edit media files in any
other format.
Because of its nonlinear nature, non-tape-based media provides clear advantages over
tape-based media:
 You can log clips while ingesting others at the same time. This is impossible using tape.
 No cueing or pre-roll time is necessary for viewing and ingesting footage.
 You can mount multiple devices at the same time. With tape, you can only use one
at a time.
One non-tape-based media format that you can ingest into Final Cut Express is AVCHD.