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Table Of Contents
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56 Using RT Extreme
RT Extreme is the real-time effects architecture that allows
you to play back multiple video layers, video and audio filters,
motion effects, and other effects in real time without needing
to render them first.
This chapter covers the following:
 Introduction to Real-Time Processing (p. 881)
 Changing Real-Time Playback Settings (p. 886)
 Still-Image Real-Time Playback (p. 893)
 Improving Real-Time Performance (p. 893)
 Real-Time Audio Mixing in Final Cut Express (p. 895)
 Choosing Real-Time Playback Versus Rendering (p. 898)
 Using RT Extreme for Video Output (p. 898)
Introduction to Real-Time Processing
Final Cut Express handles real-time processing with a feature called RT Extreme. The
term real time refers to an editing systems ability to calculate the final image while
maintaining an acceptable frame rate and visual quality. In other words, you can see
the results of an effect as soon as you play your video. Real-time processing is the
opposite of rendering, in which you have to wait for an effect to be calculated and
stored on disk before you can see the results.