Final Cut Server User Manual
Copyright © 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Your rights to the software are governed by the accompanying software license agreement. The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of Final Cut Server software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services. The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Inc.
Contents Preface 7 7 7 8 Welcome to Final Cut Server About Final Cut Server About the Final Cut Server Documentation Additional Resources Chapter 1 9 9 10 11 An Introduction to the Final Cut Server Client About Final Cut Server The Final Cut Server Client Workflow Installing the Final Cut Server Client Chapter 2 13 13 17 19 20 21 21 22 23 24 25 25 26 27 28 The Final Cut Server Interface The Final Cut Server Main Window Views for Assets and Productions Panes Search Options and Saved Searches Asset I
0 Uploading Final Cut Studio Projects 47 About the Asset Info Window 4 Chapter 4 53 53 62 69 69 71 72 Organizing and Searching the Final Cut Server Catalog Organizing Assets in Final Cut Server Searching in Final Cut Server Displaying Search Results Tracking the Status of an Asset or Production with Metadata Adding and Changing Asset Metadata Searching Devices and Jobs Chapter 5 77 77 79 80 82 86 88 89 89 92 Working in Final Cut Server Final Cut Server Client Actions Viewing an Asset Adding Versions
124 Exporting a Project Asset and Its Media Chapter 9 127 127 131 132 Using Status Metadata in the Final Cut Server Workflow Using Status Metadata to Track Assets and Productions About the Review and Approve Feature Using the Review and Approve Feature Chapter 10 137 137 140 141 Exporting, Archiving, and Deleting Completed Assets and Projects Outputting a Final Project Archiving and Restoring Media Assets Deleting Assets from Final Cut Server Appendix 143 Solving Problems 143 Resources for Solving Pr
Preface Welcome to Final Cut Server Final Cut Server is extremely flexible and configurable. It is also designed to become fully functional quickly, allowing you to expand its capabilities as your needs grow. This preface covers the following: • About Final Cut Server (p. 7) • About the Final Cut Server Documentation (p. 7) • Additional Resources (p. 8) About Final Cut Server Final Cut Server is powerful media asset management and workflow automation software.
Additional Resources Along with the documentation that comes with Final Cut Server, there are a variety of other resources you can use to find out more about Final Cut Server. Final Cut Server Website For general information and updates, as well as the latest news on Final Cut Server, go to: • http://www.apple.com/finalcutserver Apple Service and Support Websites For software updates and answers to the most frequently asked questions for all Apple products, go to the general Apple Support webpage.
An Introduction to the Final Cut Server Client 1 This chapter provides an overview of the Final Cut Server, including information about the Final Cut Server workflow and how to install the Final Cut Server client. This chapter covers the following: • About Final Cut Server (p. 9) • The Final Cut Server Client Workflow (p. 10) • Installing the Final Cut Server Client (p. 11) About Final Cut Server Final Cut Server works similarly to other client/server computer networks.
Final Cut Server can help you do the following tasks: • Find the assets you need: As the number of assets in your Final Cut Server catalog increases, creating and managing searches becomes more important. Final Cut Server provides multiple ways to search and organize the assets in your organization’s Final Cut Server catalog. • Have immediate access to media: Final Cut Server provides immediate access to media from the Final Cut Server client software.
Stage 2: Editing the Media and Project This stage of editing within your organization can include creating and editing a Final Cut Pro project, creating and revising artwork and graphic overlays or motion effects, or other workflows your organization uses to create projects for client review. The final part of this stage involves putting all the finished pieces together into a review copy of the project.
The Final Cut Server Interface 2 This chapter provides descriptions of the Final Cut Server user interface. You can use this chapter to orient yourself while learning to use Final Cut Server. You’ll find more information about the features described in this chapter in the following chapters. This chapter covers the following: • The Final Cut Server Main Window (p. 13) • Views for Assets and Productions Panes (p. 17) • Search Options and Saved Searches (p. 19) • Asset Info Window (p.
Note: The screen shots shown in this manual show a default Final Cut Server system. Because your Final Cut Server administrator can configure different media types and metadata fields, your system may look different from the system shown on these pages.
The Assets pane and Productions pane are the two views of the Final Cut Server main window. An asset is used by Final Cut Server to track every file that is uploaded to the server or scanned. The Assets pane shows all the assets that Final Cut Server is managing. Productions are used to group assets. The Productions pane shows all the productions that have been created by you or other people who use your Final Cut Server system.
See Working with Media Assets to learn more about media assets. See Working with Final Cut Pro Projects to learn more about Final Cut Pro project assets. See Working with Final Cut Studio Projects to learn more about Final Cut Studio project assets. Productions Pane After you click Productions, all of the productions that exist in Final Cut Server are listed in the main part of the window. The Productions pane varies somewhat from the Assets pane. Its Toolbar has a New Production button.
Views for Assets and Productions Panes The Assets and Productions panes can be displayed as lists or thumbnails. You can change the view by clicking the Thumbnail View button or List View button. Thumbnail View button List View button Thumbnails View Thumbnails view displays a thumbnail image of the assets or productions. The thumbnail image can be a frame from the video file that was uploaded, the graphics or image file that was uploaded, or an icon representing the type of asset or production.
List View List view displays the assets or productions titles and other metadata in columns. This view is useful when you want to view asset or production information or sort by any field. List view selected Final Cut Server marks assets and productions with icons to identify them. In Thumbnails view, the icons appear on the asset or production tile, just above the Thumbnails image or icon. In List view, the icons appear to the left of the Title column and in the State column.
Icon Description Asset checked out by me Asset checked out by another user Asset locked by me Asset locked by another user Asset archived (yellow) indicates you can restore this asset from its archive Asset archived (white) indicates you do not have permission to restore the asset from its archive Unlinked Final Cut Pro project element Primary representation for this asset is missing from its device Final Cut Server cache is out of date For specific information about these icons, see the chapter that desc
You can save searches you create as smart searches. Final Cut Server comes with several default smart searches listed under the My Smart Searches heading on the left of the main Final Cut Server window. These smart searches, as well as any you create, are unique to your Final Cut Server client. Other smart searches that are configured and managed by your Final Cut Server administrator and that appear on every Final Cut Server client in your system may appear under Smart Searches.
• Versions pane: This pane lists information about versions of the asset that have been saved. • Locks pane: This pane lists locks that have been applied to the asset. • Review & Approve pane: This pane shows the asset’s status and is used for the Email Notification feature. See About the Asset Info Window for more information about the Metadata, Resources, Versions, and Locks panes. See About the Review and Approve Feature for more information about the Review & Approve pane.
When Final Cut Studio project files are uploaded to Final Cut Server, the asset that is created for the Final Cut Studio project represents only the project file. Unlike Final Cut Pro project assets, the Final Cut Studio project asset does not contain a list of the media linked to the project. A Final Cut Studio project asset info window includes Metadata, Resources, Versions, Locks, and Review & Approve panes. You can view the information in each pane by clicking the pane’s button.
The Assets and Productions pane shows all of the assets contained in the production; the Metadata pane shows the production’s metadata. The path describes the production’s location. Click a button to display more information about the production. This production contains two alias files. See Organizing Assets in Final Cut Server to learn more about productions. Annotations Window You can mark a single video asset with comments in the Annotations window.
To view the Annotations window, open a video asset’s info window and click the Annotate button. Click the Annotate button in a video asset’s info pane to open the Annotations window. You can preview the clip here. Annotations that have been added to a video asset appear here. You can add text in the Annotation field. Downloads & Uploads Window This window helps you more closely monitor the status of files that you are uploading to or downloading from Final Cut Server.
You can open the Downloads & Uploads window by clicking the Downloads and Uploads button in the Final Cut Server main window (or by choosing Downloads & Uploads from the Window pop-up menu). See The Downloads & Uploads Window for more information. Search All Jobs Window The Search All Jobs window is opened from the Server pop-up menu (located at the top-left corner of the Final Cut Server main window). It shows a list of recent jobs that were initiated by all Final Cut Server users.
Warning: Use the Search Devices window with caution. Devices can contain files that both have and have not been added to the Final Cut Server catalog. Working with files in the Search Devices window could result in making duplicate copies of an asset in your Final Cut Server server system, or in deleting all copies of a file from a device. See Searching Devices for more information about the Search Devices window.
You can open the Preferences window by choosing Preferences from the Server pop-up window. See Setting Final Cut Server Client Preferences for more information about the preferences for your Final Cut Server client. Using Shortcut Menus in Final Cut Server You can take many actions in Final Cut Server by making choices from shortcut menus. You can view a shortcut menu’s items by Control-clicking an asset, a Final Cut Pro project, or another area of Final Cut Server.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Final Cut Server Many of the standard Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts are available in Final Cut Server. In addition, application-specific keyboard shortcuts are available for the Final Cut Server Annotations window.
Uploading Files to Final Cut Server 3 Before you can manage and track your files in Final Cut Server, you first need to upload the files. This chapter describes how to upload three different types of files to Final Cut Server: media files, Final Cut Pro project files, and Final Cut Studio projects and their linked media files. This chapter covers the following: • About Creating Final Cut Server Assets (p. 29) • Types of Files That Can Be Uploaded to Final Cut Server (p.
Because media assets, Final Cut Pro project assets, and Final Cut Studio (Motion, Soundtrack Pro, and DVD Studio Pro) project assets are managed differently in Final Cut Server, how to work with each type of asset is explained throughout this manual. Types of Files That Can Be Uploaded to Final Cut Server Final Cut Server can manage many types of files, including the following: Media category Supported file types Video Final Cut Pro projects (.
Note: If you’ve added metadata to a QuickTime file using the default QuickTime annotation fields, that metadata appears in the QuickTime metadata group of the Media metadata set. You must assign the asset’s metadata set to Media to view the QuickTime annotation information; if you apply any other metadata set, the QuickTime metadata is not visible in the Final Cut Server asset. Final Cut Server comes with default metadata sets to describe your assets.
Important: If you are uploading large project or media files, turn off your computer’s sleep function. If the computer on which the Final Cut Server client is running goes to sleep during an upload, the upload will be canceled. About Uploading QuickTime Reference Movies A QuickTime reference movie can contain a list of references to movies that have different data rates.
Here’s an example. When you upload an uncompressed HD video clip to Final Cut Server, a Final Cut Server asset is created. This asset holds the original file (the primary representation). The original file is also transcoded to create the Clip Proxy file, and JPEG images are created to be used as Thumbnail and Poster frame proxy files for the asset.
To upload one or more media files 1 Do one of the following: • Drag the media file or files that you want to upload from the Finder, the desktop, or a connected volume to the column on the left of the Final Cut Server main window, the Assets pane, or a production. • Choose Upload File from the Server pop-up menu, select the media file or files in the file browser that appears, then click Upload. Depending on the number of files you uploaded, the Upload, Link Upload, or Multiple Upload window appears.
3 If necessary, choose a new destination device from the Destination pop-up menu. This specifies the device on which the file will be stored. If you have questions about which device to choose, contact your Final Cut Server administrator. Note: Media and Library are the primary Final Cut Server devices. Talk with your Final Cut Server administrator about which other configured devices are appropriate for media file storage.
• Choose Upload File from the Server pop-up menu (the pop-up menu in the Final Cut Server main window that appears when you click the Server button), select the folder in the file browser that appears, then click Upload. 2 In the dialog that appears, choose to create an image sequence asset, then click Create. Important: By clicking Create, you state that the folder you are uploading contains only a series of image sequence files.
Uploading Final Cut Pro Projects Final Cut Pro project assets have a different structure than media assets. When you upload a Final Cut Pro project to Final Cut Server, the Final Cut Pro project file is the primary representation for the asset. Final Cut Server discovers the video and other media files that are linked to the Final Cut Pro project and uploads each of the media files as a unique media asset.
After a Final Cut Pro project has been uploaded, you can get information about the project’s linked media files in the Elements pane of the Final Cut Pro project’s asset info window. The linked media is shown in the asset info window’s Elements pane. Alternately, you can look at the Resources pane of a media asset’s info window to see if a media asset is linked to a Final Cut Pro project. An instance of this media asset is used in the Final Cut Pro project titled “3133_Motorbikes.
Considerations When Uploading Final Cut Pro Projects Keep the following things in mind when uploading Final Cut Pro projects: • Uploading a Final Cut Pro project that contains a SmoothCam filter: If you upload a Final Cut Pro project that uses the SmoothCam filter, the analyze file created from it is not uploaded to Final Cut Server. When you check out the project asset from Final Cut Server for editing, Final Cut Pro automatically re-analyzes the SmoothCam filter to re-create the project’s analyze file.
2 Some of the information in the Link Final Cut Pro Upload window is automatically entered. You can change the metadata set and add any metadata for the new Final Cut Pro project and the linked media. Important: Any metadata you enter for the project asset will be applied to the new project asset and to each asset being created for the linked media files. 3 If necessary, choose a new destination device from the Destination pop-up menu. This specifies the device on which the file will be stored.
Important: It is possible to upload only a Motion, Soundtrack Pro, or DVD Studio Pro project file to Final Cut Server. When you upload only the project file, an asset will be created for only the project file. Unlike a Final Cut Pro project file, the Final Cut Studio project file will not include a list of elements.
The illustration below shows a Final Cut Studio project being uploaded as a bundle asset. The bundle asset appears in Final Cut Studio as a single generic asset, with no indication of its project file or its linked media files. Upload folder to Final Cut Server Folder Project Bundle asset BikeBlur.motn Music_3225.aif Motorbikes.aif Road_3232.mov Rider_322.jpg Quill_5344.
The project file and its media files are saved in a folder at the location you specified. The Motion project’s media files A Motion project 2 In Final Cut Server, create a new production for the project and its assets by following these steps: a Open the Productions pane by clicking Productions in the column at the left of the main Final Cut Server window. b Click the New Production button in the Toolbar. c Choose a metadata set for the new production from the Metadata Set pop-up menu.
5 Choose a metadata set for the asset from the Metadata Set pop-up menu, and add metadata to one or more fields, defining this as a bundle asset. 6 If necessary, choose a new destination device from the Destination pop-up menu. This specifies the device on which the file will be stored. If you have questions about which device to choose, contact your Final Cut Server administrator. Note: Media and Library are the primary Final Cut Server devices.
Uploading a Project and Its Media Files as Individual Assets If you upload a Motion, Soundtrack Pro, or DVD Studio Pro project and its media files as individual assets, an asset for each of the files in the folder is created. The project file uploads in a manner similar to the Final Cut Pro project file; the big difference is that unlike a Final Cut Pro project asset, the project’s media files are not referenced to the project file.
Important: When uploading a DVD Studio Pro project file and its linked media files, there is no need to upload .par files. When you check out and open the project in DVD Studio Pro, the .par files will be automatically re-created. The project file and its media are saved in a folder at the location you specified.
This specifies the device on which the file will be stored. If you have questions about which device to choose, contact your Final Cut Server administrator. Note: Media and Library are the primary Final Cut Server devices. Talk with your Final Cut Server administrator about which other configured devices are appropriate for media file storage. 8 Click the Begin Upload button to create assets for the project file and its linked media files. The files are uploaded.
About Media, Image Sequence, and Bundle Asset Info Windows Media asset info windows contain panes for information about metadata, resources, versions, locks, and the Review and Approve feature. • Metadata pane: This pane shows the metadata for both the asset and its primary representation file. You can update any field in this pane by typing text or a value and then clicking the Save Changes button.
• Versions pane: This pane shows different versions that have been created for the asset. See Adding Versions for a Media or Project Asset for more information about creating versions. • Locks pane: This pane shows information about any locks on the asset. See Locking and Unlocking an Asset for more information.
• Review & Approve pane: If your Final Cut Server administrator has set up the Review and Approve feature, the Review & Approve pane is used for sending out review notification emails. Your Final Cut Server administrator must set up this feature for it to work properly. See About the Review and Approve Feature for more information. The info window for a media asset also contains a Refresh button that you can use to update the asset info window, and an Action pop-up menu that contains commonly used actions.
About the Final Cut Pro Project Info Window A Final Cut Pro project info window is slightly different than other types of asset info windows. A Final Cut Pro project info window’s Action pop-up menu does not have all of the items that are in the Action pop-up menu for other types of assets because certain actions cannot be performed on a Final Cut Pro asset. It also contains an additional pane, the Elements pane. The Elements pane shows the items that are part of the Final Cut Pro project.
Organizing and Searching the Final Cut Server Catalog 4 When you upload assets, they are added to your Final Cut Server catalog, along with the other assets uploaded by you and other Final Cut Server users that make up the Final Cut Server catalog. As the number of assets in your catalog increases, creating and managing searches becomes more important. This chapter covers ways you can use Final Cut Server to organize and search for your assets.
Similarly, when you click Productions in the Final Cut Server main window, all of the top-level productions are displayed. Unlike assets, productions can be nested inside of each other, creating hierarchical levels. Productions are used to organize asset alias files, small reference files that link to the original asset.
Media assets are created when audio, video, graphic, or other media files are uploaded to Final Cut Server. Final Cut Pro project assets are created when Final Cut Pro projects are uploaded to Final Cut Server. The Final Cut Pro project asset info window contains an Elements pane that lists the media assets that are used by the Final Cut Pro project file. Final Cut Studio project assets are created when Motion, Soundtrack Pro, and DVD Studio Pro project files are uploaded to Final Cut Server.
You can also get information about an asset by looking at its MIME type. The MIME type describes either the type of information contained in the primary representation file or the application in which the primary representation file was created. The MIME type for this image asset is shown here. You can search for a specific MIME type; if you use that search often, you can save it as a Smart Search. See Searching in Final Cut Server for more information.
When you click the Productions pane, all of the top-level productions are listed in the main part of the window. You can double-click any of these productions to open the production’s info window and see its contents. A path describing the location of the production is shown in the top-left corner of the production. If you click any blue linked production shown in this path, that production will open in a new production info window. The path describes the production’s location.
• In the Productions pane of the main window, click the New Production button in the Toolbar. Click the New Production button to create a new production. This will create a new, empty production at the top level of the Productions pane. • In an open production info window, click the New Production button in the Toolbar. This will create a new, empty production inside the existing production. The Production window appears. 2 Choose a metadata set for the production from the Metadata Set pop-up menu.
Browsing and Searching for Productions After you create a production, it can be located in the top level of the Productions pane, or nested inside a production. You can browse the production hierarchy; you can also search for specific productions within the Final Cut Server catalog. How you choose to search for the production you are looking for can depend on the number of productions that exist in your organization’s Final Cut Server catalog and the depth of the production, as well as your workflow.
You can also search productions. For information about searching, see Searching in Final Cut Server. Organizing Assets and Productions When organizing assets and productions, it is important to remember that assets appear only in the Assets pane of the main window of Final Cut Server. Aliases to the assets in the Assets pane are used within productions. The following sections explain how to move, copy, and delete asset aliases and productions.
After you add an asset alias to a production, Final Cut Server tracks the asset as a linked asset. You can find out what productions an asset is linked to by opening the asset’s info window and clicking Resources. A list of productions that the asset is linked to is displayed in the bottom-right area of the asset info window. Click Resources in the asset info window. This asset is linked to two productions. To remove an asset alias from a production 1 Open the production’s info window.
2 In a new window, browse to the nested production you want to move the other production to. 3 Drag the production to its new location. You will see the production folder move to its new location; however, the production folder will also remain in the old location. The production is in its new location. To copy a production to another location within a production hierarchy 1 Locate the production you want to move. 2 In a new window, browse to the nested production you want to move the other production to.
After configuring a search, you can save the search, making it available to you with one click of your mouse. Doing a Simple Search To perform a simple search of the Assets or Productions pane in Final Cut Server, you choose a search type and enter a term. Final Cut Server searches for that term in every metadata field on every asset or production. Searching is not case sensitive.
3 Click the Search button. Choose a search type from the pop-up menu. Enter a search term. Then click Search. Every asset and production that contains the search criteria you entered is returned, and the number of assets found appears in the bottom of the main window. Important: After entering a search term, the search field remembers the term you last entered. This makes it simple for you to repeat the search you entered previously.
The pop-up menu next to each metadata field provides an appropriate search filter. A search filter sorts the search returns by the filter criteria. Text filtering criteria are used to search Title, Filename, Location, Stored On, and other metadata fields. You can use the following filters to search these metadata fields: Filter Definition All Returns all text entered. Equals Returns only the text entered. Not Equals Returns assets that do not contain the text entered, including the absence of text.
2 Enter one or more search criteria in the metadata field or fields that you want to search. 3 Click the Search button. Every asset and production that contains the search criteria you entered is returned, and the number of assets found appears in the bottom of the main window. Important: Like the search field used for a simple search, the advanced search fields retain the information you last entered. This makes it simple for you to repeat the search you entered previously.
System-wide Smart Searches are created and maintained by your Final Cut Server administrator. After your administrator creates one and you quit and restart your Final Cut Server client, the Smart Search will appear under the new Smart Searches heading in the column on the left of the main Final Cut Server window.
Note: A Smart Search is only saved for the user who created it. The Smart Search is not saved to other users’ or the administrator’s Final Cut Server clients. To create a local Smart Search 1 After configuring a search, click the Save as Smart Search button in the bottom-right corner of the Final Cut Server main window. The Smart Search appears in the Smart Searches list in the column on the left of the window. It is titled “Untitled” and is selected.
The Smart Search is deleted. Displaying Search Results In the Assets and Productions panes, you can view your search results in Thumbnails or List view and change the display order of items using the Toolbar buttons and controls. Choose a sorting option from this pop-up menu. Choose Thumbnail or List view. Choose a specific page of search results. Choose the order to sort by (ascending or descending). Move through the pages of search results.
As your work progresses, you can search for assets that are in a particular phase of your workflow by searching for their status or other metadata. Final Cut Server comes with several preconfigured Smart Searches that make it easy for you to find recently modified assets or assets marked with the Status metadata field set to “Ready for Review.” Click this Smart Search to see all assets with Status set to Ready for Review.
You can configure your own search using the advanced search options. For example, you can search for all assets that have a Status metadata field set to In Progress. After setting up a search, you can save it as a Smart Search. The assets area highlights to indicate that the search configuration does not match a Smart Search. Set the Status field to In Progress to search for those assets. Click this button to save the current search setting as a Smart Search.
3 Choose a metadata group to view. Click a metadata group to view. Click Metadata to view the asset’s or production’s metadata. When you’ve made the necessary changes, click Save Changes. 4 Enter new details in any of the metadata fields or make choices from the pop-up menus. 5 When you’ve finished modifying the metadata, click Save Changes. The changes you made are saved. Note: Make sure you click the Search button after updating asset metadata to refresh the Assets pane.
Warning: Use the Search Devices window with caution. When you search a device, you are searching for files, not Final Cut Server assets. Devices can contain files that both have and have not been added to the Final Cut Server catalog.
• Get Info: Displays an info window that summarizes information and metadata for the file. • View: Displays the file in the appropriate application (often the location in which the file was created). • Export: Exports the file. • Duplicate: Duplicates the file. • Delete: Deletes the file from the device. Searching for a Job Final Cut Server uses jobs to perform actions like uploading, downloading, and transcoding files.
2 Enter your search criteria by doing one of the following: • Enter a word or value in the search field. • Click the search disclosure triangle to reveal the advanced search options. Choose a limiter from the pop-up menu and enter a value in one or more search fields. 3 When you’ve entered the criteria by which you would like to search the jobs, click the Search button. The jobs that match your search criteria appear in the main part of the window.
Working in Final Cut Server 5 This chapter explains how to work with all types of assets in the Final Cut Server client. It explains how to interpret the information that is contained in a project or media asset info window. It also includes descriptions of all the actions available in Final Cut Server. This chapter covers the following: • Final Cut Server Client Actions (p. 77) • Viewing an Asset (p. 79) • Adding Versions for a Media or Project Asset (p. 80) • Locking and Unlocking an Asset (p.
Action Description Add to Cache Adds a copy of the asset to the local computer’s cache. This is the first step in performing many operations in Final Cut Server. See About Caching for more information. Check In/Check Out/Cancel Check Out/Reveal Checked Out Media Checking out the asset allows you to edit the primary representation being tracked by the asset and prevents the asset from being modified by all other users.
Viewing an Asset You can view many video, audio, and image assets. For video and image assets, you can choose to view the file’s original media, or one of several proxy files. After you choose a type of file to view, it opens in QuickTime Player or in another appropriate application (this could be the application in which the file was created). Note: Keep in mind that Final Cut Server cannot preview any bundle assets or Final Cut Pro or other project files.
Adding Versions for a Media or Project Asset If an asset’s version control feature is turned on, Final Cut Server creates a version every time the asset is checked in. Final Cut Server numbers the versions in the order they are created; therefore, the version with the highest number represents the asset that was most recently checked in. Any user can turn on version control for an asset. Your Final Cut Server administrator may have also turned on asset control for all assets in the catalog.
To check out and edit an asset 1 Select the asset, then do one of the following: • Click the Check Out button in the Toolbar. • Control-click the asset, then choose Check Out from the shortcut menu. 2 In the Check Out window that appears, enter a checkout location and click Check Out. 3 Edit the asset. 4 When you’re finished editing, save the asset. To check in an edited asset as a new version 1 Select the asset, then do one of the following: • Click the Check In button in the Toolbar.
Your Final Cut Server administrator has configured the version control feature to meet your organization’s needs. To get more information on other ways to configure version control, contact your Final Cut Server administrator. Locking and Unlocking an Asset In Final Cut Server, locks function to protect the primary representation file, proxy files, and metadata in the asset. There are several types of locks. The User lock is the most obvious lock because it is the only lock that you apply manually.
User Lock You or another user can put a User lock on an asset by clicking the Lock button in the Toolbar or by choosing Lock from the asset’s shortcut menu. After a User lock has been applied to an asset, a lock icon (either “locked by me” or “locked by other”) appears on the asset’s thumbnail. Also, the lock that was applied is noted as a User lock in the Locks pane of the asset info window. The Locks pane shows the lock details.
Reference Lock When a Final Cut Pro project asset is checked out, the project asset is locked with a Checkout lock. In addition to the Checkout lock, each of the media assets linked to the project are locked with a Reference lock. Reference locks are not indicated on the media asset’s thumbnail; you can only find evidence of a Reference lock in the Locks pane in the asset’s info window. Note that there is no indication that this asset is locked. The Lock Type shows that this is a Reference lock.
After locking an asset, a lock icon appears on the asset, indicating that the asset is locked. In other Final Cut Server clients, the lock icon looks different, indicating that another user has locked the asset. The yellow lock indicates that you have locked the asset. The white lock indicates that another user has locked the asset. To unlock an asset that you locked Do one of the following: µ µ Select the asset in the Assets pane, then click the Unlock button in the Toolbar.
Writing Annotations on a Video Asset You can add annotations to a video asset. In the Annotations window, you can view a video clip and then add text at different points in the video clip. Because the annotations stay with the clip asset in Final Cut Server, annotations are useful for making notes for yourself or others in your workgroup. You can easily view these annotations in Final Cut Server. They stay with the asset until you manually clear the annotation.
You must mark an In point or an Out point for each annotation. 4 Position the playhead at the In point, either by dragging the playhead or using the navigation controls. Then click the Mark In button or press I on your keyboard. You can set an Out point using the same process. Drag this slider to locate frames of video. Click this button to open the asset’s info window. Use these controls to play and navigate through the video.
To replace the text of an existing annotation 1 Click the In or Out Point button in the Annotation list. The In Point button The Out Point button 2 In the Annotation text field, enter new text for the annotation. 3 Click Add Annotation. 4 A dialog appears, asking if you want to replace the annotation. Click Yes. The annotation is replaced. To delete one or more selected annotations from the Annotation list 1 Select one or more annotations you wish to delete.
To duplicate an asset 1 Control-click the asset, then choose Duplicate from the shortcut menu. The Duplicate window appears. 2 Choose a destination device from the Destination pop-up menu. If you want to place the duplicate file within the file structure of the device, click the Choose button and navigate to the appropriate location in the file browser. The destination file path appears in the Destination field.
The Jobs in Progress Indicator The Jobs in Progress indicator appears in the bottom-left corner of the Final Cut Server main window when files are being uploaded or downloaded. It looks like a spinning gear and indicates that a certain number of jobs are being performed. The Jobs in Progress indicator Click this button to display the Downloads & Uploads window.
µ To clear the jobs listed in the Downloads & Uploads window Click Clear in the bottom-left corner of the Downloads & Uploads window. The Search All Jobs Window You can get detailed information about each of the files being uploaded or downloaded in the Search All Jobs window. Unlike the Downloads & Uploads window, the Search All Jobs window contains a detailed history of the jobs Final Cut Server has performed.
The jobs that match your search criteria are listed in the Search All Jobs window. Remember that your search results may span several pages; you can navigate through the search results using the page controls at the far right. Setting Final Cut Server Client Preferences Your Final Cut Server administrator is responsible for configuring most of the preferences that affect you while working with your Final Cut Server client. However, there are a few settings that you can change in your client copy only.
• Items Per Page: Search results are divided into pages to make viewing more efficient. You can enter a value that defines how many items appear on each page. • Remember the last search: Select this checkbox to have Final Cut Server remember and run the last search that you performed the next time you log in. About Local Media Preferences The cache is where your local copies of media files are downloaded. It is not suggested that users view or move files that are in the cache.
About the Saved Aliases for Prepared Media Files Field Preparing media assets for disconnected use allows you to create alias copies of a media file that is stored in your Final Cut Server cache on a portable computer. You can use the alias files to create a new Final Cut Pro project while you are disconnected from the Final Cut Server network. You can set the location where Final Cut Server saves alias copies of the prepared media files in the Preferences window.
Working with Media Assets 6 This chapter explains how to edit media assets, including video clips, graphics, and image sequences, in applications other than Final Cut Server. You can edit a managed copy of a media asset by checking out the asset, editing the checked-out file, and then checking the edited file back in. A separate workflow is provided for preparing media files to be used in a new Final Cut Pro project that you create while disconnected from the Final Cut Server network.
When the asset is cached, the asset’s background changes to a lighter gray color (in Thumbnails view) or gets a dot icon (in List view). Asset 4_2, with the lighter gray background, is cached. 3236_03-Camera B-Color, with the dot next to it, is cached. In some situations, a file that is stored in your Final Cut Server cache may expire. When this happens, an icon appears on the asset, indicating that the file that is cached for that asset is expired.
µ To correct an expired cache Control-click the asset, then choose Remove from Cache from the shortcut menu. The icon disappears, indicating that the expired file has been removed from your Final Cut Server cache. You can change several settings for your Final Cut Server cache in Final Cut Server Preferences. See About Local Media Preferences for more information. Important: Final Cut Server manages the files in your local computer’s cache.
2 Do one of the following: • Select the asset, then click the Check Out button in the Toolbar. • Control-click the media asset, then choose Check Out from the shortcut menu or click the Check Out button. Click the Check Out button. 3 In the Check Out window that appears, choose a location to save the checked-out media file. 4 Click the Check Out button. 5 To open the file in its original application, do one of the following: • Drag the file from Final Cut Server to the application icon in your Dock.
9 If version control is turned on for the asset, a Check In window appears. If appropriate, enter a version comment and click Check In. See Adding Versions for a Media or Project Asset for more information about version control. The updated media asset is checked back in to Final Cut Server, and the checkout icon disappears from the asset thumbnail.
2 In the Final Cut Server Preferences window, verify the location at which the alias files will be placed. If you want to change the location, click Choose and enter a new location on your local computer, then click Apply Changes to save the new location. Click the Choose button. Alias copies of the media files are placed in the location specified in this field. 3 In the Assets pane, select the media assets that you want to prepare for disconnected use.
3 Edit the project. 4 When you have finished working on the project, save it. The last stage of this process is to upload the new Final Cut Pro project to Final Cut Server. When you upload the project, the media assets that you prepared for disconnected use are updated, if necessary, in Final Cut Server, the new Final Cut Pro project is uploaded as a new asset, and any new media files are uploaded to Final Cut Server as new media assets.
The file is uploaded and a new asset is created. The upload progress is displayed above the Information pane in the bottom-left corner of the Final Cut Server main window. 5 If you want to monitor the progress of the file upload, click the Downloads and Uploads button to display the Downloads & Uploads window. After the file is uploaded, select the Assets pane and click the Search button to view the new asset or assets created from the Final Cut Pro project file and any new media files.
Working with Final Cut Pro Projects 7 This chapter explains how to work with Final Cut Pro projects. You can edit Final Cut Pro projects by checking out the project asset, editing the checked-out file in Final Cut Pro, and then checking the edited file back in to Final Cut Server. A separate workflow is provided for editing a Final Cut Server–managed copy of a Final Cut Pro project while you are not connected to the Final Cut Server network.
A Final Cut Pro project asset is always linked to one or more Final Cut Pro sequences, as well as to the media that is used in the project. The element relationship allows multiple Final Cut Pro project assets to reference the same media assets. Click Elements in a Final Cut Pro project asset info window. Each element references an independent asset. Control-click an element to open the media asset’s info window.
Whether you are uploading a new Final Cut Pro project into Final Cut Server or checking an existing Final Cut Pro project asset back in to Final Cut Server, it’s important to understand the following: • Final Cut Server does not support folder hierarchies in the Final Cut Pro bin. Items you’ve organized in the Final Cut Pro bin come into Final Cut Server in a flat structure. • Final Cut Server does not recognize markers set in Final Cut Pro.
Final Cut Server cannot modify a Final Cut Pro project’s media links. While Final Cut Server is managing a Final Cut Pro project, media can go offline because the project asset was uploaded incorrectly, or because the media files went offline while the project was being edited in Final Cut Pro and was then uploaded with offline media.
If the Edit Proxy feature has been turned on by your Final Cut Server administrator, you will have the option to check out the original media or the Edit Proxy that was created. Using Original Media provides the video asset’s primary representation; using Edit Proxy provides the video asset’s Edit Proxy file. Important: The Edit Proxy feature must be turned on by your Final Cut Server administrator. If this feature has not been turned on, you will only be able to check out the original media.
The Final Cut Pro project asset is marked with the checkout icon in Final Cut Server. A copy of the project is downloaded to the checkout location you specified. All media linked to the checked-out project is added to the Final Cut Server cache. When the project is opened in Final Cut Pro, this locally cached media is used to automatically reconnect to the checked-out project.
The project asset is updated in Final Cut Server, and the asset remains checked out so you can continue editing it. If version control is enabled for the asset, a new version of the asset is created in Final Cut Server. About Using Media Manager with a Checked-Out Project Using the Final Cut Pro Media Manager to organize a project that is managed by Final Cut Server can cause various media management problems.
When you check in the project, a Check In window appears. If version control is turned on, the Version Comments field appears. Enter any appropriate metadata. Click Check In. 2 If version control is turned on, you can type comments in the Version Comments field. 3 If you have added new media files to the Final Cut Pro project, you can choose a metadata set for the new media asset and add metadata to any of the available fields. 4 When you’re ready to check in the project, click the Check In button.
c If the “Store and track versions of this asset” checkbox is not selected, select it. 2 Check out the Final Cut Pro project by doing one of the following: • Click the Check Out button in the Toolbar. • Control-click the asset, then choose Check Out from the shortcut menu. 3 In the Check Out window that appears, enter a checkout location and click Check Out. 4 Edit the Final Cut Pro project. 5 When you’ve finished editing, save the project.
When you check out a project, you get to choose the location to check the project out to. You also get to choose whether or not to include copies of the linked media assets at the checkout location. Select this checkbox to include copies of the linked media files at the checkout location. How you use these options depends on the device you are checking the project out to.
Note: To avoid losing track of checked-out projects, you can create a “Checked out Final Cut Server projects” or similar folder on the desktop or in another convenient location. 5 Click the Check Out button. The Final Cut Pro project asset is marked with the checkout icon in Final Cut Server.
Important: If you do not select the Keep Media with Project checkbox while checking out a project to an external drive, the media files will not be available for you to use later. Make sure that the Keep Media with Project checkbox is selected. 6 Click Check Out. The Final Cut Pro project asset is marked with the checkout icon in Final Cut Server. The project and its media files are checked out to the location on your external drive that you specified in the Check Out window.
4 If you want local copies of the media used in the project, select the Keep Media with Project checkbox. Select the Keep Media with Project checkbox. 5 Click the Export button. A copy of the project file is exported to the location you specified in the Export Final Cut Pro window. Important: Remember, you cannot check an exported Final Cut Pro project file back in to Final Cut Server. If you want to track this exported copy in Final Cut Server, you must upload the project file as a new asset.
Working with Final Cut Studio Projects 8 Working with Final Cut Studio project and media assets requires different strategies than working with Final Cut Pro project assets. This chapter explains how to check out; check in; and export Motion, Soundtrack Pro, and DVD Studio Pro projects and their linked media files. This chapter covers the following: • About Editing Final Cut Studio Project Assets (p. 117) • Checking Bundle Assets In and Out (p. 118) • Checking Projects and Media Files In and Out (p.
Checking Bundle Assets In and Out When you check out a bundle asset, the project file and its linked media files are all contained in the folder that appears at the checkout location. You can check out the bundle asset to any location and have access to the project and media files whether or not you are connected to Final Cut Server.
Tip: While you’re editing the Final Cut Studio asset, you can update it in Final Cut Server. Note that only the asset will be updated, and you will need to manually upload any new media files to Final Cut Server. After saving the asset in its original application, locate the asset in Final Cut Server, Control-click the asset, then Choose Update Asset from the shortcut menu. If version control is turned on for the asset, you can optionally enter a comment in the Check In window that appears.
If the Final Cut Server project upload was not explicitly organized with a production or keyword, you may need to download the project, open it in its original application, and then manually search for the media needed for the project. Then you can download each piece of media and edit the project. When you check the project back in, you can organize the project in a production and apply a project keyword.
After checking out all of the media assets, you can open the project file, reconnect the media files, and begin editing. If you will not be editing the media files, you can export the files. Because you can export multiple files, this is the faster choice. See Exporting a Project Asset and Its Media for instructions on exporting media files.
• Locate: Presents a dialog that lets you locate the missing file and reconnect it to the project. To reconnect Soundtrack Pro media files using the Locate option 1 In the Can’t Find File dialog, click Locate. 2 The window that appears displays the filename that needs to be reconnected as the window’s title. In the file browser that appears in the window, navigate to the file’s location. 3 When you’ve identified the file location, click Open. The file is reconnected.
Note: If you added any new assets to a project, you have to upload them separately. See Uploading Final Cut Studio Projects for more information. To check in a project asset 1 In the project’s original application, save the project to the checkout location. 2 In the Final Cut Studio application, save the project and choose to collect the media. In Motion and Soundtrack Pro, you can do this by choosing File > Save As and choosing to collect the media in the Save As window.
2 If version control is not turned on for the asset, the asset is checked in. If version control is turned on for the asset, a Check In window appears. If appropriate, enter a version comment and click Check In. See Adding Versions for a Media or Project Asset for more information about version control. The updated media asset is checked back in to Final Cut Server.
A copy of the folder that is contained in the bundle asset is exported to the location you specified in the Export window. To export a Final Cut Studio project asset and linked media assets that were uploaded as individual assets 1 Select the project asset and media assets. If the project and media assets were created using the recommended method, the assets should be grouped in a Final Cut Server production and have metadata that is unique to the project and media assets.
Using Status Metadata in the Final Cut Server Workflow 9 This chapter explains how to use the Status metadata field to aid in tracking assets through your Final Cut Server workflow. If your organization diligently updates the Status metadata field on each of its assets and productions, you can easily search for every asset and production that is in each stage of the workflow process. This chapter also discusses using emails to notify others when an asset’s Status metadata field is set to Ready for Review.
As your work progresses, you can perform searches to find assets that are in a particular phase of the workflow. Final Cut Server comes with several preconfigured Smart Searches that make it easy for you to find recently modified assets or assets with their Status metadata field set to Ready for Review. Click this Smart Search to see all assets with Status set to Ready for Review. Click this Smart Search to see all assets you have checked out.
As your workflow grows and changes, you can create your own Smart Searches to use to speed up your work. Or your administrator can create Smart Searches to be used by the members of your workgroup. For more general information about Smart Searches, see Using Smart Searches. Applying Status Metadata to an Asset or Production You can apply status and other metadata when you upload the file or after the asset or production has been created.
4 Choose the appropriate Status setting from the Status pop-up menu. Choose a Status setting from the Status pop-up menu. Click Save Changes. 5 Click the Save Changes button. The metadata is modified. Searching for Assets or Productions Using Status Metadata After defining the status of an asset or production, you can search for status metadata to find all assets or productions that contain a particular Status metadata setting.
µ To search for assets or productions that have the Status metadata field set to Ready for Review Click “Assets ready for review” or “Productions ready for review” listed under the My Smart Searches heading. Smart Searches for the Assets pane Smart Searches for the Productions pane About the Review and Approve Feature The Review and Approve feature works in conjunction with the Status metadata field.
Important: Your Final Cut Server administrator must configure this feature before it works as described in this section. You can set the Status in the Metadata or Review & Approve pane. Click Review & Approve to enter comments and email addresses. Depending on how your administrator configured the Review and Approve feature, you can enter comments and email addresses here.
Sending Review Emails to Administrator-Defined Reviewers In this configuration, the Final Cut Server administrator manually enters each required reviewer’s email address during setup. As a result, the Final Cut Server user does not see the list of required reviewers and cannot manually enter email addresses in the “Required reviewers” field of the Review & Approve pane.
3 If you want to add notes to the email, you can type them in the “Editor’s comments” field. Change the Status metadata field to Ready for Review. Type comments in the “Editor’s comments” field. When you’re ready to send the email notification, click Save Changes. 4 When you are ready to send the email notification to the required reviewers, change the Status metadata field to Ready for Review. Note: The Status metadata field is available in both the Metadata and the Review & Approve panes.
2 In the asset or project info window, click the Review & Approve button to open the Review & Approve pane. 3 If you want to add notes to the email, you can type them in the “Editor’s comments” field. 4 Enter a full email address for each of the required reviewers for this asset in the “Required reviewers” field. Change the Status metadata field to Ready for Review. Enter a full email address for each of the required reviewers. When you’re ready to send the email notification, click Save Changes.
4 Enter a full email address for each of the required reviewers. The addresses that you enter are added to the list of reviewers that was set up by your Final Cut Server administrator. Enter a full email address for each of the required reviewers. Important: Remember, your Final Cut Server administrator also defined a list of reviewers who will receive every email sent from the Review & Approve pane.
Exporting, Archiving, and Deleting Completed Assets and Projects 10 This chapter covers the final steps of working with an asset: outputting a final copy and creating backup copies of assets. It also explains how to delete assets and productions from Final Cut Server. This chapter covers the following: • Outputting a Final Project (p. 137) • Archiving and Restoring Media Assets (p. 140) • Deleting Assets from Final Cut Server (p.
2 In the Export window, choose a destination to save the media asset to by clicking the Choose button and identifying a location in the file browser. Click the Choose button to change the export location. If desired, choose a transcode setting. Click Export. 3 If desired, choose a transcode setting. 4 Click the Export button. The media asset is exported to the location you specified in the Export window.
3 Do one of the following: • If the Edit Proxy feature has not been turned on: Original media will be used by default. • If the Edit Proxy feature has been turned on: Choose Original Media or Edit Proxy from the Use pop-up menu. This defines the media type that will be exported. 4 Select the Keep Media with Project checkbox to include the media files in the export. Important: If you don’t select the Keep Media with Project checkbox, only the Final Cut Pro project asset is exported.
3 In the Multiple Export window, choose a destination to save the media files to by clicking the Choose button and identifying a location in the file browser. Note: To avoid losing track of exported projects, you can create a folder for the project and its media on the desktop or in another convenient location. 4 Do not choose a transcode setting. 5 Click the Start button. Each of the selected media files is exported to the location you specified in the Multiple Export window.
Deleting Assets from Final Cut Server When you delete an asset from Final Cut Server, you delete the asset’s primary representation file, the proxy files that were created for the asset, and all the metadata associated with the asset. Because a single asset can be linked to one or more Final Cut Pro or other project assets, deleting assets should be approached with caution. You should only delete assets from Final Cut Server if you are certain that the asset will not be needed.
Appendix Solving Problems This appendix provides information to help you solve problems you may encounter while using Final Cut Server. This appendix covers the following: • Resources for Solving Problems (p. 143) • Contacting AppleCare Support (p. 143) Resources for Solving Problems If you run into problems while working with Final Cut Server, there are several resources you can use to find a solution.
Note: The 11-digit Support ID number is different from the product serial number used to install Final Cut Server. • The version of Mac OS X you have installed. To find the version, choose Apple menu > About This Mac. • The version of Final Cut Server you have installed that you have a question about. To find the version of Final Cut Server on your computer, choose Final Cut Server > About Final Cut Server. • The model of computer you are using. • The amount of RAM installed in your computer.
Glossary Glossary alias file An alias file is a small reference file that links to the master or original file. Final Cut Server uses aliases to represent assets in productions and creates aliases when preparing assets for disconnected use. archive After a project or production is finished, you can use the archive feature to move the assets from their current device to an archive device, which can be a FireWire drive, a large slower drive, or another volume where disk space is not an issue.
device Devices are storage locations. They can be folders in a local volume on the server computer, network volumes, or folders from an Xsan volume. edit-in-place Generally, in order to use an asset from the Final Cut Server catalog on a client’s computer, the computer must have a local copy of the asset. An exception is if the device that contains the asset is configured as an edit-in-place device and the client computer has it mounted as a volume.
primary representation This is the original media file that was uploaded to Final Cut Server. production To help organize the assets in your Final Cut Server catalog, you can create productions. Productions can be nested within each other to create production hierarchies, and productions can contain asset aliases. project Many of the applications in Final Cut Studio use project files, which use one or more linked media files to create a project. Final Cut Server tracks project files with project assets.
