So how do you get your GoPro footage into Final Cut Pro X at the moment? Import from the card and convert? Quick, but not the best as the new GoPro Studio 2 application does a lot more.
We have to admit that we just suck our footage straight off the card into FCPX and let it do the conversion to ProRes 422. A few days ago, GoPro announced Studio 2, an application that prepares the footage before importing it into your NLE of choice. We thought this is an unnecessary step, but after watching a demo on the very flash GoPro stand (every stand should have a Formula 1 car!), we think this method is probably the best route to take with GoPro footage.
So why use the application?
1) If you shoot Protune then the app will convert the footage into the Cineform codec and keep the high 10bit rate. Importing straight from the GoPro into FCPX and not using the app can result in lower quality video with artefacts.
2) Non-destructive colour correction can be applied to the footage. Presets can be applied and 'looks' copied and pasted from different projects.
3) This footage then gets imported into FCPX and as long as you don't optimise, the footage stays 'live'. By this we mean that if you adjust the colour correction in GoPro Studio 2 and save, this is automatically reflected in FCPX. So when it comes to grading a show across multiple editors, one person could grade the entire set of GoPro footage and this would be consistent across all timelines. We did the update a few times on the stand and it's instant, no re-importing, no relinking.
So the Cineform codec isn't on the list of supported codecs for FCPX.? Correct, but this forum post may clear things up.
4) The Studio app has a built in fisheye fixer. Yes people are paying money for plugins for this to be done in FCPX, when the free version of the app will do it for you. GoPro has done all the maths for you, no approximations or tweaked bulge filters in Motion to tinker with. The application reads the metadata from the camera and knows which field of view and frame size was used. Click one button and it's fixed and precise. The free app will zoom to lose the edges, the paid apps will show the curved edges which will need to be masked off or the footage zoomed.
5) Should you shoot a timelapse on a GoPro, it will automatically put the images into an exportable movie.
As you can see, there is a lot more to the application. The template themes idea is cool and will appeal to the user who wants to edit their footage down to a short presentation with graphics without having to go through an NLE. It could become the easiest way to get your cat videos on YouTube! Joking aside, we know many users who will use this path to edit their GoPro footage together. The app comes with two preloaded templates, but there are a further nine to download from the website. Each has prebuilt cuts to music, speed effects and titles.
Also notch one more up on the FCPX count on the stands.
The app is available in three flavours. The free version will do all the colour correction, fisheye fixing and, should you want to, templating. A Premium version at $299 supports more cameras and a Pro version at $999 will do multicamera and prep the files for 3D editing. We can only find the free GoPro Studio 2 app on the website at the moment.
Don't forget the free wifi app that can control a huge bank of GoPros Hero3s!
I am the Editor-in-Chief of FCP.co and have run the website since its inception ten years ago.
I have also worked as a broadcast and corporate editor for over 30 years, starting on one inch tape, working through many formats, right up to today's NLEs.
Under the name Idustrial Revolution, I have written and sold plugins for Final Cut Pro for 13 years.
I was made a Freeman of Lichfield through The Worshipful Company of Smiths (established 1601). Though I haven't yet tried to herd a flock of sheep through the city centre!
Current Editing
2020 has been busy, the beginning of the year was finishing off a new property series (cut on FCP) for Channel 4 called The Great House Giveaway. I also designed and built the majority of the graphics as Motion templates. It has been a great success and the shows grabbed more viewers in the 4pm weekday slot than any previous strand. It has been recommissioned by C4 for 60 episodes, including prime-time versions and five themed programmes. The shows have also been nominated for a 2021 BAFTA.
Although both were postponed to later in the year, I worked again on ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta. 2020 was my 25th year of editing the TdF and my 20th year as lead editor. The Tour was the first broadcast show to adopt FCPX working for multiple editors on shared storage.
BBC's Snooker has played a big part in my life, I've been editing tournament coverage since 1997. I'm proud to be part of a very creative team that has pioneered many new ideas and workflows that are now industry standard in sports' production. This is currently an Adobe Premiere edit.
Covid cancelled some of the regular corporate events that I edit such as trade shows & events. I was lucky however to edit, from home, on projects for Amazon Kindle, Amazon Black Friday, Mastercard and very proud to have helped local charitable trust Kendall & Wall secure lottery funding.
As for software, my weapon of choice is Final Cut Pro and Motion, but I also have a good knowledge and broadcast credits with Adobe Premiere Pro, MOGRT design and Photoshop.
Plugin Design & Development
I'm the creative force behind Idustrial Revolution, one of the oldest Final Cut Pro plugin developers. It hosts a range of commercial and free plugins on the site. One free plugin was downloaded over a thousand times within 24 hours of release.
I also take on custom work, whether it is adapting an existing plugin for a special use or designing new plugins for clients from scratch. Having a good knowledge of editing allows me to build-in flexibility and more importantly, usability.
FCP.co
Now in its 10th year and 4th redesign, running FCP.co has given me knowledge on how to run a large CMS- you are currently reading my bio from the database! Although it sounds corny, I am pretty well up on social media trends & techniques, especially in the video sector. The recent Covid restrictions has enabled live FCP.co shows online. This involves managing a Zoom Webinar through Restream.io to YouTube and Facebook.
The Future
I'm always open to new ideas and opportunities, so please get in touch at editor (at) fcp.co. I've judged film competitions, presented workflow techniques to international audiences and come up with ideas for TV shows and software programs!
