Types of files that you can commonly use in Final Cut Pro:Audio CD tracks (.aif or .aiff - common music CD files)Image files (.jpg, .gif, .tiff, .png, .psd, etc.)Other audio files (such as .wav or .mp3) Video files (such as .mov)
FILES YOU CANNOT IMPORT or easily use in Final Cut Pro: DVD movies (such as from a DVD designed to play in a DVD player) Proprietary media files, Flash Animations or Movies, and some other internet/web type media files such as WMV, RealPlayer, or Mpeg-1) REMEMBER - ALL CLIPS, FOOTAGE, AND OTHER FILES THAT YOU WILL BE USING IN YOUR PROJECT MUST BE STORED ON YOUR SCRATCH DISK (EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE)BEFORE IMPORTING ANY FILES FOR USE IN YOUR PROJECT, YOU MUST COPY THEM TO YOUR EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE, AND THEN IMPORT THEM FROM THE HARD DRIVE The example below is for taking a music track from an audio CD, copying it to an external hard drive, and then importing it into a Final Cut Pro project.
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Mac
G5/Mac Pro |
CD/DVD tray located on the front of the computer. USB flash drives can be inserted into the USB port on the keyboard.To open the CD/DVD tray (or remove a disk that is not in use by an application), press the "EJECT" key on the keyboard. |

If Final Cut Pro is running, first quit or "hide" the application before continuing. |
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Now, insert the audio CD (or data CD/DVD or USB flash drive) into the computer. Its icon should show up on the desktop. |
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Inserting a disk MAY cause the application iTunes or DVD Player to automatically start. If this happens, quit the iTunes or DVD Player application before proceeding. |
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Double-click the icon of the disk or flash drive, and a window will open, displaying its contentsDouble-click the icon of your EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE, to display its contents as well.
Then - CLICK, DRAG, & DROP the desired file over to your HARD DRIVE to make a copy of it.
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Once the file or files have been copied, EJECT your disk or flash drive by selecting its icon on the desktop and then pressing the "Eject" key. |
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Now re-open, or "un-hide" Final Cut Pro and select "Import > Files" from the "File" menu. |
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Next, in the "Choose a File" pop-up window, find the file you have just copied to your External Hard Drive, select it, and click "Choose" at the bottom of the window. |
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Your imported file is now listed in the browser window, and is available to use in your project.
(Don't forget to SAVE....)
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Different types of files have different icons in the browser window |
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Repeat these steps to import additional filesContinue on to "Part 4: Editing" using the link below.... |
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Pt. 1:Scratch Disk & Start Up |
Pt. 2:Log and Capture |
Pt. 3:Importing Audio & Other Files |
Pt. 4:Editing |
Pt. 5:Print to Video (Output to Tape) |
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