A couple of questions
 

Okay, I've watched all the Jordan and Izzy training videos and played with it since about a week after it came out. I haven't tried anything serious with it because I'm not comfortable enought, yet.

My questions:

1. I need to start a 56:40 project. How do I set the project length and mark it?

2. The project is destined for DVD and also DIgi-beta (I know... but there are still clients who insist). How do you suggest getting this from FCP X into DIgi-beta if there's no output to tape?

In advance, my humble gratitude.

Re: A couple of questions
 

Don't know the answer to the first question, but the second one is easy.

Just export a full length, full quality quicktime, and output it to tape on whatever system you previously used.

If you didn't previously have a system (or have uninstalled it), you can generally play out with the software that comes with your Video IO card as well.

One more step, but not a hugely cumbersome one as long as your workflow is prepared for it.

Re: A couple of questions
 

Here's what I would try. Either make a gap clip at the head of your storyline or drop in your opening clip. From there, append a gap clip the length that you want your project to be, possibly even setting a marker down in time at the specific point. This would be a "connected clip" but you could have this below the storyline instead of above it. This way you can have a time ruler to see how far you have left to edit, without it sliding around on you in the storyline.

Too bad there's no timeline marker. Hmm...

Re: A couple of questions
 

That can't be what Apple intended. I must be missing something.

But I wound up doing it like that. It was very difficult to get to a precise time and mark it... kept going slightly beyond or slightly short. And now I can't figure out how to name the marker. The Help files don't help.

I dunno. I think this software isn't ready for primetime yet. At least for me, anyway.

Re: A couple of questions
 

I think the Magnetic Timeline has a lot of good benefits to it. But the ability to edit something that has a predetermined length definitely isn't one of them. Wish I had an answer for you...

Re: A couple of questions
 

Not being able to edit to a precise time, or even just making the process difficult is... not well thought-out, and limits the potential of this program for serious work. That can't be what Apple intended. Why would they omit such a basic capability? I must be missing something.

Re: A couple of questions
 

Wait. If you make that gap clip a compound clip, you can open it and edit inside the compound clip. That will be your hard duration and won't edit past the time set.

Re: A couple of questions
 

There you go. Now we're getting somewhere. Thanks.