Working with QuickTime

QuickTime is software that allows you to play dozens of different types of files, including audio, video, and graphics. QuickTime files can originate from any number of video formats or sources.

Playing QuickTime Files

When you begin to input and capture your DV material into your computer, Final Cut Express HD automatically creates QuickTime files from the video. Any length of tape you import is turned into a file. Each file is referred to as a clip and is usually only a portion of the whole tape. QuickTime clips can include video, audio, or video and audio. You will often see or hear a QuickTime file referred to as a QuickTime movie, and sometimes you will see the extension .mov at the end of the QuickTime filename.

During the course of editing in Final Cut Express HD, QuickTime will be used in many ways. As mentioned, when you input source material into your computer, Final Cut Express HD automatically creates QuickTime files or clips from this material. If you want to export a single frame from your video to use in a graphics program such as Adobe Photoshop, you use QuickTime to convert the video image to a graphic file such as TIFF or PICT. When you output something you have edited, you also use QuickTime to create the file. You will work more with QuickTime options in later lessons.

1.	Click the Lesson 2 Media folder in the third column of your Finder window, single-click the jimbo name QuickTime file (or clip) in the fourth column, and click the Play button in the Preview area. The clips are listed alphabetically. Tip Remember you can enlarge the Preview column to see a larger image by dragging the double vertical lines in that column. This QuickTime clip contains both audio and video.
2.	In the Cooking folder, select the peppers in pot clip and play it the same way. This clip has no audio, so there is no speaker icon in the controls beneath the image area.
3.	In the Music folder, select the surfing voices clip and play it. This clip has no video, so the video image area does not appear. But a play bar appears with the same controls to listen to the audio.
4.	Change the volume on the music clip. Tip You can also double-click the QuickTime clip icon to open and view the clip in a QuickTime Player window.

Viewing File Size

Extra seconds can add up very quickly in terms of computer space. So be sure to choose shots you think you will actually use to edit your project. Although everyone's hard drive capacity is different, it is helpful to keep a simple piece of information in mind as you weed through your source material looking for good shots to transfer to your computer: 5 minutes of DV footage takes up approximately 1 GB (1024 MB) of hard drive space.

1.	In the Lesson 2 Media folder, select the with dad long clip and play it.
2.	Look at the file size and duration in the Preview area.
3.	Select the with dad short clip and play it. This clip has been pared down to exclude the unusable material.
4.	Compare the file size and duration of the two clips. Note It's a good idea to have a few seconds of media on either side of the action of a clip. These media handles give you options during the editing process. The right balance is getting all the important action or dialogue, plus a little more for handles.