Apple Pro Training Series: Getting Started with Final Cut Server

Designed for video-production professionals, Final Cut Server sets the standard for intuitive media asset management, making it easy to manage large collections of media files efficiently. In this Apple-authorized reference guide, system integrator Matthew Geller takes you on a comprehensive tour of the software, covering everything from tools for tracking, reviewing, and approving jobs to automating complex sequences of tasks in a busy post environment. Along the way, Geller shares essential workflows that will shave hours from your post-production jobs. You’ll learn techniques for searching, cataloging, and finding the right asset quickly, as well as how to handle large quantities of real-time HD video, audio, and still image assets in a fast-paced production environment. Administrators will find a comprehensive overview of how to set up and configure this powerful collaboration tool, how to customize it to serve individual sites, and how to automate workflows and manage storage locations, users, and groups.

Table of Contents:
SECTION 1: Using Final Cut Server Chapter 1 Final Cut Server Philosophy         Philosophy Overview – What is Final Cut Server?         Client / Server / Device paradigms and diagrams         Asset / Production / Metadata / Job paradigms and diagrams         User / Group paradigms and diagrams Final Cut Server Interface         System Requirements – Minimum/Recommended         Downloading and Installing Final Cut Server (Java Client)         Logging into Final Cut Server         Interface Overview – Callouts of each section Chapter 2 Working With Assets Getting Assets into Final Cut Server     Drag & Drop Techniques     Scanning     Using Watch Folders     Adding & Editing Asset Metadata Searching for Assets within Final Cut Server^     Understanding Search methods     Search Terms     Viewing multiple items     Using Context Menus – with Callouts Enriching Assets in Final Cut Server     Adding & Editing Asset Metadata – with Callouts     Annotating Assets – with Callouts     Locking / Unlocking Assets     How to Re-Analyze Assets Getting Assets out of Final Cut Server     Previewing Assets     Understanding the Cache to Use button     Drag & Drop Techniques     Checking Assets Out and In     Archiving / Purging Assets     Understanding the Copy Function Chapter 3 Working with Final Cut Pro Projects Adding FCP Projects to Final Cut Server     Drag & Drop Techniques     Using the Create Final Cut Pro Asset Button     Viewing Project Elements             Viewing and Editing Project Metadata     Adding Elements to Projects     Annotating Elements – with Callouts Shot-Selection for Clip Media     Shot Selection Window – with Callouts     Saving Shot-Selection as FCP Sequences     Making frame stills Check-Out and Check-In             Checking Out a Project             Identifying who has checked out a project             Checking In a Project         Archiving and Restoring Projects Chapter 4 Working with Productions Creating Productions     Production Types             Viewing and Editing Production Metadata     Adding Assets to Productions         Searching for Productions – refers back to skills taught             in "Searching for Assets," above             Viewing and Working with Production Assets Chapter 5 Working with Devices    Searching a Device for Media – refers back to skills taught         in "Searching for Assets," above Viewing Device Content     Viewing Individual Files     Viewing File Details – with callouts Chapter 6 Working with Jobs    Searching Jobs – refers back to skills taught         in "Searching for Assets," above         Viewing Job Details – with Callouts         Job Retry             Automatic             Manual             Viewing and Troubleshooting logs         Adjusting Final Cut Server Preferences    SECTION 2: Basic Final Cut Server Administration (System Preferences Admin Area) Chapter 7 Administration Overview The role of Final Cut Server administrator Final Cut Server Background Administration Tools within the System Preferences Pane         The Administration Tabs Defining Groups and Permissions         Using Workgroup Manager to create users and groups         Adding Open Directory Groups to Final Cut Server         Assigning Permission Sets to Groups         Refers to docs for defining Permission Sets Defining Devices         Preference Pane Overview         When to use Local / Network / Xsan         Understanding Scan & Transcode Settings         Refers to Docs for Java Client method         Refers to Appendix for details on specific devices Defining Watchers         Preference Pane Overview         Refers to Docs for Java Client method Defining Metadata Subscriptions         Preference Pane Overview         Refers to Docs for Java Client method SECTION 3: Advanced Final Cut Server Administration Chapter 8 Administration Tools within the Final Cut Server Interface         The Administration Tabs Defining Transcoding Settings         Creating Custom Transcoding Settings in Compressor         Creating and Editing Transcoding Settings         Linking Settings to Multiple Devices Defining Devices         FTP Servers         Network Filesystems         Xsan         Remote Final Cut Servers Defining Watchers         Creating and Editing Watchers     Defining Scheduled Events         Creating and Editing Scheduled Events Defining Metadata Subscriptions         Creating and Editing Metadata Subscriptions Defining Responses and Response Details         To Subscriptions         To Scheduled Events / Scans         To Watchers         Metadata Field Substitution         Copying         Scanning         Purging         Emailing         Defining Job and Log age Adding / Editing Metadata Metadata paradigms and diagrams Creating and Editing Metadata Fields Creating and Editing Lookups for Metadata Fields Creating and Editing Metadata Groups for Metadata Fields Creating and Editing Metadata Sets Modifying Specialized Metadata Groups             Editing Thumbnail, Tile and List View Sets             Editing Asset and Production Filters Adding / Editing Permission Sets         Permissions paradigms and diagrams         Creating and Editing Permission Sets Admin Preferences         Preference settings overview Chapter 9 Workflow Scenarios         Various Common Workflows         Paradigms, Diagrams and Instructions         Appendix I. Installation Best Practices A list of prerequisites to make the most out of an FCS implementation.     • Using VPNs for outside access     • Proper DNS and Open Directory Configuration     • Customer Profiles: how to pick the best one     • FCS as NAS Head vs. FCS as Xsan Citizen     • Limiting Bandwidth on Final Cut Server II. Final Cut Server Resources III. Glossary V. Index

About the Author :
Matthew Geller is a Chicago-based systems integrator, consultant, and all-around technology therapist specializing in digital video post-production installations. He is a certified instructor and courseware author for Apple and helped form the Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group. Matthew is the author of Apple Pro Training Series: Xsan Quick Reference Guide, and co-author of Apple Pro Training Series: Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System.