Apple Final Cut Express HD - Manual (Page 962)

962 Part XII Output
How to Output to Tape in Final Cut Express HD
There are two main ways you can output your video from Final Cut Express HD to tape:
 Print to Video
 Recording to tape directly from the Timeline
Print to Video
Print to Video is generally the best option. Many digital camcorders and VTRs can be
triggered to record automatically as soon as you begin the Print to Video operation.
You need to connect a FireWire (for DV) cable between your computer and video deck
to use this option.
The Print to Video command allows you to begin recording wherever the tape is
currently cued. You can’t set a precise Out point on the tape, so there is almost always a
break in the video signal on tape at the Out point after recording. To avoid your movie
cutting off abruptly as soon as it ends, you should include some black after your
program, either by adding slug to the end of your sequence or by including some
trailing black, which is an option available in the Print to Video dialog.
Recording to Tape Directly From the Timeline
This method allows you to record whatever signal is currently playing on your editing
system, regardless of the quality. Simply connect the video output of your computer
(FireWire or third-party video interface) to a VTR or camcorder, enable external video
monitoring in Final Cut Express HD, and press the record button. Whatever happens in
the Timeline is recorded to tape. This is useful for recording rough cuts directly from
the Timeline or when you want to record any real-time adjustments you make in the
Viewer, Canvas, or Timeline.
This method is convenient for quick output at any time, but may display low-quality
video and unrendered sections of the Timeline. The quality of video output is based on
the real-time settings of the your editing system and the current Timeline, so high-
quality video is not guaranteed. Use this method to quickly create work-in-progress
tapes when you aren’t concerned about output at the highest quality.