Apple Final Cut Express 4 - Manual (Page 898)

898 Part X Real Time and Rendering
Choosing Real-Time Playback Versus Rendering
Here are some practical examples of when you might use real-time playback versus
rendering during the course of editing your movie.
To monitor video or output to tape with perfect playback of all effects in a sequence
(with no dropped frames and full-resolution video):
1 In the RT pop-up menu in the Timeline, choose Safe RT, so there’s a checkmark next to it.
The Safe RT mode ensures that effects play back at the quality level and frame rate
you specify.
2 In the Playback Video Quality section of the RT pop-up menu, choose High, so there’s a
checkmark next to it.
This option may force you to render your effects (sections of your sequence that need
to be rendered are indicated by a red render bar in the Timeline).
The following workflow is usually acceptable when you want to output a rough cut to
tape to present it to other people. Use this method when you want to get an idea of
what your video looks like, even if it’s not displayed perfectly.
To monitor video or output to tape regardless of the quality of effects
(frames may drop occasionally):
1 In the RT pop-up menu, choose Unlimited RT, so there’s a checkmark next to it.
2 In the Playback Video Quality section of the RT pop-up menu, choose Dynamic, so
there’s a checkmark next to it.
3 In the Playback Frame Rate section of the RT pop-up menu, choose Dynamic, so there’s
a checkmark next to it.
4 Choose File > Print to Video, or enable your external video output and record directly
to tape from the Timeline.
For more information, see Chapter 64, “ Printing to Video and Output from the
Timeline ,” on page 993.
Using RT Extreme for Video Output
By default, Final Cut Express renders video at full quality before you perform a Print to
Video operation. For more information, see Chapter 64, “
Printing to Video
and Output from the Timeline ,” on page 993.