Final Cut Server Release Notes

Introduction

Updated versions of Release Notes may be published as versions of Final Cut Server are released or as new information becomes available. You can check for updated information from within the Final Cut Server client by choosing Release Notes from the Help pop-up menu.

For the latest information about product updates, tips and techniques, and qualified third-party devices, visit the Final Cut Server website at http://www.apple.com/finalcutserver.

For the latest support information from AppleCare, choose Final Cut Server Support from the Help pop-up menu in the Final Cut Server client. To receive automatic notification about new support issues, use Safari to bookmark the AppleCare Final Cut Server RSS page at feed://rss.support.apple.com/finalcutserver. See Safari Help for more information about configuring RSS feeds.

To join with other Final Cut Server users in discussing issues related to using Final Cut Server and the Final Cut Server client, visit the Final Cut Server discussion website at http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=240.

Final Cut Server 1.1 Release Notes

This section contains release information about Final Cut Server 1.1.

QuickTime 7.5 and Final Cut Pro 6.0.4 Support

Final Cut Server 1.1 requires QuickTime 7.5. It is required that you install QuickTime 7.5 on the server computer and on all client computers before using Final Cut Server 1.1.

Final Cut Pro 6.0.4 has been enhanced to support Final Cut Server 1.1. If your organization uses a Final Cut Pro project workflow, it is required that you install the Pro Applications Update 2008-02 on each client computer running Final Cut Pro before using Final Cut Server 1.1.

Issues Relating to Final Cut Pro Project XML Resolved

Final Cut Server 1.1 provides a Final Cut Pro project’s binary file when a Final Cut Pro project asset is checked out. This change eliminates several intermittent issues that occurred while checking Final Cut Pro projects in and out of Final Cut Server 1.0.

Updating a Checked Out Asset

While editing a Final Cut Server asset in another application, you can quickly update the asset in Final Cut Server.

If you are editing a Final Cut Pro project, any new media that is added to the project is uploaded to Final Cut Server when the project asset is updated. If you are editing a Motion, DVD Studio Pro, or Soundtrack Pro project, only the project asset will be updated, and you will need to manually upload any new media files to Final Cut Server. See the Final Cut Server User Manual for information about how to upload a Motion, DVD Studio Pro, or Soundtrack Pro project’s media files.

To update an asset while editing it in another application:

  1. Save the file in the application in which you are editing it.
  2. In Final Cut Server, control-click the asset and click Update Asset. If version control is turned on for the asset, the Check In window appears. Optionally enter a comment and click Check In.

The asset is updated in Final Cut Server, and the asset remains checked out so you can continue editing it. If version control is enabled for the asset, a new version of the asset is created in Final Cut Server.

Reanalyze Final Cut Pro Projects with Edit Proxy Files After Updating to Final Cut Server 1.1

The edit proxy files created for a Final Cut Pro project's media clips in Final Cut Server 1.0 must be recreated after Final Cut Server 1.1 is installed. An administrator can recreate a Final Cut Pro project’s edit proxy files by analyzing the media clips that are used by a Final Cut Pro project.

Issue When Opening Final Cut Pro Projects Resolved

A Final Cut Pro project file’s preferences are now preserved when the project is checked in and out of Final Cut Server.

Issues Relating to Multi-Byte Character Sets Resolved

Multi-byte character sets (used to represent characters, including characters used in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) are now correctly displayed in custom metadata.

Final Cut Server Setup and Administration Guide Documentation Update: Event Type Filters

Final Cut Server administrators use events to trigger responses. When setting up a poll watcher, a search expired response, or a subscription for an asset, job, production, or system, you are prompted to choose an event type to trigger the desired response.

You can choose one of the following event types:

  • Analyzed: Select this event to filter a response when an asset is analyzed. During an analysis, Final Cut Server extracts a variety of metadata from an asset and then creates one or more proxy files for the asset. Files are typically analyzed at upload, though an analysis can happen at any time.
  • Copied: Select this event to filter a response when an asset is duplicated.
  • Created: Select this event to filter a response when an asset is created in the Final Cut Server catalog.
  • Custom 1, Custom 2, Custom 3: Custom events can be created as part of a search expired response. Select this event if you are configuring a search expired response.
  • Deleted: Select this event to filter a response when an asset is deleted from the Final Cut Server catalog.
  • Modified: Select this event to filter a response when an asset is altered; for example, when an asset’s metadata is changed.
  • Unmatched: This item is reserved for internal use by Final Cut Server 1.1.
  • Warning: Select this event when configuring the “Check the disk space of the database volume” response.

Final Cut Server 1.0 Release Notes

This section contains release information about Final Cut Server 1.0.

Accessing a Final Cut Pro Project File from Within Final Cut Server

When you upload a Final Cut Pro project to Final Cut Server, two discrete files are created: a copy of the original Final Cut Pro project, which serves as the file’s primary representation in Final Cut Server, and another copy of the project encoded in Final Cut Pro XML Interchange Format. Final Cut Server uses this latter, modified XML file for many of its operations.

This graphic shows a Final Cut Pro project info window, and calls out the project's primary representation and modified XML.

If, after checking out or exporting a Final Cut Pro project, it appears different than the project you uploaded, you can easily access and retrieve the original project file from within Final Cut Server.

To retrieve a copy of a Final Cut Pro project file from the Final Cut Server client:

  1. In the Final Cut Server main window, double-click the project asset.
  2. In the project info window that appears, click Resources, then locate the primary representation file for the Final Cut Pro project in the Representations area of the Resources pane.
  3. Control-click the primary representation, then choose Retrieve Media from the shortcut menu.
  4. In the Save window that appears, identify a location to save the Final Cut Pro project file, then click the Save button.

The Final Cut Pro project file is saved to the location you identified. Keep in mind that when you retrieve the Final Cut Pro project using these steps, you will have to gather the project’s media files and relink the project’s media when you open the project in Final Cut Pro.

Application Support Available in French

A Final Cut Server support site in the French language will be available soon after Final Cut Server is released at http://www.apple.com/fr/support/finalcutserver. The site includes links to the Final Cut Server User Manual, Final Cut Server Setup and Administration Guide, and Release Notes.

Supported Web Browsers for Windows Vista and Windows XP

Final Cut Server supports Windows Internet Explorer 7 and Safari for Windows.

Note: Final Cut Server does not support Internet Explorer 6. To use Internet Explorer with Final Cut Server, you must upgrade to Internet Explorer 7.

Install Java Runtime Environment on a Computer Running Windows Vista or Windows XP Before Opening the Final Cut Server Client

If your computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP does not have Java Runtime Environment installed and you attempt to download the Final Cut Server client, Final Cut Server prompts you to download Java Runtime Environment 6, Update 4 or later. After installing Java Runtime Environment 6, Update 4 or later, Final Cut Server prompts you to download Apple QuickTime.

Note: If your computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP already has Java Runtime Environment installed, see the next section.

To download Java Runtime Environment 6, Update 4 or later on a computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP:

  1. Enter the Final Cut Server URL provided by your administrator in Internet Explorer 7 or Safari for Windows. A page appears, advising you that Java Runtime Environment 6, Update 4 or later is required to run the Final Cut Server client, and a dialog titled Information Bar appears.
  2. In the Information Bar dialog, click Close.
  3. Click the link provided on the page to manually download Java.
  4. In the next page that appears, click the Free Java Download button to start the download.
  5. If you are using Windows Vista, the User Account Control dialog appears. Click Continue.
  6. In the “Internet Explorer Add-on Installer - Security Warning” (for Windows Vista) or “Internet Explorer - Security Warning” (for Windows XP) dialog that appears, click Install.
  7. Follow the instructions in the Java installer that appears.
  8. After Java is installed, a page appears, asking you to verify the Java installation. Click the Verify Installation button.

After the Java installation is verified, you are notified that the installation has been completed successfully.

To install QuickTime on a computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP:

  1. In Internet Explorer 7 or Safari for Windows, go to http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download.
  2. Select QuickTime 7.4.1 for Windows Vista or Windows XP, enter your email address (optional), then click the Free Download Now button.
  3. In the File Download - Security Warning dialog that appears, click Run.
  4. In the Internet Explorer - Security Warning dialog that appears, click Run.
  5. Follow the instructions in the QuickTime installer that appears.

QuickTime is installed on your computer. You can now open the Final Cut Server client.

Remove and Reinstall QuickTime Before Opening a Final Cut Server Client on a Computer Running Windows Vista or Windows XP

If you have updated Java Runtime Environment after installing QuickTime on your computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP, you need to remove and reinstall QuickTime. Additionally, you may have seen an error message saying that Apple QuickTime or the QuickTime Java component is not installed on your computer. Removing and reinstalling QuickTime on your computer corrects this issue.

A free download of QuickTime for Windows is available on the Apple website.

To uninstall QuickTime from a computer running the Windows Vista operating system:

  1. In the Start menu, choose Control Panel.
  2. In the Control Panel window, select Classic View.
  3. Double-click the Programs and Features icon.
  4. Select QuickTime, then click the Uninstall button in the Toolbar.
  5. In the Programs and Features dialog that appears, click Yes.
  6. In the Add or Remove Programs dialog that appears, click Yes to verify that you want to remove QuickTime from your computer.
  7. In the User Account Control dialog that appears, click Allow.

QuickTime is removed from your system.

To uninstall QuickTime from a computer running the Windows XP operating system:

  1. In the Start menu, choose Control Panel.
  2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the Add or Remove Programs icon.
  3. In the Add or Remove Programs window, select QuickTime. When you select QuickTime, additional information appears.
  4. Click the Remove button.
  5. In the Add or Remove Programs dialog that appears, click Yes to verify that you want to remove QuickTime from your computer.
  6. If the computer is running any programs that use QuickTime, a dialog appears, asking you to approve shutting down all programs that are using QuickTime. Click OK.

QuickTime is removed from your system.

To reinstall QuickTime on a computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP:

  1. In Internet Explorer 7 or Safari for Windows, go to http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download.
  2. Select QuickTime 7.4.1 for Windows Vista or Windows XP, enter your email address (optional), then click the Free Download Now button.
  3. In the File Download - Security Warning dialog that appears, click Run.
  4. In the Internet Explorer - Security Warning dialog that appears, click Run.
  5. The QuickTime installer appears. Follow the instructions in the installer.

QuickTime is reinstalled on your computer. You can now open the Final Cut Server client.

Opening the Final Cut Server Client on a Computer Running Windows Vista or Windows XP

If you install the Final Cut Server client on a computer running the Windows Vista or Windows XP operating system, the Final Cut Server client does not open automatically.

To manually open the Final Cut Server client on a computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP:

  1. In Internet Explorer 7 or Safari for Windows, enter the URL provided by your Final Cut Server administrator.
  2. Click the Download button to download the Final Cut Server client (Final Cut Server.jnlp).
  3. Locate and double-click the Final Cut Server.jnlp file icon. In most cases, the .jnlp file will have been downloaded to your desktop.

The Final Cut Server client is installed on your computer and the Final Cut Server login screen appears.

For more information about downloading the Final Cut Server client, enter the URL provided by your Final Cut Server administrator in Internet Explorer 7 or Safari for Windows and click the Help button.

Uploading a Final Cut Pro Project That Contains a SmoothCam Filter

If you upload a Final Cut Pro project that uses the SmoothCam filter, the analyze file created from it is not uploaded to Final Cut Server. When you check out the project asset from Final Cut Server for editing, Final Cut Pro automatically re-analyzes the SmoothCam filter to recreate the project’s analyze file. This analyze process could take some time.

Uploading a Final Cut Pro Project That Contains Render Files

If you upload a Final Cut Pro project that contains render files, the render files are not uploaded to Final Cut Server. After checking out or exporting a Final Cut Pro project, you will need to rerender the files in Final Cut Pro.

Including File Extensions When Uploading Video Files to an FTP Device

In certain situations, files that are uploaded to a Final Cut Server FTP device without filename extensions will not upload successfully. It is recommended that you include file extensions on all files uploaded to Final Cut Server.

Uploading a Final Cut Pro Project That Uses a Motion Master Template

It is recommended that you upload Final Cut Pro projects that contain a Motion master template only to edit-in-place devices.

Uploading Image Sequences

You can upload an image sequence—a set of still images that are used for motion graphics—to Final Cut Server as a bundle asset. The bundle asset can be checked out, edited, and checked back in to Final Cut Server; it can also be exported from Final Cut Server. However, when you upload a folder of files to Final Cut Server as a bundle asset, the files that the bundle asset contains cannot be viewed individually and are not available as separate assets in Final Cut Server.

For more information about uploading a folder of files as a bundle asset, see the Final Cut Server User Manual.

To upload an image sequence to Final Cut Server as a bundle asset:

  1. Move your still image sequence into a folder, then drag that folder into Final Cut Server.
  2. A dialog appears, asking if you want to upload the folder as a bundle asset or as individual assets. Click Create Bundle Asset.
  3. In the Link Upload window that appears, choose a metadata set for the asset from the Metadata Set pop-up menu.
  4. Add metadata to one or more fields, defining this as a bundle asset that contains an image sequence.
  5. If necessary, choose a new destination device from the Destination pop-up menu.
  6. Click the Upload button to create the bundle asset.
  7. After the bundle asset is created, select the Productions pane, click the production you created, and click the Search button to view the new bundle asset in Final Cut Server.

Searching for an Asset by Its Location

Using the advanced search options in Final Cut Server, you can search for an asset by entering the name of the device on which the asset is stored in the Stored On advanced search field, and the asset’s relative path (starting from the device on which it is stored) in the Location advanced search field.

Note: If the asset is stored on a device that uses a Contentbase file system, you can search for it by entering the name of the device on which the asset is stored in the Stored On advanced search field.

Checking Out or Exporting a Final Cut Pro Project That Contains a Text Generator Clip

After you check out or export a Final Cut Pro project that contains a text generator clip from Final Cut Server and open the project in Final Cut Pro, the text generator clip reverts to its default clip name. However, the text used in the text generator clip is not affected and appears correctly in the video shown in the Canvas. To correct the text generator clip name, rename the text generator clip in the Browser or Timeline.

Creating Edit Proxies

You can configure Final Cut Server so that it automatically creates edit proxy video files when you upload Final Cut Pro projects. You can then choose to copy the original media or the edit proxy files to your computer when you export or check out these Final Cut Pro projects.

If Final Cut Server is not configured to create edit proxy files, you cannot manually create these edit proxy files for Final Cut Pro projects that have already been uploaded. You must remove the project and all of its source media from the Final Cut Server catalog and upload them again after you have configured Final Cut Server to create the edit proxy files. See the Final Cut Server Setup and Administration Guide for information on configuring the Proxies pane of the Administration window’s Preferences pane.

Note: Edit proxy files use the Apple ProRes 422 codec and are most useful when your original video is uncompressed. In that case, the edit proxy file sizes will be smaller than the original files. If the original video files already use some form of compression, such as the DV codec, edit proxy file sizes may actually be larger than the original media files.

About Devices That Use Passwords

If you need to create a network-based device that requires a password, you need to configure the password using Device Setup Assistant in the Final Cut Server System Preferences pane. You can use Device Setup Assistant to configure the passwords on devices created with the Final Cut Server client’s Administration window as well as devices created with Device Setup Assistant.

SMTP Server Support

Final Cut Server supports only Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) servers that do not require authentication.

June 10, 2008
Copyright © 2008 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.