Have you tried using markers? I use them. Think about them as a post-it or note on things to do or correct. As you are working the timeline do you see something that needs to be done, but you do not have time now. Make a marker, press ‘M’ ‘M’, use the marker name for the note; ‘check the color on image’, insert photo’ or ‘check spelling of name.’ Then keep on working and come back later.

Do you have a problem with your footage and need to cover up the video portion. Use a marker to indicate the area to cover. Start by pressing ‘M’ at the beginning of section then move the pointer to the end of the section. Press ‘Option’ and ‘~’. [that funny thing, upper left on the keyboard] (now a drum roll please) A green marker the length of the section. Oh by the way, take the time to make a marker label to remind yourself of the reason for the marker.

You name the marker by pressing ‘M’ , ‘M’. Perhaps you are going to put this video on a DVD. Now is your chance to make the marker a ‘chapter’ marker. Just like the chapters in a book, you can make chapters for your DVD. When people play your DVD they can skip forward by chapters to find the part they want.

Those markers you made about things to fix. When you fix it, delete the marker. When all the markers are gone, you are ready to review the video.

Remember ‘work smart’. Waldo

Thanks for the tips, Waldo!

Please note that markers may not travel with your media if deletions are made. Final Cut Express does not (to my knowledge) have the equivalent of the Ripple Sequence Markers toggle button that Pro offers. I would suggest double checking your marker points before you export for iDVD, etc.

Yes Peter you are right.

Plain old markers only exist on the project. And if you delete a portion of your video and the video moves, the markers stay in the same place (not changing location on the timeline). Not helpful.;-(

Chapter markers can be exported to programs like iDVD and such, because they understand the markers.

Scoring markers are used for Sound Track Pro. I cheat in Final Cut Express and use them for places where I want music or take an action with music.

Compression markers are used by Compressor to aid in the processing. If you know about GOPs and I-Frames and codecs then these can be important. Normally most folks do not use them.

In Final Cut 7 (Studio 3, expensive) markers can take on a lot more, but most folks using the COWs will not be using FCP7.

'Lets talk housekeeping' is coming in January. Work smart. Waldo.