Final Cut Pro Countdown

[justinruess]

Ok here it is. I know this has probably been discussed a million times, but with doing a search, I couldn't quite find what I was looking for. Here is the deal:
I purchased a Mac last year with the hopes of doing some video editing, so I ofcourse got Final Cut Pro with it. Well it didn't go as planned, and I do more graphic and web design more than video. Now our church wants to create some countdown timers of our own, so they call on me.

I have found one plugin that allows me to create a countdone timer, but you have to pay for it and I really don't want to do that right now. Is there a way to create a longer countdown (3-5 minutes) through what FCP already has or a free plugin that anyone knows of or an easy tutorial on the web somewhere.

I did go to school for video production, So I know how to use FCP and most Windows video editing programs. This is just something they don't teach you at College... so yeah.

Thanks in advance for any and all of your help!

Justin

[Steve G.]

I do not know the answer for that question, but I am right with you,
I was also wondering about that.

You could use make a timecode counter in FCP that would countdown.

But Aftereffects would make whatever you want in a few minutes.

[Steve G.]

hey,

I tried the timecode generator in FCP, it looks ugly and count up not down.

could you tell us more about after effects.

[[Admin] skstarkiller]

I have a couple chroma timers in my gallery in the MXC.

[justinruess]

Yeah, I had thought about just going with After Effects, I have a v6.5 for windows, but don't have my PC anymore... I might just load it on a computer at church and do it that way... I was just hoping for a nice Mac solution.

ste g: If you want to find out how to create one in After Effects: see this thread:
Creating Countdowns?

[Steve G.]

Originally Posted by skstarkiller

I have a couple chroma timers in my gallery in the MXC.

I don't have after effects, where are the coundowns phil ?

[voyager529]

Originally Posted by ste g

hey,

I tried the timecode generator in FCP, it looks ugly and count up not down.

could you tell us more about after effects.

Ste g osaurus, you miss the beauty of the timecode generator!

First, you make your timecode. i haven't done it with FCP, but you should be able to change your font or w/e to make the numbers look nice. add a nice 2-4 color gradient and you've got your numbers!

Now, put it on track 3 or 4 of your timeline. set the speed to -100% or play backwards or however they term it in FCP.

Below that, add jumpbacks, stills, or whatever else you'd like. try different video effects on your timecode and see what you get. Keyframe for some interesting results!

Boris Graffiti has a nice 14-day demo that can generate a timecode with more customizability then you'll probably ever need. And yes, it's cross platform and universal binary

Joey

[sempei13]

You just missed the fact that you need to nest the sequence that has the timecode generator in it. You can't reverse the count until you do this, since the timecode generator isn't designed to do reverse timecode. You also need to crop out the "tcg +" that will be to the left of the numbers.

Paul

[voyager529]

Originally Posted by sempei13

You just missed the fact that you need to nest the sequence that has the timecode generator in it. You can't reverse the count until you do this, since the timecode generator isn't designed to do reverse timecode. You also need to crop out the "tcg +" that will be to the left of the numbers.

Paul

YEEEEHAAAWW!!!

(doing victory dance) Paul's BaaaAAck! Paul's BaaaAAAck!


Good to hear from ya...I'm a lil' rusty on fcp

Joey

[sempei13]

I'm back-ish. But anyway, click here to download a FCP (3.0) document which has a 2:00 countdown created by using the time code generator (on a black background, but you get the idea).

Paul

[voyager529]

Originally Posted by sempei13

I'm back-ish. But anyway, click here to download a FCP (3.0) document which has a 2:00 countdown created by using the time code generator (on a black background, but you get the idea).

Paul

I hope that was directed at the other guys, 'cuz there's a reason why my FCP skills are so fuzzy - Apple hasn't release a Windows version for me to buy yet!

Joey