As opposed to using network logins when we do work like video editing, we log on using 'local logins' instead. These logins depend on the block of media that the student is in; for example, the username on the Mac will be 'MediaA' if the student's lessons are in A block, 'MediaB' for the ones in B block, and so on, with the password matching the username for each account. Even though this is the same for every Mac in the classroom, each device's login is a local one, meaning that all of the files associated to it are on that specific device's hard-drive. The Mac's are setup like this order to make the editing on the device as smooth as possible - due to the very often large sizes of the files used in video editing, if a student was to edit with all the files used being from a network, it would be very slow because of the size. However, if the files are being taken from the local hard-drive, it becomes a lot quicker and smoother, due to the reliance on the internet speeds to be able to reach the files needed being removed.
- Mounting the SD card and ejecting it safely -
When an SD card is in a device, removing it properly isn't as simple as just taking it out. This is because pulling an SD card out of the computer it is in could result in the storage device becoming corrupted, meaning that all of the files being stored on it would be lost and the card itself may become simply unusable. In order to avoid any damage to the device or any risk of losing the files stored on it, you would need to 'eject' the SD card before removing it from the computer. There are multiple ways to do this on a Mac, but one of the easiest ways can be done by opening up a 'Finder' window, then going to the 'locations' section of the window and finding the external storage device (which in this case is the SD card). Hovering your mouse over its name should make a grey circle appear to the right of it, like the one shown in the image below. To make the device 'safe' to remove, the grey circle needs to be clicked, and once the device's name disappears from the locations tab, the card is then okay to be manually removed from the Mac without any damage or file loss occurring.
- Creating appropriate folders in the in the appropriate place on the Mac hard drive -
Before transferring all the footage needed to edit the video, it is best to create folders for them to be placed into on the Mac's storage. Probably one of the best ways to sort the footage into files is by having a folder for each date footage was recorded. This way, when editing, you will easily be able to determine when each clip was filmed and which one is needed when looking for a specific piece of footage from a certain date. Personally, I used this technique along with splitting the footage into categories of what part of the video they were for, as my video could've been split into multiple categorised sections - the intro/outro clips, shots taken in the classroom, and shots taken in the mini studio. These were all made under one main folder, which included every single part of the project within it.
- Transferring footage onto the Mac -
Once the folders have been created on the Mac, you will be able to transfer your files from the SD card you have been using to store them into the appropriate places you have just created. To do this, it is easiest to open up two finder windows and place them next to each other on the desktop, one for the place you want to move the clips to, and one for the area of the SD card where the clips are currently. Simply highlight the files you want to move, either by holding down the command key and clicking on each one or by dragging the mouse over all of them with the left click held down, then drag them into the file you want them to be in which is open in the other finder window next to it. Once all the files you need are transferred onto the Mac, you can format the SD card to remove all the files currently on it in order to make room for new ones.
- Setting up the Premiere Pro project with the correct settings -
Once every piece of footage and every file you need for the project is on the hard drive in the folders you have allocated, you can begin the editing stage. However, before you are able to begin editing the footage, the program needs to be set up correctly. To start creating the project file which you will be using throughout the rest of the editing process from this point on, you will need to select 'New Project' once Premiere opens up. Clicking this will then open up a window like the one shown in the screenshot below, where you are able to edit and change the projects name, location it will be stored, and other general and more advanced settings. There are a few of the features on this window that must be set up in the proper way; to start with, it is always best to title the name of the project as something relevant and memorable to what is being edited, so you won't forget what the file is. As well as this, make sure to set its location as a relevant place (like in a folder with all of the other assets needed for the project), which is almost if not just as important as creating the project's name properly.
As for the other settings shown in this window, the only other section which needs to be changed as it is really important to have done correctly are the settings under the 'Scratch Disks' section. The only thing you need to make sure is chosen here is the for every setting, the option 'Same as Project' is selected for each. This is important, as if they are not set this way, there is a possibility that the programme may struggle to open the project due to finding all of the things it needs to find becoming a struggle. Once all of this is done the way it needs to be and the project is properly set up, you can select ok in the bottom right of the window to create the new project.
- Importing footage into the project in appropriate bins -
Before you can start editing the assets you have on Premiere. you will of course need to import all of the media into your project - this is very easy to do. Simply double clicking on the panel at the bottom-left of the screen in Premiere when you are in the 'editing' layout of the programme will open up your computer's file viewer, where you can select the files from the folders you have already created to import. Once everything you want is imported, which should be easy as they are already all in one place on the Mac's hard drive, you have the choice to put them into bins appropriate for what the assets are. For example, you could create bins for the dates of each time footage was recorded, the types of footage they are, where hey were filmed, and so on.
- Ensuring that the bins on Premiere Pro mirror the folders on the hard drive of the Mac -
It is likely best in this situation to place all of the assets in your project into bins relevant to the dates they were created or found, reflecting the way you have already sorted everything on the hard drive itself. This is recommended due to the fact that it makes things like finding the footage in the editing programme once it has been placed on the computer much easier, as they will just be in the exact place you have put them when you originally moved it over to the Mac. This can save time and any frustration that might arise when it comes to struggling to find the exact files you want to place on the timeline while editing.
- Importing Creative Commons sounds -
One specific type of asset you may choose to use in your project is a piece of audio (music or sound effect) you have not created yourself, but have instead found online. The types of these pieces of audio which are allowed to be used in your own work are called 'Creative Commons' sounds, often known also as 'Royalty-free'. These are pieces of music or sound effects which have been created by somebody and then published online, often to site likes Bensound or Incompetech. These people then allow others to use the audio they have made, with no payments of money needed to do so, but instead simply a request from the creator for the person using the music to give them credit for the audio in some shape or form. (This can be done by placing the audio creator's name and website links in a YouTube description, at the end of the video, or any other way which gives them clear credit for their piece of work).
- Creating titles and other graphics -
Making things like text layers, simple blocks of colour or other types of graphics similar is vey easy to do on this editing programme. If, for example, you wanted to create a layer of text to appear in the video, like some subtitles of the name of someone seen in the video for a lower third graphic, all it takes is going to the 'graphics' button at the top left of the programme's window and clicking on it to get the drop down menu associated with it. Then bring your cursor down to the 'New Layer' option. With this option, you are given the opportunity to create a layer of horizontal or vertical text which you can edit to be the exact way you want it to be (font, size, colour, etc...). You are also given the option to make a rectangle or circle (or 'ellipse' as it is called here) graphic, which you are again able to edit and adjust to however you want them to look.
Excellent, thorough work, at Distinction level. Well done.
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