Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express HD: Tips for HDV Print to Video

If you want to get the best quality with HDV Print to Video, here's a check list of things to do or note before starting:

• In System Preferences, configure Energy Saver to never sleep and make sure the "Put hard disks to sleep whenever possible" option is not selected.
• Quit all applications, except for Final Cut Express, including applications running in the background (Mail, Safari, iChat, desktop toys, and such).
• Do not interrupt the Print to Video operation in any way (including clicking the mouse or typing on the keyboard).
• Don't daisy-chain devices to FireWire drives. For example, you shouldn't connect an iPod to your FireWire drive's FireWire port during the Print To Video process.
• Don't use a FireWire 800 cable to connect your camera.
• In System Preferences, configure the screen saver to never start in the Desktop & Screen Saver pane (turn off any other third-party screen saver too).
• Unmount any active server volumes.
• Make sure that the camera is ready before beginning the Print To Video process.
• Print to video may not yield the same frame-accuracy with HDV as other formats. To ensure all your frames are output to tape when using Print to Video, allow up to an extra second of leader or black before your program material.