
Final Cut Server continuously scans your network to identify and catalogue production assets. It creates the catalogue for you, generates “browse” proxies and thumbnails, and keeps the catalogue up to date as you work.
Asset discovery process
Just identify the folders or directories that contain your assets, then sit back while Final Cut Server automatically identifies asset types, captures metadata, and generates your catalogue. When the system discovers a Final Cut Pro project, the catalogue lists the project and creates a reference to each asset. It catalogues image sequences as a single video asset, with a reference link that gives you direct access to the source image files.

Working with Image Sequences
Manage an image sequence as a single asset or access each file. Watch the video
Broad format support
Final Cut Server supports a wide range of file formats, file systems and media storage devices. You can catalogue Final Cut Studio project files as well as proposals, budgets, project plans, scripts, storyboards, shot lists, video and audio clips, images, graphics and more.

Automatic proxy and thumbnail generation
When Final Cut Server catalogues video clips, it also generates “browse” proxies, poster frames, and thumbnails and associates them with the original asset. You can now choose different browse proxy formats for different types of source media, allowing you to avoid unnecessary recompression or proxy creation. If you want, Final Cut Server can simultaneously create edit proxies for clips in Final Cut Pro projects, using the efficient new ProRes 422 (Proxy) format or another format of your choice.

Simultaneous metadata capture
Final Cut Server extracts and captures most forms of industry-standard metadata as it catalogues — including QuickTime, IPTC, XMP and XML data. It also now captures and displays metadata from standard audio files such as AIFF, WAV and more. To make information consistent across the catalogue, use a simple mapping feature to translate metadata from different formats. You can also add metadata to items in the catalogue manually.
Drag-and-drop uploads
Drag files from the Finder to the Assets pane. Drag an asset directly into a Production to add it to the catalogue and the Production at the same time. Or use the Upload window to choose files to add to the catalogue. Final Cut Server begins the cataloguing process immediately. When you bring in a Final Cut Pro project, Final Cut Server catalogues only new assets, creating a reference link to assets that are already in the catalogue.
Automated synchronization
Set up a schedule for scanning folders on your drives and volumes, and Final Cut Server does the rest. When Final Cut Server sees changes to assets in those folders, it updates the catalogue. Because the asset catalogue references files rather than copying them to a single location, you can organise assets on your drives any way you want and still enjoy the benefits of Final Cut Server.