This article was first published in the January, 2010, issue of
Larry's Final Cut Pro Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

William Aleman provides this update:

[Last month, Ben Balser asked a question on how to retain chapter markers in H.264 video.] I've successfully exported the Chapter Markers to iTunes, iPod, and QuickTime players without any extra steps or work around using FCP 6.0.6

I think that the missing step in the process here is that the users are not adding or converting the editing markers in FCP's Timeline to "Chapter Markers" before they export the self containing QuickTime Movie. Following are the steps.

Create the Timeline Markers

Convert the Timeline Markers to Chapter Markers in the Edit Marker dialog by clicking the Add Chapter Marker button.

Export a self-contained QuickTime Movie.

Important note: When you want to include markers as part of your export from FCP, it is essential to select DVD Studio Pro Markers in the Export dialog. Otherwise, your markers will not export properly. Larry.

Second Note: Reference movies do not retain chapter markers, only self-contained movie do.

Compress the exported movie to H.264. (It has a .m4v file extension.) and add the H.264 movie to iTunes

In iTunes 9 Menu, next to Help, in the top right is the Chapter menu. Click and hold it down to reveal the chapters list.

The second method to display chapter markers is in the iTunes and QuickTime transport. Click and hold down the chapter icon in the right side of the playback transport.

To display the chapter markers in iPod:

• Double click the center button in the iPod. A bar containing little divided rectangles will appear. Each division correspond to each chapter.
• Press the back or forward button in the iPod to display and navigate to the chapters.

One more thing: The chapter tab doesn't appear in iTunes Menu until a video with chapters is in playback or pause mode.

Larry replies: Thanks!

Larry Jordan is a post-production consultant and an Apple-Certified Trainer in Digital Media with over 25 years experience as producer, director and editor with network, local and corporate credits. Based in Los Angeles, he's a member of both the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.

The information in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication. However, the author assumes no liability in case things go wrong. Please use your best judgment in applying these suggestions.

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