… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #406: What’s the Best Way to Backup a Project?

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

There are two options to backup a project. Which is best?

Duplicate Project is faster, Duplicate Project as Snapshot is a better choice.

Topic $TipTopic

One of the big benefits of Final Cut Pro X is its ability to instantly save whenever you do something. Which is fine, most of the time. But, what if you want to make a protection copy of just a single project? Now you have two options:

  • Duplicate Project.
  • Duplicate Project as Snapshot.

Which do you use? Duplicate Project as Snapshot. (To view this menu, Control-click the Project image or name in the Browser.)

These each create an identical protection copy until you are using multicam or compound clips. When you duplicate a project as a snapshot, Final Cut Pro embeds copies of compound or multicam “parent” clips in the duplicate, so any changes to other instances of those clips do not affect the duplicate.

If you work on projects that contain compound clips and multicam clips, you can use the Duplicate Project as Snapshot command to create a self-contained backup version of a project that includes referenced compound clips or multicam “parent” clips. Changes you make to other instances of the compound clips or multicam clips do not affect the versions in the duplicate, so your project is protected from accidental changes.


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Tip #449: Display Scopes on a Second Computer Monitor in FCP X

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

A second computer monitor is a big help when editing video.

Video scopes displayed vertically on a second computer monitor running FCP X.

Topic $TipTopic

Tip #392 showed how to use a second computer monitor attached to your Mac when editing with Final Cut Pro X. One of the benefits of using a second monitor is that it allows us to display both a larger video image in the Viewer and much larger video scopes. Here’s how.

NOTE: Displaying Final Cut Pro X to a second monitor is always full-screen; you can’t scale the interface.

  • Display the Viewer on the second monitor.
  • Type Cmd+7 to display video scopes. (They appear on the second monitor along with the Viewer.)
  • Go to the View menu in the top right corner of the video scopes and change them to a vertical alignment (top row, second box).

Depending upon the size of your monitor, you can display a 4K image full screen, and still have room for the scopes.

Cool.


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Tip #411: What Do the Color Wheel Controls Do?

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Color can be controlled for the entire clip or isolated to shadows, mid-tones or highlights.

The four color controls in a Final Cut Pro X color wheel.

Topic $TipTopic

Each color wheel in Final Cut Pro X has four controls. These color controls can apply either to a selected clip, a group of clips, or a mask within a clip. As well, they can apply to the entire clip or isolated to shadows, mid-tones, or highlights.

From left to right, these are:

  • Saturation. This determines the amount of color in the selected clip or mask. Drag up to increase the amount, or down to decrease.
  • NOTE: As you drag the Hue puck, the color of the Saturation slider changes to reflect the change in hue.

  • Hue. Drag this dot out of the center to apply a color shift to the image. To add red, drag up left, drag right to add blue or down left to add green. The farther from the center this dot moves, the more intense the color.
  • NOTE: Press Option while dragging this puck to reduce the amount of change while dragging.

  • Luminance. Drag this triangle up to boost luminance, down to decrease it.
  • Hooked arrow. This resets all color values to their defaults, which makes no changes to an image.

EXTRA CREDIT

It is possible to alter these settings and exceed the legal range for the color space of your project. Always use the video scopes when making corrections.


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Tip #425: Apply LUTs in Final Cut Pro X

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

LUTs convert raw sensor data into pleasing images.

The Camera LUT menu, in the Info Inspector inside Final Cut Pro X.

Topic $TipTopic

A LUT (Look-Up Table) is a data table that converts raw camera sensor data into an attractive image. While we generally don’t use them for Rec. 709 HD footage, we use them all the time for RAW, Log, and other HDR media.

The reason LUTs exist is that most sensors capture more color and gray-scale data than our monitors can display. LUTs allow us to convert and optimize an image for a particular scene or display. Final Cut Pro X supports two types of LUTS:

  • Camera LUTs. These convert from camera log format to the working color space of the current library. Camera LUTs are created by camera manufacturers and shipped with their cameras.
  • Custom LUTs. These allow us to create, import, or share custom looks for our video clips or projects. Custom LUTs are created by DPs, colorists, anyone, in fact, that wants to tweak their images using 3rd-party LUT software.

To apply a LUT:

  • Open the Info Inspector.
  • At the bottom, switch from Basic to General.
  • Scroll about 1/3 the way down to Camera LUT, then, from the menu, select the one that matches your camera or your look.

With LUTs, you either like the look or your don’t; there’s nothing to adjust.

EXTRA CREDIT

There are hundreds of 3rd-party LUTs you can add to Final Cut. Look for those in the CUBE or MGA format.


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Tip #426: How to Add a 3rd-Party LUT to Final Cut Pro X

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

FCP X supports any LUT in the CUBE or MGA format.

Applying a custom LUT using the Info Inspector inside Final Cut Pro X.

Topic $TipTopic

A LUT (Look-Up Table) is used to convert camera sensor data into an image worth looking at. LUTs are a part of the color grading process and much faster than adjusting color settings, then rendering a clip or a project.

While LUTs have been in still image photography for a long time, they are only recently making their way into video. While FCP X ships with a number of LUTs, here’s how to add custom LUTs to your system.

Once you’ve purchased and/or downloaded a custom LUT, you can import it into FCP X by selecting the Add Custom Camera LUT option. Remember, it must be in either .cube or .mga format. (CUBE formats tend to be more popular.)

NOTE: LUTs are NOT stored in the Final Cut Library file. This means that if you move the library, you will need to copy and move the LUTs separately. Store your LUTs in a place that will allow you to find them again.

EXTRA CREDIT

You can create your own LUTs using Photoshop, which we cover in Tip #427, or 3D LUT Creator.


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Tip #367: How to Render a Portion of the Timeline

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Rendering creates temporary files that smooth playback.

The two render options in Final Cut Pro X.

Topic $TipTopic

This article first appeared as an Apple KnowledgeBase article. This is an excerpt.

Rendering is the process of creating temporary video and audio files for segments of your project that Final Cut Pro cannot play in real time. When you add effects, transitions, generators, titles, and other items, they require rendering before you can play them back at high quality.

By default, background rendering begins 5 seconds after you stop moving the pointer in Final Cut Pro, and it even continues while you work in a different app. Rendering only affects the clips that need it.

To render your project in Final Cut Pro, do one of the following:

  • Render a portion of your project: In the timeline, select the clip or clips that you want to render, then choose Modify > Render Selection (or press Control-R).
    Note: The selection must be a clip selection, not a range selection.
  • Render all portions of your project that need rendering: Choose Modify > Render All (or press Control-Shift-R).

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Tip #378: Rename Clips in Batches

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Batch renaming converts clip names into something more understandable.

The Info inspector, illustrating where to apply custom file names using a batch.

Topic $TipTopic

This article first appeared as an Apple KnowledgeBase article. This is an excerpt.

When you import media into Final Cut Pro, the clips often contain meaningless names, such as those assigned by the camera. Although you can rename clips individually, you can also rename a selection of clips as a batch in the browser, after the media has been imported. Final Cut Pro provides customizable naming presets that make renaming large numbers of clips efficient and easy.

To rename a batch of clips, using a naming preset:

  1. In the Final Cut Pro Browser, select the clips you want to rename.
  2. If the inspector isn’t already shown, do one of the following:
    • Choose Window > Show in Workspace > Inspector (or press Command-4).
    • Click the Inspector button in the toolbar.
  3. Click the Info button at the top of the inspector.
  4. In the Info inspector, click the Apply Custom Name pop-up menu and choose a naming preset.

The clips selected in the browser are renamed.


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Tip #400: Speed Your Audio Mixing in FCP X

Carsten Ress – www.sonarixfilm.de

Faster ways to control audio levels

Adjusting an audio range in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Topic $TipTopic

These shortcuts help to adjust audio levels in a fast and precise way. I use them all the time when I am doing some audio mixing in Final Cut Pro X.

  1. Ctrl and +/- keys: Select a whole clip or a range with the range tool and use the + / – key while pressing the Ctrl key to increase or decrease the audio level in 1 dB steps.
  2. Cmd + Drag: Hold down the Command key while dragging the audio level line up or down for “slower” / more precise control.
  3. Range-Tool: In order to change the audio levels of a section within a clip use the range tool (R). Mark the section you want to change and then drag the line within the section up or down. The necessary keyframes will be generated automatically when you start dragging.
  4. Option + Arrow keys: Select one or several keyframes. Use the up / down arrow keys while pressing the Option key to increase / decrease the selected keyframe(s) in 1 dB steps.

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Tip #342: Uses for Emoji in Final Cut Pro X

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Emojis give an entirely different look to info-graphics and titles.

A portion of the emoji panel in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Topic $TipTopic

It started with macOS Sierra, but for those who, like me, didn’t get the memo, we can now add emojis to titles in Final Cut Pro X. It couldn’t be easier – here’s how.

  • Place your cursor in a text clip where you want an emoji to appear.
  • Type Control + Cmd + Spacebar.
  • Double-click any emoji icon to add it to your title at the position of the cursor.

Very cool – and very easy.


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Tip #379: Change Gradient Colors

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Fonts don’t need to be white. You have LOTS of options.

The gradient color picker for text in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Topic $TipTopic

This Tip is an excerpt from a longer Apple KnowledgeBase discussion of gradients.

Normally, text in a title or generator has only one color – and the default is white. However, you can replace the solid color with a gradient, then change the colors of the gradient. We have LOTS of options. Here’s how.

  • Select the text clip.
  • Select the text you want to modify in either the Inspector or the Viewer.
  • In the Text Inspector, scroll down and show Face.
  • Change Fill with to Gradient.
  • Twirl down the arrow next to Gradient to reveal the gradient color picker.
  • The top white bar represents opacity over time. Generally, leave that alone.
  • Click one of the color squares at the bottom to select it.
  • Either click the color chip, or the arrow next to the color chip, to display a color picker (there are two different options, depending upon where you click).
  • To add another color to the gradient, click once in the thin horizontal color bar.
  • Drag a color square to change the gradient.

Once you start playing, you’ll discover all kinds of things you can do with this gradient color tool.


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