… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #383: Quick Fix Using Add Freeze Frame

Patrick Flaherty

Freeze-frames are a great way to solve problems.

Add Freeze Frame is a choice in the Edit menu.

Topic $TipTopic

Recently I re-opened a project that I had finished. When I played it on the timeline I got the “sorry I lost your media” red card warning. (I think it was pointing to a .PNG that I had created that was probably not imported correctly in the first place.)

I was in a hurry to get this video re-posted so I chose not to do an extensive search to find the missing link. My solution was to choose Edit > Add Freeze Frame.

I clicked on the last frame of the video before the red area and created a freeze frame. I then trimmed the freeze frame to make sure the video was still the same length. There was sound under so I just made it look like an artistic choice and the problem was solved.


Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #320: Should You Copy or Link to Media?

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Copying is safer, linking is more flexible.

Media import options with Final Cut Pro X.

Topic $TipTopic

There are two options when importing media into Final Cut Pro X: “Copy to library” and “Leave files in place.” Which should you use? The short answer is that copying files is safer, while linking files is more flexible.

  • Copy files to library. This copies all media into the Library. This means that wherever you move the library, the media travels with it. There is no lost media and nothing gets unlinked.

I recommend this option for all new users. However, the downside is that the Library file becomes very big (which is not a problem in-and-of-itself) and that you are doubling the storage needed for all your media.

  • Leave files in place. This creates links in FCP X that point to where your media is stored. This keeps the library smaller, but if you move the library you also need to remember where all your media is stored and move it as well. If you don’t, links break and media in your project won’t play.

This option is preferred when media is shared between libraries, when storage capacity is limited, or when multiple editors are using the same media.

Personally, I use Leave files in place, but I am also VERY careful to keep track of where all my media is stored.


Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #331: Export & Translate Subtitles

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

The key is to work with your subtitles as plain text.

Topic $TipTopic

Carsten Ress sent this in:

I was looking for a way to export subtitles (in a closed captions format) from FCP X as text, send it to translation, then import it back again as subtitles. I found this workaround that saved me a lot of time.

  1. Export the subtitles as an SRT File
  2. Change the file extension from .SRT to .TXT (ignore the warning that appears). This gives you a text file with the timecode to position the subtitles
  3. The translator substitutes only the text lines within this document with his translation
  4. When translation is finished, change the file extension from .TXT to .SRT
  5. Then import the SRT file into a new language Role and you have all the subtitles translated and with the right timing.

You need to be careful with the TXT document as small changes in the format (for example, adding additional text) can result in error messages during the reimport of the subtitles.

Also, there is a great plugin called “X-Title Caption Convert” from Spherico that allows you to convert closed caption into FCP X titles. This is really helpful if you want to burn the subtitles into the video file and want to have more formatting options.

EXTRA CREDIT

This workaround is delicate. In my last project the translator used double quotations marks which are not supported in SRT files. This led to an error message during the import.

You have to make sure that no “unpermitted” characters are used or search for them and replace them in case you get some error messages while importing the SRT into final cut or if only a part of the subtitles are imported. But if it works, you can really save a lot of time.


Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #366: How to Create Proxy Files After Import

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Proxy files improve performance and save storage space.

Topic $TipTopic

Proxy files transcode camera native media into Apple ProRes 422 Proxy. These provide high-quality files useful for offline editing at the original frame rate and aspect ratio, but at one-half the resolution. This increases editing performance while using considerably less storage space than optimized files.

Here’s how to create them after you imported your media.

  1. Control-click one or more clips in the Final Cut Pro browser, then choose Transcode Media.
  2. In the window that appears, select the Create optimized media checkbox, the Create proxy media checkbox, or both, then click OK.

NOTE: If the original camera format can be edited with good performance, the “Create optimized media” option is dimmed. The transcoding process may take a while, depending on the options you select. You can see the status of all the background processes currently running in the Background Tasks window.

EXTRA CREDIT

Here’s an Apple KnowledgeBase article. that explains proxy and optimized file formats in more detail.


Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #332: How to Edit Export Tags

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Tags are useful, but almost never accurate.

Project metadata Inspector in Apple Final Cut Pro X
Project tags can be changed in the Info Inspector.

Topic $TipTopic

You know those project “tags” that appear on the Info screen when you Share a project? Well, not only are they displayed during export, but they are also embedded in the metadata for your movie on export.

However, in my case, these are almost never right. Here’s how to change them.

  • Select the Project you want to modify in the Browser.
  • Open the Inspector and click the Info button.
  • The tags are displayed allowing you to edit them. Feel free to add or modify this text as you want.
  • Clicking outside the Inspector updates the data stored with your project.

Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #333: Favorites are Faster

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Favorites are a fast way to build a “selects” reel.

The Favorites menu in Apple Final Cut Pro X.
Favorites are a fast way to flag clips that you really like, or really don’t want.

Topic $TipTopic

Apple made a big deal of Favorites when Final Cut Pro X was first launched. Now, you need to know where to look to find them. But, they are absolutely worth learning, because they can make finding the right clip a lot faster. Here’s how.

Favorites allow you tag clips, or ranges within a clip, as either a Favorite, Deleted or unflagged.

In the screen shot, here’s what the bars mean:

  • Green. The clip, or the range within a clip, is a Favorite (think of this as a select).
  • Red. The clip is flagged as deleted. Nothing is actually deleted, the clip is still in the Browser, but not displayed.
  • No bar. The clip is unflagged.
  • Dark blue. The clip has keywords assigned to it. (This isn’t a favorite, but I thought you’d like to know anyway.)

To apply a Favorite, select the clip(s), or range within a clip, in the Browser, and type:

  • F. This marks a Favorite
  • Delete. This marks a deleted clip. Be sure to use the big Delete key.
  • U. This removes any flags assigned with that clip; this resets both Favorite and deleted clips.

To see only clips that are Favorites or any other category, go to the Hide Rejected menu at the top of the Browser and select what you want to see.


Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #334: What is Continuous Playback?

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

This is a fast way to screen multiple clips.

Continuous playback simplifies screening multiple clips.

Topic $TipTopic

Continuous playback allows you to quickly review clips in the Browser without constantly selecting them and pressing Play.

When this setting is chosen, multiple event clips play without interruption (rather than stopping at the end of each clip).

  • Click the clip icon in the top right corner of the Browser and check Continuous Playback.
  • Once that’s checked, put your playhead in any Browser clip and press play.

When the first clip finishes, playback immediately continues with the next clip.

EXTRA CREDIT

Remember, you can add markers to any Browser clip by pressing M. This allows you to flag key sections during initial screening.


Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #306: Archive Active Versions of FCP X

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Archives allow future access to earlier versions.

Topic $TipTopic

It is often necessary, especially if you are working with different clients, to have earlier versions of Final Cut Pro X available to you. However, only one version of FCP X can be active on your system at a time. Recently, I read an Apple KnowledgeBase article that explained how to create archives.

NOTE: While this won’t get you access to earlier versions of Final Cut Pro X, it does mean that you’ll have access to all versions going forward.

To back up the currently installed Final Cut Pro X application:

  1. Create a new folder in the Applications folder, and name it after the application (for example, “Final Cut Pro X 10.4.8”). To check your version of Final Cut Pro X, open the application and choose About Final Cut Pro X from the Final Cut Pro X menu.
  2. Select the Final Cut Pro X application in the Applications folder. Choose File > Compress “Final Cut Pro X.” It will take a few minutes to compress.
  3. Move the resulting “Final Cut Pro X.zip” file into the folder you created in step 1.
  4. Move the folder containing the .zip file to a backup drive.

EXTRA CREDIT

These ZIP files can be stored anywhere, but I generally try to keep all my program archives in the same place. Remember, before you revert back to an earlier version, archive or delete the version of Final Cut Pro X currently stored in your Applications folder.

Also, if you revert to an earlier version of Final Cut Pro X, it may also require an earlier version of the macOS, so keep a note of which version of Final Cut Pro X uses which version of the macOS.

[Thanks, and a tip of the hat to Mark Spencer for telling me about this.]


Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #317: Working with Chapter Markers

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Chapter Markers provide fast navigation for editors and viewers.

The Edit Marker dialog in Apple Final Cut Pro X.
An orange chapter marker. Click top right icon to convert, drag pin to change image.

Topic $TipTopic

The following is taken from an Apple KnowledgeBase article.

Chapter markers are a standard feature in DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and podcasts. You can add chapter markers to your project so that when you share your finished movie, viewers can use the markers to quickly jump to those points in the movie. Apps and devices that recognize Final Cut Pro chapter markers during playback include iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, QuickTime Player, DVD Player, and most standard DVD and Blu-ray players.

Similar to a regular marker, chapter markers enable editors to move around inside a project. Unlike regular markers, the text and location associated with a chapter marker can be exported.

  • To create a chapter marker, put the playhead at the location you want the marker to appear, then type M. (This creates a standard marker.)
  • To change the marker to a chapter marker, double-click the marker and select the chapter marker icon (on the right) from the Edit Marker window.
  • To change the image associated with the chapter marker, click it once in the timeline to select it.
  • Then, drag the orange “pin” to the frame you want. By default, this flag appears 11 frames after a chapter marker.

NOTE: The chapter marker thumbnail image is the composited image from that location in the timeline and includes titles and any other superimposed imagery.

If the chapter marker is in the primary storyline, you can drag the chapter marker thumbnail pin as far as the beginning or the end of the primary storyline. If the chapter marker is in a connected storyline, you can drag the chapter marker thumbnail pin as far as the beginning or the end of the connected storyline.

EXTRA CREDIT

Here’s an Apple KnowledgeBase article that goes into more detail.


Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #319: Automatically Adjust Audio Levels

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Use the Modify menu to adjust an entire range at once.

Use the Range Selection tool to select a portion of clips in an Apple Final Cut Pro X timeline.
Note that ONLY the portion of the clips inside the selection range had their audio adjusted – and by the same amount.

Topic $TipTopic

There’s a very cool feature that allows you to quickly adjust audio volume across a selected range of clips. But, it isn’t where you expect. Here’s what you need to know.

  • Using the Range Selection tool (R), select a range within the timeline. This could be a single clip or multiple clips.
  • Then, go to Modify > Audio Volume and use either Up, Down or Relative to adjust every clip in the selected range by the same amount. (Relative, which is my personal preference, allows you to enter the number of dB by which you want to adjust the audio.)

NOTE: This menu option does this by adding and adjusting keyframes at the edges of the range and ends of clips.

What doesn’t work:

  • Drag the volume line. This only adjusts a single clip.
  • Use the Volume setting in the Audio Inspector. This adjusts all clips that contain the range, but ignores the range itself.

EXTRA CREDIT

Here’s an Apple KnowledgeBase article that covers this, but the article does not match the behavior of FCP X.


Please rate the helpfulness of this tip.

Click on a star to rate it!