… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #262: Libraries: Combine or Split

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Performance is better when libraries are smaller.

Library icons from Apple Final Cut Pro X.
Put the media you need to access in one library. Use multiple libraries for distinctly different projects.

Topic $TipTopic

Figuring out the best way to manage media in Final Cut is always a challenge because there are so many options. As a recent example, Ron wrote:

I have a challenge with Library’s in FCP X. I have a client that we shoot 4 videos a month. They are only about 5 minutes each. We do this every month and I have one Library (for the year) that has all the months in it along with the usual assets.

This Library is now 450 GB and my question is: would it be more effect if I had a Library for each month rather than a yearly Library.

The short answer is: “Yes.”

If you are not sharing media from one library to the next, putting one month in a library simplifies file management and improves performance. (Keep in mind that libraries need to be open to be accessed.)

There’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, it simply becomes harder to manage the media.

EXTRA CREDIT

Here’s the general rule: Put the media you need to access into a single library.

Keep in mind that the bigger the library, the more RAM you’ll need.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #264: Set Opacity Keyframes in the Timeline

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

The Video Animation bar allows timeline control for a variety of settings.

The Video Animation bar in Apple Final Cut Pro X.
Every timeline clip has a Video Animation bar attached to it.

Topic $TipTopic

Hidden in the Final Cut timeline is the Video Animation bar. In it, you can set keyframes for automating changes in opacity, cropping, distortion and position. Here’s how to find it.

Let’s illustrate how to set opacity keyframes in a clip in the timeline.

  • Select the clip you want to modify and type Cntrl – V. This displays the Video Animation bar.
  • Click the arrow in a box at the right of the Opacity layer. This opens the opacity keyframe timeline.
  • Option – click on the white line to set a keyframe. (Control – click to remove a keyframe.)
  • Drag the keyframes down to make a clip translucent. (All the way up is 100% opaque.)

Preview your results. Drag a keyframe sideways to change it’s timing. Drag a keyframe up or down to set the amount of change.

Cool.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #213: Secrets of the [Hidden] Delete Key

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Two different ways to delete clips.

The two different delete keys on a Mac keyboard.
Two delete keys on a full-size keyboard. (Arrow points to Return.)

Topic $TipTopic

Whether you edit on a laptop or full-size keyboard, there are two Delete keys at your disposal. One is above the Return key, indicated by the red arrow in the screen shot, the other is… hidden.

The big Delete key, which deletes going backwards, is the normal delete key for most Final Cut operations. In addition to deleting text as you would expect, it also deletes clips.

The smaller Delete key, next to the End key, deletes going forward. You can quickly see the difference by deleting text from the middle of a paragraph. The big difference in Final Cut, though, is when you use this smaller key to delete a clip: It deletes the clip AND replaces it with a gap. Many students find this very distracting.

When deleting clips, the big Delete key always changes the duration of the timeline. The small Delete key does not.

EXTRA CREDIT

The forward delete key exists on laptops, too, but it’s hidden. Simply press the Fn key (in the lower left corner of the keyboard) while typing the big Delete key.

Cool.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #215: Tricks to Moving Stuff

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Copy or move … it’s your choice.

The Copy -or- Move media dialog box
Checking these saves time, but requires more storage space.

Topic $TipTopic

You can easily drag clips or projects from one Event to another in the same library. Keep in mind that you can’t store the same clip in more than one Event.

But, what happens if we want to move media or projects between libraries? Well, we have options:

  • We can COPY them
  • We can MOVE them

When you copy an item from one library to another, the corresponding files are duplicated on the storage device that contains the receiving library. When you move an item from one library to another, the corresponding files are moved from the library file in the first storage location to the library file in the second location.

Copying or moving items between libraries lets you:

  • Use multiple libraries on the same storage device to organize a large number of active projects and media assets.
  • Work on your project and media files on a different Mac that has Final Cut Pro installed.
  • Back up your project and its media files to a storage device, a network volume, or other storage media.
  • Allow multiple users to access your media in an external folder on shared storage.
  • Free up space on your Mac or storage device.

HOW TO COPY

To copy one or more selected clips from one library to another, simply drag them. Or choose File > Copy Clips to Library.

In the resulting dialog, you can choose to copy optimized or proxy media. If you decide not to do this, you can always recreate it later.

HOW TO MOVE

To move one or more selected clips from one library to another, press the Cmd key while dragging. Or choose File > Move Clips to Library.

Again, moving provides the option of also moving optimized and/or proxy media.

EXTRA CREDIT

NOTE: If you have created or customized any Final Cut Pro effects, transitions, titles, or generators in Motion, set the storage location for your Motion content to In Library before starting any copy or move operations between libraries or storage devices. Otherwise, the Motion content is not included in those operations. Regardless, you must manually track and move any third-party (FxPlug) content, because it is not managed within the Final Cut Pro library.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #236: Faster Color Correction

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Custom shortcuts make color grading a LOT faster!

Apple Final Cut X color grading shortcuts
Color grading shortcuts that don’t have keys assigned.

Topic $TipTopic Iain Anderson writes in MacProVideo:

There are several color correction commands that are inaccessible, if you don’t create custom keyboard shortcuts for them. For example, open Final Cut Pro > Commands > Customize and search for Color. Then, assign shortcuts to:

  • Apply Color Wheels
  • Apply Color Correction from Previous Edit
  • Apply Color Correction from Two Edits Prior
  • Apply Color Correction from Three Edits Prior
  • Color Board: Toggle Correction on/off

Suddenly, all your color corrections will go a LOT faster!


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #199: 4 Keyboard Shortcuts That Save HOURS!

Larry Jordan – https://LarryJordan.com

These shortcuts work for whatever clips you have selected.

Clip editing icons for Apple Final Cut Pro X
Editing shortcut icons (L to R): Connected, Insert, Append, Overwrite.

Topic $TipTopic

I am SUCH a fan of keyboard shortcuts. Once you start using them, you’ll be amazed at how much time they save so you can concentrate on telling your story. These are shortcuts I use in every edit.

NOTE: A key point here is that these shortcuts work with one or more selected clips in the Browser!

Shortcut What It Does
E Appends (Edits) all selected Browser clips to the end of the timeline in the order they were selected
W Insert edits all selected Browser clips at the position of the playhead/skimmer
D Overwrite edits all selected Browser clips at the position of the playhead/skimmer
Q Edits all selected Browser clips on the first available layer above (video) or below (audio) the Primary Storyline

The key point to note is that ALL selected clips are edited, in the order you selected them. If you have a bunch of selects, select them in the order you want them to appear in the timeline, type E and, poof!, instantly, they are edited in order!

NOTE: Look at your keyboard. See how E – W – D – Q all fall easily under the fingers of the left hand. This allows right-handed editors to keep one hand on the mouse and the other on the keyboard to edit clips as fast as you can decide which clip to edit next.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #212: The Best Way to Duplicate a Project

Larry Jordan – https://LarryJordan.com

There are two options – one is better.

This Browser pop-up menu lets you duplicate a project.
Control-click a project icon to reveal this menu.

Topic $TipTopic

Because Final Cut instantly and automatically saves your work, to preserve an edit from accidental changes you need to first duplicate a project. Final Cut Pro X provides two ways to do this. But, is one better?

To see your options, Control-click a project in the Browser. Two duplication options appear:

  • Duplicate (shortcut: Cmd + D)
  • Duplicate Project as Snapshot (shortcut: Shift + Cmd + D)

Both duplicate a project. But, if you use compound or multicam clips, choose Duplicate Project as Snapshot.

Why? Because this option creates 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.

In other words, if you Duplicate a project, then change a compound or multicam clip in EITHER version, the change is rippled to both the original project and the duplicate.

If you use Duplicate Project as Snapshot, the two projects are independent.

My recommendation is, regardless of how simple or complex your project, always choose Duplicate Project as Snapshot. You’ll never need to worry about unexpected surprises.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #214: Event Secrets

Larry Jordan – https://LarryJordan.com

Events are a fast way to organize media.

The Library List in Apple Final Cut Pro X.
Rename Events by selecting them, then pressing Return.

Topic $TipTopic

An Event, in Final Cut, is similar to a folder that can hold dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of video clips, audio clips, and still images, as well as projects. Each event in the library refers to media on your storage device, and a database file keeps track of where everything is.

  • Events are automatically named with the date they are created. To rename an Event, select it then press the Return key to “open” the file name for renaming. (See screen shot.)
  • Events are actual folders stored on your hard disk, inside the library package. For this reason, you need to use Event names that the macOS will support. (In other words, avoid most punctuation and special symbols.)
  • To create a new Event, type: Option – N – or choose File > New > Event.
  • You can not store an Event inside another Event; though it would be REALLY nice if we could.
  • There is no limit to the number of Events you can create in a single library.
  • A file can only exist in one Event in the same Library. However, you can easily move any clip from one Event to another by dragging.
  • When creating a new Event, you also have the option to create a new Project file. This is the same as using File > New > Project, only faster.

Events are an easy way to organize your media, though keywords provide more precision and search options.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #196: Library Properties Give You Control

Larry Jordan – https://LarryJordan.com

Library Properties allow you to determine where all essential library elements are stored.

The Library Properties window in Apple Final Cut Pro X.
A typical Library Properties window in Final Cut Pro X.

Topic $TipTopic

Library Properties, in Final Cut Pro X, allow you to control where almost all media and work files are stored for each library. Best of all, these settings can vary by library.

To display these, select an open Library in the Browser, then, open the Inspector. You’ll see a screen shot similar to this one.

  • Storage Locations. Allows you to determine where media, customized motion content, work and cache files and library backups are stored.

NOTE: Backups are only for the databases that FCP uses, media needs to be backed up separately.

  • Media. This allows you to consolidate media from external locations into the library. This can be effective when moving libraries between editors, however, it will make the library file potentially very large.
  • Motion Content. This allows you to consolidate customize Motion files stored in multiple locations into a single location. This does not move any of the original Apple Motion templates.
  • Cache. This displays where cache files are currently stored and how much space they take.
  • Backups. This displays where library backups are currently stored.

NOTE: Backups are saved with the time and date in the filename. To open a backup from a specific time and date and add it to the Libraries sidebar in Final Cut Pro, choose File > Open Library > From Backup.

  • Storage Used. This displays on which volume media is currently stored and how much space is used for camera native (original), optimized, proxy and content files. (This is media that was previously imported or generated for the selected library.)

NOTE: Existing source media and backup files remain in their original locations. If you changed the cache storage location, you’re asked if you want to move your existing active render files to the new location.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #197: Much Faster Ways to Trim Tops and Tails

Larry Jordan – https://LarryJordan.com

Yes, you can trim by dragging. But, why waste the time?

A video clip in the Apple Final Cut Pro X timeline.
Trimming the top or tail of a clip starts by properly positioning the playhead.

Topic $TipTopic

Trimming the start (top) and end (tail) of a clip is something that we need to do SO OFTEN, that this tip alone can save you hours. These shortcuts ONLY work in the Timeline.

Shortcut What It Does
Option + [ Trims the start of a clip to the position of the playhead/skimmer
Option + ] Trims the end of a clip to the position of the playhead/skimmer
Option + Trims a clip to its selected range

 


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