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Tip #1495: Keyboard Shortcuts to Change Audio Levels

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1495: Keyboard Shortcuts to Change Audio Levels

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Keyboard shortcuts to speed audio level changes.

Topic $TipTopic

(I discovered this tip while researching a recent PowerUP webinar presenting Audio in Apple Final Cut Pro.)

You know you can change audio levels for clips in the timeline by dragging the audio volume line up or down. Here are some keyboard shortcuts that make this process even faster.

Shortcut What It Does
Control + S Expand / Collapse audio clip from video
Cmd + drag Slows down level changes to improve precision.
Control + [minus] / [equals] Lower/Raise audio levels for selected clip(s)
Control + Option + L Adjust audio level across all selected clips TO a specific amount (Absolute adjustment)
Option + [Up] / [Down] Arrow Nudge value of selected keyframe up or down.

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Tip #1470: Apple Releases Final Cut Pro 10.5.2

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1470: Apple Releases Final Cut Pro 10.5.2

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

This latest version is a bug-fix release.

The Final Cut Pro logo

Topic $TipTopic

Last week, Apple released Final Cut Pro 10.5.2. This is principally a bug fix release. Here’s what’s new.

Here are the Apple Release Notes

  • Adds support for a new Universal RED plugin enabling native RED RAW decoding and playback on both Apple silicon and Intel-based Mac computers.
  • Improves stability when playing back H.264 video files with corrupt data.
  • Fixes an issue in which text could disappear when double clicking a value field in the inspector.
  • Fixes an issue in which FCPXML files created from drop frame projects would import as non drop frame.
  • Fixes an issue that may prevent custom Motion titles stored inside the library from appearing in the Titles browser.
  • Improves stability when choosing the DPP/Editorial Services metadata view with MXF media.
  • Improves stability when using AirPlay with Final Cut Pro on a Mac computer with Apple silicon.

The folks at Digital Anarchy added the following notes to the upgrade:

Final Cut Pro 10.5.x uses a new version of the FCP plugin architecture (FXPlug4). The older plugin versions (FxPlug3) still works for now but these new builds of the plugins will be required at some point. They also add support for Apple’s Metal (replacement for OpenCL), the Apple Silicon machines and Big Sur (FxPlug4 and FxPlug3).

10.5.2 adds some bug fixes for FxPlug4, so we highly recommend you upgrade to this version if you’re using 10.5 or higher. 10.4.x will still use FxPlug3 plugins but you still want to download these releases as they add Big Sur support.

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Tip #1472: FCP: Problems Chroma-Keying HDR Media

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1472: FCP: Problems Chroma-Keying HDR Media

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

This problem doesn’t have a workaround, yet.

The results of keying HDR HLG media in Final Cut Pro.

Topic $TipTopic

Brandon brought this issue to my attention.

There seems to be a problem chroma-keying HDR green screen footage that was shot on an iPhone 12 using HEVC 10-bit HLG.  I’m running Apple Final Cut Pro 10.5.2 on macOS Catalina.

NOTE: This problem also occurs in FCP 10.5.1.

The source clip is 4K, 10-bit, HEVC HDR HLG.

When imported into FCP, and the Keyer filter is applied, what results is illustrated in the screen shot.

  • The background is green.
  • His shirt is blue.
  • His face is Caucasian.

Sampling the green background, tweaking color selection and adjusting any other setting has no effect on the results. There seems to be no way for the system to separate green values from any other color.

I don’t have a workaround, yet. I’ve notified Apple and will let you know what I find out.

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Tip #1474: Adjust the Anchor Point for Better Moves

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1474: Adjust the Anchor Point for Better Moves

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

The anchor point determines where an image revolves or scales.

The anchor point was moved from center to the tree trunk.

Topic $TipTopic

The Anchor Point is that position around which an image rotates or scales. It is indicated by a plus sign in a white circle – red arrow in the screen shot – whenever you activate the Transform controls for a clip in the Timeline.

NOTE: I find scaling or rotating an image looks MUCH more interesting when you move the Anchor Point to a corner, rather than the center. Or, to a central element in the frame, as shown in this screen shot.

While it would be great to drag the Anchor Point, Final Cut does not support this, even if the Transport controls are active in the Viewer. Instead:

  • Select the clip in the Timeline.
  • Go to Inspector > Transform and adjust the Anchor point settings.

By default the anchor point is in the center of the frame. When you move the anchor point, you’ll also need to move the clip to get it back to the center of the frame.

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Tip #1451: Drop Zone Secrets

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1451: Drop Zone Secrets

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Where you click a drop zone clip with the skimmer determines the In.

A drop zone, with a reflection, created in Motion, filled with an image in Final Cut.

Topic $TipTopic

A drop zone is an image placeholder, created in Motion, for use in Final Cut Pro. Drop zones can be added to titles, effects, transitions or generators.

To fill a drop zone in Final Cut:

  • Select the clip containing the drop zone.
  • In the Video Inspector, click the blue box around the drop zone you want to fill. (Some templates contain multiple drop zones.)
  • In the Browser, click the clip you want to put into the drop zone.
  • Click the blue Apply Clip button in the Viewer.

EXTRA CREDIT

Here’s the secret. If you use the skimmer to select the clip, where you click the skimmer in the Browser clip determines the In of the clip in the drop zone.

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Tip #1452: The Mysterious Red Box

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1452: The Mysterious Red Box

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

The red “slider” simplifies navigating a zoomed-in Viewer image.

The red slider appears whenever you are zoomed into an image.

Topic $TipTopic

You’ve seen it from time to time, the mysterious red box in Final Cut’s Viewer. What the heck is it?

The red slider appears whenever you are zoomed into an image more than the Viewer can display.

Drag the red box itself to navigate around the image.

EXTRA CREDIT

To display the red box, type Cmd + [plus] to zoom into the Viewer.

To make the red box disappear, type Shift + Z (or choose Fit from the View menu).

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Tip #1453: An Editing Keyboard Shortcut

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1453: An Editing Keyboard Shortcut

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

These keystrokes determine what is edited into the timeline.

The small arrow hides this menu.

Topic $TipTopic

Anything that speeds the editing process is a good thing. Here are three keyboard shortcuts that simplify editing clips into the timeline.

Normally, when you edit a clip from the Browser into the Timeline, you edit both its audio and video. However, you can also edit just the video or just the audio.

  • Shift + 1: Edits audio and video into the timeline.
  • Shift + 2: Edits just the video into the timeline.
  • Shift + 3: Edits just the audio into the timeline.

These settings stay in effect until you change them.

NOTE: You can also find these in the small down-arrow to the right of the four editing icons at the top left of the timeline.

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Tip #1426: Create a Stand-Alone Still Frame

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1426: Create a Stand-Alone Still Frame

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Stand-alone still frames are highly flexible separate pieces of media.

A still frame on the layer above the Primary Storyline.

Topic $TipTopic

One of the more helpful hidden features in Final Cut Pro is creating a stand-alone still frame. Most of the time, a hold frame (Shift + H) works fine.

But, when you need to create a separate piece of media that can be moved anywhere and trimmed to any length, still frames are the best choice. I use these constantly when I’m editing my webinars. Here’s how to create them.

NOTE: Be warned. Unlike a hold frame, still frames are separate media, meaning they are easy to move out of sync.

There are two options:

  1. Edit the still frame into the Primary Storyline, at the position of the playhead.
  2. Edit the still frame into a higher layer, at the position of the playhead.

To create a still frame and edit it into the Primary Storyline at the position of the playhead:

  • Put the playhead on the frame you want to freeze.
  • Type Option + F.
  • A still frame appears, with a duration equal to the still image duration set in Preferences > Editing > Still Image.

To create a still frame and edit it onto a higher layer at the position of the playhead:

  • Select the clip you want to create the still frame from.
  • Put the playhead on the frame you want to freeze.
  • Type Shift + F. This creates a match frame in the Browser.
  • Type Option + F. This edits the frame into position

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Tip #1427: What Are “Reference Waveforms”?

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1427: What Are “Reference Waveforms”?

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Reference waveforms make it easier to edit low-volume audio clips.

A composite showing Preferences > Editing and a clip with Reference Waveforms enabled.

Topic $TipTopic

There’s an option in Final Cut Pro’s Editing preferences called “Reference Waveforms.” What are these things?

According to the Final Cut Pro Help files: “A reference waveform shows the maximum visual resolution possible for the actual audio waveform. By factoring out loudness, reference waveforms let you see the shape of the sound more clearly. When the actual waveform changes shape (for example, it’s diminished when a clip’s volume level is low), you can continue to see its reference waveform in full for easy reference when editing.”

In other words, a reference waveform shows the audio as if it were at full volume. This allows you to easily see areas containing audio vs. those with none. (The red arrow in the screen shot is pointing to a grayed-back reference.)

Turning these on or off has no impact on your audio, the mix or final output.

EXTRA CREDIT

These can be enabled or disabled using Final Cut Pro > Preferences > Editing.

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Tip #1428: Built-in Clip & Batch Renaming

… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1428: Built-in Clip & Batch Renaming

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

All too often, clips are named with incomprehensible file names. This can fix things.

The Apply Custom Name menu in the Info Inspector.

Topic $TipTopic

Buried at the bottom of the Info Inspector in Final Cut Pro is a clip and batch renaming utility that can save you a lot of time.

Select a clip, or group of clips, that you want to rename in the Browser, then go to the Info Inspector.

At the bottom is Apply Custom Name. In this menu, are four presets:

  • Clip Date/Time
  • Custom Name with Counter
  • Original Name from Camera
  • Scene/Shot/Take/Angle
  • Edit allows changing the existing presets. Editing an existing preset is generally the best way to create a new one.
  • New creates a new naming preset from scratch.

While it is beyond the scope of this tip to explain all the features of this batch naming function, when you need to rename and organize your clips, this is a great way to get started.

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