I’ve used Final Cut Pro for video editing for years – here are my 5 essential tips

I have been utilizing Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) for just a few years now. Within the early phases, it was fairly a slog attempting to determine the best way to make the applying work for me. I knew precisely what I needed for my work, I simply could not fairly determine the best way to make it occur.

With perseverance, I developed a superb workflow. After I bumped into one thing I could not do, I discovered the method step-by-step. That method meant I obtained in control on FCPX, however it wasn’t all the time straightforward.

Additionally: How to simplify your Final Cut Pro workflow with saved effect presets

Luckily, I’ve realized just a few ideas that I take into account “important” for making Remaining Lower Professional X far more practical. Now, I need to share these ideas with you.

So, let’s get to work.

1. Use adjustment layers 

As an example you have positioned a number of clips into your timeline and also you want all of them to have the identical feel and appear. You may undergo these clips, one after the other, and add the identical results and colorizations, however that will be a time-consuming course of. Luckily, FCPX can use adjustment layers, which makes it attainable so as to add a single layer, which incorporates all the consequences and colorizations you want, to as many clips as you need. This trick won’t solely prevent time, however it is going to additionally guarantee all of your clips have a constant look.

Additionally: 3 ways to improve the color in your video clips with Final Cut Pro

The one caveat to notice is that FCPX does not have adjustment layers in-built. You’ll both should buy Movement, or you should use this free plugin from Motion Array. As soon as you have downloaded the plugin, copy it to /USER/Motion pictures/Movement Templates (the place USER is your MacOS username), and restart FCPX. You must then discover the adjustment layer plugin in Titles > Adjustment Layers. You possibly can then drag the adjustment layer to the timeline and broaden it over the clips you need. As soon as the layer is there, add all the consequences you want.

2. Use favoriting and key phrases 

When you preserve quite a lot of clips in your library, and recurrently re-use them, there are two options you must learn to use. Each favoriting and key phrases make it far simpler to search out the precise clip you must add to no matter video you are modifying. This method makes reusing clips way more environment friendly. And as your clip library grows, you will be glad you have made use of this function. To favourite a clip, you merely choose it within the clip library, which is on to the left of the preview pane, and hit the F button, which is able to place a inexperienced define across the clip, so you possibly can rapidly discover it. 

Additionally: How to use Photoshop: 5 basic steps to edit a photo

So as to add a key phrase to a clip — akin to B-Roll, a location identify, or a personality identify — choose the clip within the library, click on the important thing icon close to the highest left of the FCPX window, and add the key phrase(s) you need to apply to the clip. These key phrases will seem within the hierarchy below the undertaking within the left sidebar.

3. Retailer your media exterior the library

This tip was one thing I realized the arduous manner. FCPX libraries can get very giant. I’ve had a library, which is a single file that homes the whole lot from tasks that belong in that library, develop to almost 1TB in dimension. On the time, I used to be storing the whole lot, together with media for the undertaking, in the identical exterior drive because the undertaking library. Evidently, that library stuffed up in a short time. 

As an alternative, I now home a library on one exterior drive and the media for the undertaking both on inside storage (for small tasks) or a separate exterior drive (for bigger tasks). This method may cost a little you a bit of additional cash, however it is going to prevent from coping with the headache of a full drive and the lack to avoid wasting to a library.

4. Study keyboard shortcuts

From the very outset of utilizing FCPX, you will have to study among the keyboard shortcuts. There are specific options within the software which can be both solely accessible by a keyboard shortcut or are arduous to search out inside the menu construction. Among the important keyboard shortcuts embody:

• A – Choose device
• B – Blade device
• R – Vary device
• Shift + ? – Play a loop of a clip
• OPT + S – Solo clip
• choose + w – Insert hole
• SHIFT + Z – Match the timeline to the window
• CMD + SHIFT + B – Blade all clips
• V – Flip Clip On/Off
• Q – Add from Browser/Insert Above Timeline
• W – Add from Browser/Insert Into Timeline
• E – Add from Browser/Insert at Finish of Timeline
• I – Mark In Level
• O – Mark Out Level 
• P – Reposition and Overwrite Clips

You possibly can study each one of many FCPX keyboard shortcuts here (warning, there are a lot of them).

5. Create a Template Library

I’ve one explicit video collection that makes use of the identical title for the intro and outro. For some time, I recreated that title for each video, which took a while. Ultimately, I noticed I might make a Template Library and create the intro there. Utilizing the template means you must copy it from one library to a different. So, you can choose the template you need to copy from the clip library, after which click on File > Copy to Library. Choose the vacation spot library from the record and the template shall be copied, so it is useable to your undertaking. This tip is an effective way to create difficult clips and use them throughout tasks or libraries.

With these 5 ideas, you will discover Remaining Lower Professional X is extra environment friendly and efficient. Simply keep in mind, this can be a difficult piece of software program, so do not count on to dive proper in and perceive the whole lot instantly. I have been utilizing the applying for years and I nonetheless have lots to study.