auditioning within a compound clip workflow

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Mark Morache] “But here’s a question… when you create an audition to a clip with other clips attached, the new audition doesn’t have anything connected to it. Do you then go back and copy and paste everything that was connected to the original?”

that’s one way, but it’s slow and annoying.

[Mark Morache] “Or is there an easy way to create an audition and keep everything connected when you switch the auditions?”

Tilde.

When adding a clip to start a new Audition, the default key command is control-shift-y. tilde-control-shift-y will add the new clip as an Audition to the selected clip in timeline.

Then you hold tilde and hit control-right arrow to choose that new clip and leave the connected clips in place.

For some reason, holding tilde and using the “replace and add to audition” command (shift-y) doesn’t seem to work reliably.

These methods are sort buggy in their inconsistencies, but if you know the limitations, it does sort of work. Dragging and dropping while holding ghe tilde key and choosing “Add to Audition” works, too.

[Craig Alan]

It’s not like my default workflow.
But sometimes I make changes in the timeline to a clip and I’d like to save this version of the clip for future use either in the same project or a different one.
How can this be done?
I know to create a still from a clip
SHARE (export)>
save in “stills” folder in the project folder on my media drive
>import media from that project folder
>now it’s in the browser.
Can I do something similar with clips?
Highlight clip in timeline> share to project file>import media from project file?
This really should be easier. My guess is next update FC will allow for timeline to browser copy even if the way it works is a background export import. I know these two sections of the program are two different databases.
But two way communication between browser and timeline is a NLE standard.
FC does this by default for compound clips but not for other clips, which might have been a lot more work to create, makes no sense.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV30/40, Sony Z7U, VX2000, PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Craig Alan] “But sometimes I make changes in the timeline to a clip and I’d like to save this version of the clip for future use either in the same project or a different one. “

So why don’t you? You could dupe the clip in a Project and make an Audition that will travel with the clip.

You could dupe the clip in the Browser, make the adjustment, and recall it at any time in the Browser.

[Craig Alan] “Can I do something similar with clips? “

SImply duplicate the clip in the Browser and make adjustments, then edit it in to the timeline with an Audition. This will give you two versions of the clip in both the Browser and timeline.

[Craig Alan] “Highlight clip in timeline> share to project file>import media from project file?”

You can do this if you’d like, but I think t’s unnecessary to make another hard copy of the clip.

[Craig Alan] “But two way communication between browser and timeline is a NLE standard.”

Kind of. You can drag a clip from the timeline in FCP7 and make a new instance of the clip with all filters and modifications, but changes make in the browser don’t automatically ripple to every instance of the clip in timelines in FCP7 as they do with compound clips in FCPX. SO, X does have a bit of two way communication, but it doesn’t behave like FCP7 much at all.

A compound clip is currently the only way to make a modification to a clip in a timeline to the Browser, and you can duplicate compound clips, as has been mentioned, by right clicking and choosing Clip > Reference New Parent.

Jeremy

[Craig Alan]

Thanks for helping Jeremy – much appreciated.

[Jeremy Garchow] “[Craig Alan] “But sometimes I make changes in the timeline to a clip and I’d like to save this version of the clip for future use either in the same project or a different one. ”

So why don’t you? You could dupe the clip in a Project and make an Audition that will travel with the clip.
“

Not getting this. By way of example, I have a clip on a timeline that I have cropped and color corrected.

I decide it is not working in the current sequence of shots, but I like the clip and it might fit later down the timeline or in a different version of the project. How do I save these changes for future use?

I don’t want this to appear stuck in my ways, cause as long as I can learn a new way of doing something I’m good to go. But FCP 7 keeping the original version of a clip and then accepting a modified version from the timeline just makes sense to me. It’s what I want to do in this case.

I can dupe the clip in the timeline, ok. Now what? Not understanding what “travel with the clip” means (except a compound clip being auto saved to the browser). How does auditioning the clip relate to this need to save any modifications to the original?

I like the concept that the compound clip can either be globally modified or a new parent can be created. Though to avoid gotchas it would be good to rename it carefully or have a dialog box showing you all the instances in which the modifation would take place.

I save my projects in sparse images so that only those mounted load in FCP X. If I were to use a compound clip in a new project and changed any instance of the compound would the changes occur within the projects that were not mounted during the change?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV30/40, Sony Z7U, VX2000, PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Jeff Kirkland]

[Craig Alan] “Not getting this. By way of example, I have a clip on a timeline that I have cropped and color corrected.

I decide it is not working in the current sequence of shots, but I like the clip and it might fit later down the timeline or in a different version of the project. How do I save these changes for future use?
“

I’d just select the clip or clips and create a compound clip from them. That gives you a version of the clip including your changes in the event browser that you can re-use later. In another spot or project either use the clip as is if you think you may want to change it globally later or drop in onto the timeline and break the compound clip apart if you want to change it further without affecting other instances (keeping in mind that FCPX can become very unhappy if you use too many compound clips in a project).

Jeff Kirkland | Video Producer | Southern Creative Media | Melbourne Australia
http://www.southerncreative.com.au | G+: https://gplus.to/jeffkirkland | Twitter: @jeffkirkland

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Craig Alan] “I decide it is not working in the current sequence of shots, but I like the clip and it might fit later down the timeline or in a different version of the project. How do I save these changes for future use? “

Keep it in a timeline or Project.

Before you make sweeping changes, dupe your Project and work off of a new copy so that you can go back to the old version as needed.

[Craig Alan] “How does auditioning the clip relate to this need to save any modifications to the original?”

You have a clip in the timeline that is cropped and color corrected. You know want a clean version of the clip. Shift-f to match frame, Shift-Y to replace as Audition.

Now you have two copies of the clip in your timeline, one cropped, one clean.

[Craig Alan] “I save my projects in sparse images so that only those mounted load in FCP X. If I were to use a compound clip in a new project and changed any instance of the compound would the changes occur within the projects that were not mounted during the change?”

Compounds are tied to an Event. If any compound tied to specific Event is other sparse disk bundled Projects, yes they will change. You should familiarize yourself with “Reference New Parent Clip” function and really play with it.

[Craig Alan]

Again, thanks for your time.

I’m learning much more from this exchange than simply solving my original need.

I find the idea of duping a project in order to save clip revisions kinda unruly.

I used to do this all the time as a writer – save entire script versions when I needed to edit out scenes I liked. After a few of these, I had no idea what version was which and why I kept it. So instead I just created an outtake folder for the project and it was a lot easier for me.

shift-F shift-Y fantastic. thanks.

[Jeremy Garchow] “”Reference New Parent Clip” function and really play with it.”

Agreed. I do get the premise, but nothing beats practice with a feature.

I’m liking my idea to simply share (export) the clip into a new event folder called say “saved clips” and give it a name like Maria_CC_CU_ (color corrected close up on Maria) and then import it into the event browser. However, would I still be allowed to match frame in case say I wanted to revise the crop?

No need to answer. I’ll give the three ways a try and find out for myself.

Thanks again.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV30/40, Sony Z7U, VX2000, PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Craig Alan] “However, would I still be allowed to match frame in case say I wanted to revise the crop?”

No, as you are creating new media that has no connection to the old media.

[Craig Alan]

Thank you. Interesting.

But doesn’t it seem like a silly work around to create a compound clip just to get it saved in the browser?

[Jeff Kirkland] “FCPX can become very unhappy if you use too many compound clips in a project”

What would approach too many? And unhappy how? Slows it down. Becomes corrupted?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV30/40, Sony Z7U, VX2000, PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Craig Alan] “But doesn’t it seem like a silly work around to create a compound clip just to get it saved in the browser? “

You can’t drag clips up like you could in FCP7. It’s a limitation. You also can’t save effect favorites like you could in FCP7. Also a limitation.

But this doesn’t mean that you can’t save something for later use, you just have to use the methods that FCPX allows at the moment, for better or worse, and then send Apple feedback.