Batch create projects from video files and using file names (à la After Effects)

[Xavier Paredes]

I have 100+ video files that I need to edit in FCP. Each video needs its own project. In After Effects I can simply select all, right-click, select create comps and Voila!, a comp is created for each video and named accordingly. Is there a way to do this in FCPX or is Apple behind the times on this one?

If not, any plug-ins, tricks or workarounds to achieve (or close to achieve) this?

Also does anyone know if Davinci Resolve can do this?

TIA

[Ben Balser]

I’d not compare an NLE to a compositing app, apples to onions. I’d ask why does each clip need its own Project timeline? If I knew what your goal was, they may be another technique to achieve it in FCP. So, again, why does each clip in an NLE need its own project timeline?

[Xavier Paredes]

Thanks for your reply. Each video needs its own project because they are all totally separate clips so they need to be exported separately once the work needed is done.

[Doug Metz]

“Behind the times” was an unnecessary dig. Premiere doesn’t do this either. Any reason you’re not just doing the comps in AE?

[Xavier Paredes]

Because I no longer have an AE subscription but even if I did, this job requires other things done in FCP that AE can’t do or would take way more time to do so.

[Doug Metz]

CommandPost is something you could use to achieve the objective, but instead of having a sequence/comp for every clip, you’d have one (or however many) timelines, fix the clips, and then batch export the timeline clips:

https://help.commandpost.io/final-cut-pro/batch_export_active_timeline

[Ben Balser]

Well, since FCP keeps everything as its own timeline, there’s no need. Just select each clip after import, then from the Clip menu, “Open Clip”. It’s now open in its own timeline, ready to be processed. Then just export the clip. No need for comps, it already exists. If you do this often enough, assign a custom keyboard shortcut to Open Clip, like I did with Alt-Cmd-O.

[Doug Metz]

That would definitely do the trick. Zero timelines, just modified master clips to spit out.