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Blank track selection
ok so im hoping theres a setting somewhere to change this, but let me explain my dilemma. when working on the timeline, it is very common to constantly be zooming in and out to work with single clips or multiple clips. Now, one thing i cant understand as to what the developers were thinking, is when you click on a blank track, it selects it. not a double click, but just a single click. this gets frustrating because to deselect a clip you have to click somewhere else on the timeline, thus selecting either another clip or a blank track. Now, when you zoom in closer, it zooms in to whatever you have selected. which usually is not where i wanna zoom in. Now, i’m guessing some of you will just say to select what you want to work with before zooming in. But, that extra step just slows you down. seems as if it should zoom in to where you have the cursor located on the timeline. anyone else feel the same as me about this? and if so, whats your workaround? or do you just deal with it. its my opinion the the interface shouldnt slow you down at all, but should supplement your speed/workflow.
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15 Replies
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Click in the gray area outside of the tracks. Click after any material on a track. Use Cmd-Shift-A.
All the best,
Tom
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy” DVDs
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Well, you can map any key command you want to “deselect all” or you can use the preset one shift+cmd+a. The latter is utterly stupid, and ticks me off every time I’m on someone elses system because for 4 or 5 years the command was cmd+d, which is the same as photoshop for deselect all. Then, one version Apple changed it. They didn’t even replace cmd+d with anything else. So, now that cmd+d is imprinted in my DNA, I have to either learn a THREE key command or remap this key everytime I’m on a different system than my own.
So to answer your question, before I zoom I press cmd+d to ensure that the zoom is to the playhead, and not a selection. But you’ll have to map cmd+d to deselect all first. Or use the idiotic shift+cmd+A. To zoom by the way, press cmd++/-.
Or you can use the more Avid like zoom marquee which is the quickest most accurate way. Press z, then draw a square around the area you like ot zoom to.
When you’re done, press shift+z to zoom all the way back out.
That’s pretty much how I work. I go from all the way out, scrub, and then zoom in. I don’t ever touch that god awful slider thing below the timeline. That’s for producers to play with. 🙂
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ahh i see, yes. i dare not touch the slider either. i try to nagivate through the keyboard whenever possible. i just wish there wasnt a connection between where your zoom in and what you have selected or even where the CTI is. it seems it should work similar to the zoom tool. well im glad some folks share my frustration
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The zoom tool zooms to where you marquee or click the zoom tool. How would the keyboard do that? It does it by zooming to your selection, or if you have nothing selected, to your playhead. Seems pretty straightforward to me. I’m just ticked off at Apple changing the keyboard shortcuts for no good reason. I mean, cmd+d has no default. Why remove it? Why not leave it along with shift+cmd+a?
Anyway, another tip… If you inadvertently zoom to a selection and you wanted to zoom to the playhead, just press the left or right arrow key. That’ll bring you right to your playhead. Seems obvious, but many people don’t think of it and start scrolling left and right trying to figure out where they are.
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well what i meant is that when you apple+ in, it zooms in to where you have your cursor/mouse (not the CTI) regardless of what you have selected.
Or even better, how about integrating how most 3d apps work, with apple+MMB to track, and apple+LMB to dolly.
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or even better like Sony Vegas and use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out where the mouse pointer is located. With the Mighty Mouse we can now also get a left right scroll of the timeline with the scroll ball. Currently the mouse scroll does nothing in the FCP timeline. What a shame.
Gary
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The scroll wheel in the Timeline scrolls the layer stack if you have more vide or audio layers than will fit in the window.
All the best,
Tom
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy” DVDs
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OK, I’ll bite. MMB? LMB?
All the best,
Tom
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy” DVDs
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MMB–middle mouse button.
LMB–left mouse button.
Those are my guesses!
Michael.
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yes, MMB = middle mouse button and LMB = left mouse button, although i meant to put RMB for dollying.
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