Compound Clip Workflow suggestions

[Don Smith]

If you open the compound clip from the storyline then the greyed areas are your indication of what’s being used on the storyline. Instead, open the compound clip from the file browser. Whatever you change in the cc in the file browser version will also change in any child of that cc on the storyline. Test what I tell you with a small compound clip that was created just for testing. Take a couple of clips on the storyline, make them into a cc, it becomes listed in the File Browser, double-click on the cc in the file browser and make some changes and then check the cc on the storyline and you should see the file browser changes reflected on the storyline version.

Do you have snapping (n) turned on? You shouldn’t have to nudge frame-by-frame.

Don Smith
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[David Eaks]

I came across the same issue a while ago (before 10.0.6) and found myself extending compound clips with gap clips then trimming afterward as well. I thought it would be nice to have a “fit to contents” on/off toggle for Compound clips

Don, are you saying that if you open a compound clip in its own timeline from the event browser, add some clips increasing the length, then all instances of that compound clip on their respective timelines will automatically extend to fit the new clips? Which would increase the length of any project that compound clip is in? If so, that’s a good thing to be aware of.

[Don Smith]

RE: “Don, are you saying that if you open a compound clip in its own timeline from the event browser, add some clips increasing the length, then all instances of that compound clip on their respective timelines will automatically extend to fit the new clips? Which would increase the length of any project that compound clip is in? If so, that’s a good thing to be aware of.”
– –

That’s the way its supposed to work thought I’ve not tried it out. If you want to change only that one compound clip then duplicate it and change its name and change the copy.

Here’s a full explanation from Steve Martin. Scroll past halfway down to find “Improved Compound Clips”:

https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_x_first_look_06_martin.html

Here’s a key paragraph from Steve:

“With a single-instance Compound Clip, any changes you make to copies in the Timeline (like adding an effect), are reflected in all copies in the Project and Event Library.”

Don Smith
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[James Bayliss-smith]

Okay Don thanks. I can report that it does work as you said but the timeline does not increase in length. You still need to pull the end of the compound out.

So what I have done is create a keyword called “++Fine Cut Compounds” and assigned that to the 5 compounded parts of my cut. Because of the ++ at the beginning that now sits at the top of my event above all my folders containing keyword collections (my ‘bins’) so I have easy access to them. I will now just work on these instead of double clicking my timeline to open them up. All I have to do then is remember to drag the edges out (or back) before I screen it. This is managable with 5 compound clips but a bit awkward.

You were right about turning snapping on you can just drag it back and it snaps to the end

[Don Smith]

Also, here’s a MacBreak Studio video tutorial on the new Compound Clips:

https://www.rippletraining.com/categories/free-stuff.html?opened=fs-final-cut-pro-x#bottom_parth

I suspect, but do not know from experience, that if you are editing the File Browser version of a CC that has a child on the main storyline, you’ll still have to manually change the length of that child. Its only on the storyline that exposed length is set and keep in mind that whatever you do to the child is reflected in its parent and in all other instances. I suspect that you would have to first delete the CC on the story line, then edit the parent in the File Browser, then lay it back to the storyline for the new length to take effect. Otherwise, and I consider this a good thing, the length on the storyline would be respected and you will want that over the alternative. If not for that safety, then other instances of that CC throughout the storyline would also change in length when it is not desired.

Don Smith
NewsVideo.com

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[David Eaks]

[James Bayliss-Smith] “Okay Don thanks. I can report that it does work as you said but the timeline does not increase in length. You still need to pull the end of the compound out.”

This is good. Nobody wants their projects moving around unintentionally. It would be nice to have a “fit to contents” button on a per instance basis, just a simple right click selection to make the compound clip fit the length of its contents.

[David Eaks]

Yeah good stuff! I usually watch every MacBreak Studio episode within minutes of it being posted. I fiendishly watched and read everything I could find when 10.0.6 came out, because I had to wait to finish projects before updating but wanted “audio components” for my multicam clips in progress sooo bad.

[Don Smith] “Otherwise, and I consider this a good thing, the length on the storyline would be respected and you will want that over the alternative. If not for that safety, then other instances of that CC throughout the storyline would also change in length when it is not desired.”

Exactly, if stepping into a CC from the Event Browser had that effect on each instance on a timeline, the “Final Cut Pro> Provide FCP Feedback” menu would be getting another a visit from me. 😉

[Bret Williams]

Unfortunately, thats sorta how nests worked in legacy. If you stepped into a nest, and made it longer, it actually rippled the timeline track it was in with no warning. Completely screwing things up.

[Mark Morache]

You can also select the compound clip in the timeline and shift-F to match frame to the browser clip, then opt-T to open the compound in timeline view.

Shift-F is very fast.

I often use CC to start the name of my compound clips, so I can put CC in the search field, and I get a quick list of compound clips.

There’s just too many good ways to do things in FCP-X.

Now if we could just get them to add a “used” parameter to the smart clip collection.

———
Don’t live your life in a secondary storyline.

Mark Morache
FCPX/FCP7/Xpri/Avid
Evening Magazine,Seattle, WA
https://fcpx.wordpress.com

[Don Smith]

Just found a great Compound Clip tutorial that’s the best I’ve seen so far. Watch the whole thing and you will be EDUCATED! I learned things I didn’t know and I thought I knew the new CC behavior well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IYxAjXr2b8&list=UU6FpoTG28AgyxVSACBD8xzA

Don Smith
NewsVideo.com

NewsVideo.com

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