dropping files into timeline.

[Dragos]

It sounds like you’re not keeping track of your in and out points within the timeline. If you have in and out points set and go to drop footage it is going to lay the footage directly over your in and out points and will do an overwrite on the existing track, or if you’re trying to start a new track it will likely do an insert.

If you’re just trying to lay down footage quickly make sure your in and out points are clear in the timeline and then drag and drop to your heart’s content. The footage will always start at the mark of your play meter. If you want to be more precise don’t drag and drop. Double click to view your footage, check your length in the timeline and then match in your left viewer before dropping it into the timeline.

[Tom Wolsky]

When you drag the clip into the timeline watch which way the arrow points. If it’s a downward pointing arrow it will overwrite into the timeline, if it’s a right pointing arrow it will insert. If you drag the clip to the top third of the track you’ll get a right pointing arrow and an insert edit, if you drag it into the lower two-thirds you’ll get the downward arrow and will do an overwrite.

[Kevin Monahan]

Tom’s right. Look for the visible line that separates the track. If you drag below the line it’s an overwrite. Above the line is an insert edit. It makes sense once you look for the “dividing line”.

I encourage you to lose the drag and drop habit though. Speedy editors use keyboard shortcuts instead. Once you get used to F9 and F10, you never go back. 😉

Kevin Monahan
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
fcpworld.com

[Daniel J murphy]

Wow.

I’ve been working with FCP for a couple of years now, and I’m getting to feel really comfortable with it. I think I even do good work. I can’t believe I never noticed the line before. haha. I learn something new from everybody here on CC every single day. It’s amazing!

Thanks alot!

Daniel Murphy

[Kevin Monahan]

No sweat.

A couple of years, eh? You’ve got to stop drag and dropping then. Try out those KB shortcuts, bro!

Kevin Monahan
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
fcpworld.com

[Daniel J murphy]

I do use shortcuts for just about everything. but F9 and F10 just do Expose. What are they supposed to do and what am I doing wrong?

[Kevin Monahan]

OH! First of all, change Expose to CMD + F9, etc. in the System Prefs.

F9 is for Insert
F10 is for Overwrite

My Workflow:
CMD 4 Selects the Browser
Up and down arrow keys to select the clip
Enter to load clip into Viewer
JKL to find In point
I to mark in
JKL to find Out point
O to mark out
CMD 3 Selects the Timeline
JKL to Find In or Out (or up/down arrow keys to find a cut)
F9 or F10 to insert or overwrite

Although it sounds like it’ll take WAY longer than drag and dropping, it’s not. It’s a very compact way to work. With drag and dropping, you invariably have to trim-and sometimes that extra step takes a lot of time.

Kevin Monahan
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
fcpworld.com