fcp7 Subclip Error: Unable to add clip to sequence…

[Eddie Adams]

This is an old thread but still a common problem. I’m getting the same error, except in my case:

I have ProRes 422 1280×720 29.97 footage sitting in my timeline – the one clip is about 20 minutes long. The clip is an interview, and I slice out the interviewer to isolate just the responses. So I have lots of short segments of the one clip on my timeline now. I double click each segment, CTRL+U to subclip it, and give it a name in my project bin. Then I go to delete the segment (or any segment) in the timeline and it gives me the same error message – which is strange because I”m not trying to add anything, just delete. FCP now no longer allows me to subclip anything or delete anything from the timeline – I just keep getting that same error message. So I shut down FCP, and after it quits I get an “FCP Quit Unexpectedly” error. Now I restart FCP and everything is fine, until I make another subclip, then the whole process repeats. It’s extremely frustrating when on a short deadline.

I’m running FCP 7.0.3 on OS X 10.7.5. My project is all ProRes 422 footage at 29.97. Within one project, I have three sequences I am working in.

Any ideas? I’ve trashed preferences and restarted the comp with no luck – I immediately get the same error.

[Eddie Adams]

This is an old thread but still a common problem. I’m getting the same error, except in my case:

I have ProRes 422 1080×720 29.97 footage sitting in my timeline – the one clip is about 20 minutes long. The clip is an interview, and I slice out the interviewer to isolate just the responses. So I have lots of short segments of the one clip on my timeline now. I double click each segment, CTRL+U to subclip it, and give it a name in my project bin. Then I go to delete the segment (or any segment) in the timeline and it gives me the same error message – which is strange because I”m not trying to add anything, just delete. FCP now no longer allows me to subclip anything or delete anything from the timeline – I just keep getting that same error message. So I shut down FCP, and after it quits I get an “FCP Quit Unexpectedly” error. Now I restart FCP and everything is fine, until I make another subclip, then the whole process repeats. It’s extremely frustrating when on a short deadline.

I’m running FCP 7.0.3 on OS X 10.7.5. My project is all ProRes 422 footage at 29.97.

[Eddie Adams]

Also, copy and pasting into a new sequence stills give me the error, so it doesnt seem to be a corrupt sequence issue.

[Bernd Schuster]

Hi Eddie Adams

I’ve had the exact same problem. And first I thought the problem was solved when I switched on the “Linked selection” button on the top right corner of my timeline. But the problem re-occured… Still I think this is a sequence settings problem.

Here is the solution for what has worked for me:
In the bottom LEFT corner of Final Cut Pro (where your viewing options are…) there is a VERY tiny arrow head pointing to the RIGHT . Click this. A menue will pop up and the third selection from above is called something like “Display linked edit marks” -I really cannot give you the exact same name that I have because I am working on a non English keyboard… so please try to match it with the correct selection in English. – I have FCP version 7.0.3 btw. In the window that pops up it will be the third one from above. Right below “show audio wave form” if this is any help—-

So when I opened FCP and created a subclip the settings of my first sequence had the “Display linked edit marks” selection checked and I got the same error message you got when I tried to delete anything from the timeline. Whatever I’ve tried, nothing worked, and I’ve tried for hours…

Then I unchecked “Display linked edit marks” after a click on that little arrow head and then created a new sequence and tried to create the same subclip again.
YEAH!!! Now I could delete and change the subclip and later more subclips without ANY problem. 🙂

I hope this helps. If not I have to say I have NO alternative solution. Please let me know if has worked for you. I’d be curious.

Good luck, all best!

[Bernd Schuster]

I forgot to mention that I had to create a brand new sequence and THEN unchecked that little thing in my NEW sequence. Together with the new settings it worked.