Forward Select Tool in FCP X?

[Bret Williams]

I could’ve shaved a million keystrokes off your tttt method by now. Press T. You’re in T mode. Press hold shift and you’re in TTTT mode. Release shift and you’re in T mode.

The method being discussed works in the timeline index, which seems a bit convoluted. Easier to just shift+z and draw a marquee around everything from where you are, down.

But that and TTTT can be prone to error. In X, and how Avid used to be and probably still is, the best method is to insert something or roll something out to make the space.

Inserting a gap takes one keystroke. Then rolling out the gap longer to make space is another mouse click/drag. So far, 2 stokes/clicks shorter than just choosing the TTTT key.

The other obvious concept is that there is not much reason to shift everything down. Pick your spot and start inserting. Since the timeline is in ripple mode by default and you can’t lock tracks, you’re not going to knock anything out of sync.

[James Ewart]

thanks..had so many of those “Doh” moments over the years when talking to others…but when it comes to hitting the “t” button four times I reckon I am (unnecessarily obviously) world champion.

Doh!

[Ernie Munick]

Thanks, Jeremy. I’m using the position tool, as you recommend.

I’m gonna need months before deciding which version of FCP is better, 7 or X

[Gabe Miller]

It sounds like editors who have been using FCP X have found ways around the select tracks forward or backward tool, but I’m not there yet.

Adding a gap addresses half of what this tool does for me in FCP 7. What I’m looking for is a way to select every clip to the right of the where the gap is so I can make that gap smaller (creating a gap works fine to add space); and, I’d like to be able to close the gap completely, sans having to minimize the timeline, marquee everything to the right, and then expand the timeline again to more accurately place the selected clips. In FCP 7 this was as simple as tapping T twice, and positioning the selected clips; deleting the gap was just as easy: simply select the empty space in the timeline and hit the delete key. I’d like to think Apple wouldn’t create an “revolutionary” program that employs more steps to accomplish a function than FCP 7 does, so my guess is the answer is in my blind spot.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Jeremy Garchow]

[gabe miller] “Adding a gap addresses half of what this tool does for me in FCP 7. What I’m looking for is a way to select every clip to the right of the where the gap is so I can make that gap smaller”

If you have a gap in the primary and want to make it smaller, simply trim it, or select it and hit command-d and type a new duration (or delete it).

This will make the gap smaller/disappear. Is this what you mean?

Jeremy

[James Ewart]

This was the thing that troubled me most at the outset. Gaps for sure is the first thing that helped but as everything is connected to the primary storyline as you close or expand the gap in either direction everything will move with it…either left or right. It seems counterintuitive at first and then it suddenly seems to make a lot of sense.

But this solution from another post is also rather cool

“Park your playhead before the clips you want to select. Go to the timeline index and press “shift/alt/down” to selects all clips to the right. (or “shift+alt+down” to select all clips to the left.)

Once the clips are highlighted select the position tool and punch in the duration you want your clips moved by.”

I have not found myself able to punch in the numbers but it works manually and in essence does the same thing in a more FCP7 way.

[James Ewart]

This is a very useful solution but I cannot figure how to punch in number of frames in the way you describe?

[Jeremy Garchow]

[James Ewart] “I have not found myself able to punch in the numbers but it works manually and in essence does the same thing in a more FCP7 way.”

When you have clips selected, simply type “+” or “-” and then numbers to move them that specific number of hours/minutes/seconds/frames. So, “+ 212” to move all selected clip forward 2 seconds 12 fames, or “- 212” to move backward. Practice this to see how this behaves.

[James Ewart] “Gaps for sure is the first thing that helped but as everything is connected to the primary storyline as you close or expand the gap in either direction everything will move with it…either left or right. It seems counterintuitive at first and then it suddenly seems to make a lot of sense.”

I guess I am confused. If you don’t want to move anything, don’t move it. If you do need to move everything to right/left, then you can move it. Using the position tool helps to keep things in place by adding a gap but not changing timing, in essence you are overwriting with a gap. The position tool is a toggle. You can trim with it on or off and the timeline will behave differently.

Jeremy

[Gabe Miller]

Exactly. Shortly after posting my question I realized how to do it, it seems just a simple, only through a different lens.

Thank you.

gabe

[James Ewart]

One you get over the “it’s different” hurdle you are on your way there. I started two projects in FCPX and scrapped them and went back to 7 and then felt like I did not want to be defeated by it and could not believe Apple could come up with something so bad. But once I got over trying to force it to do things my way and accepted doing things its way I was suddenly emancipated. I can jump into Premiere and work the same way (largely) and even Avid (although less so because I like drag and drop).

It’s so simple but you have to give in a bit…may I recommend the Ripple Training tutorials. They helped me enormously and not expensive.