Good work routines in FCP

[Chris Morlang]

> 2.) Is it possible to change pan on multiple audio clips? Very annoying when having to change pan to center on ALL audio clips separately (both left and right channels).

Change the Pan on one clip then Copy the clip…Highlight all the clips that you want to match the pan with and then right click one of them and select “Paste Attributes” then in the pop-up box you can select pan, then just hit “OK”

> 4.) Is it for real that FCP can’t read PNG files which are perfect to work with transparency? And that the only transparency accepted picture format is PSD?

You can also use Targa files XD

> 5.) When using the ‘add default transition’ keyboard shortcut is seems that I can’t set all the parameters for the transition beforehand. For example the ‘Dip to color transition’ won’t save the color I choose when double clicking the transition in the effects browser and editing it. Very annoying to add 10 transition by one click and then STILL having to edit each one separately. Am I doing something wrong?

You will have to edit the default transition directly if you don’t want to change it every time. (May require some coding)

> 7.) Creating figures: in Premiere there is a title tool in which it’s also possible to draw different shapes with tools reminiscent of the tools in Illustrator/Photoshop. This is VERY handy. Anything similar in FCP or does it only have the rigid shape generators in the effects panel?

Unless there is a plug-in yup that is the only way I know how

> 10.) Is it not possible to export more than one sequence at a time (no batch processor/queue)?

Export them using compressor and it will queue them

Those are all the answers I can give based upon my knowledge hopefully someone can help you more or give you better solutions!

~Chris Morlang~

[Benjamin Reichman]

“5.) When using the ‘add default transition’ keyboard shortcut is seems that I can’t set all the parameters for the transition beforehand. For example the ‘Dip to color transition’ won’t save the color I choose when double clicking the transition in the effects browser and editing it. Very annoying to add 10 transition by one click and then STILL having to edit each one separately. Am I doing something wrong?”

You can create ‘favorite’ transitions or filters and customize them. There are a number of different ways to do this, but one simple approach is to go into the Effects tab and drag “Dip to Color Dissolve” from the Video Transitions–>Dissolve bin into the Favorites bin. That will make a copy, which you can rename and change the settings of. Then right-click on it, and choose “Set Default Transition.”

“8.) If I copy a clip from one place in the timeline or a whole other timeline it will paste into the track number correspondent to where it was placed before. This is very annoying since it will probably paste onto a clip that is already there. I tried moving the small a1/v1 sliders but they don’t seem to give me the chance to choose which tracks I want the pasted items to show up on. How is this done?”

I don’t know how (or if) you can change the paste behavior, but if it’s a single clip, you can match frame (press F) and then insert directly into the other sequence. The correct In and Out points for the clip will be preserved.

12.) Still question is maybe a bit too technical for this thread: I edit a lot of Canon 5D mkII H.264 clips and it’s not always that I have the time to spend a whole day converting all the footage to prores. So I edit sometimes the H.264 files directly. But when I export the timeline with the ‘current settings’ it gives lots of digital errors everywhere that I use effects (transitions/fades/etc). But if I export the timeline as ‘ProRes’ it renders perfectly. This is very annoying since it takes 20-30 times longer to export into prores instead of exporting in the format it’s already in… Any ideas why it doesn’t work?

Final Cut Pro doesn’t handle H.264 clips well. I don’t know of any workarounds aside from converting to ProRes (or any other FCP-supported codec). Well, you could wait until June for Final Cut Pro X. 😉

[David Roth weiss]

[Benjamin Reichman] “You can create ‘favorite’ transitions or filters and customize them. “

Benjamin,

Look at how I quoted you above. That was done automatically by simply highlighting a line from your response and hitting the “Q” button. The Cow has many cool features built-in.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
https://www.drwfilms.com

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums. Formerly host of the Apple Final Cut Basics, Indie Film & Documentary, and Film History & Appreciations forums.

[Shane Ross]

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “1.) When I put a (cross)transition on two adjacent audio/video clips and move one of them away it seems I can’t put any new (or the same) clip back to snap to the clip without removing the old transition. Is this just a stupid FCP thing?”

Yup. Avid allows you to put a clip in there, and not remove the transition. FCP is behind the times there.

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “2.) Is it possible to change pan on multiple audio clips? Very annoying when having to change pan to center on ALL audio clips separately (both left and right channels). “

Change it on one. Copy and then PASTE ATTRIBUTES to all the others you want to change.

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “3.) Is it possible to colorize the clips in the timeline (this is possible in the browser but I can’t seem to find a way to do it in the timeline as it’s possible in Premiere)?”

Nope. Browser only.

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “4.) Is it for real that FCP can’t read PNG files which are perfect to work with transparency? And that the only transparency accepted picture format is PSD?”

I use PNGs all the time. NO issues.

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “5.) When using the ‘add default transition’ keyboard shortcut is seems that I can’t set all the parameters for the transition beforehand. For example the ‘Dip to color transition’ won’t save the color I choose when double clicking the transition in the effects browser and editing it. Very annoying to add 10 transition by one click and then STILL having to edit each one separately. Am I doing something wrong?”

YOu need to make that your DEFAULT transition. Copy the transition to your FAVORITES folder. Change the color you want it to use. Then right-click on the effect and choose SET DEFAULT TRANSITION.

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “7.) Creating figures: in Premiere there is a title tool in which it’s also possible to draw different shapes with tools reminiscent of the tools in Illustrator/Photoshop. This is VERY handy. Anything similar in FCP or does it only have the rigid shape generators in the effects panel?”

Premiere is a different app. It does different things. FCP does not do this.

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “9.) Is FCP not capable of showing the graphical interfaces of plugins/effects (third party)?”

Yeah, it is. Colorista2, for example. I can see that GUI well. What plugins are you referring to? And are they designed for FCP?

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “12.) Still question is maybe a bit too technical for this thread: I edit a lot of Canon 5D mkII H.264 clips and it’s not always that I have the time to spend a whole day converting all the footage to prores. So I edit sometimes the H.264 files directly. But when I export the timeline with the ‘current settings’ it gives lots of digital errors everywhere that I use effects (transitions/fades/etc). But if I export the timeline as ‘ProRes’ it renders perfectly. This is very annoying since it takes 20-30 times longer to export into prores instead of exporting in the format it’s already in… Any ideas why it doesn’t work?”

Because FCP isn’t designed to work with Native H.264. It just isn’t. Avid can, but not well. And Premiere can…so since you have that, you might consider using that if you need it to be native. Otherwise, you need to transcode. Sorry, but at this time that is the workflow. FCP X is rumored to work with H.264 native, so support is on the horizon.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Misha Aranyshev]

[Shane Ross] “Change it on one. Copy and then PASTE ATTRIBUTES to all the others you want to change.”

Command-A to select all. Control-Comma, Control-Stop, Control-Slash — pan left, center, right.

[Shane Ross] “Nope. Browser only.”

Command-Option-1,2,3, … — None, Yellow, Red etc. Works on selected clips or on a clip directly under playhead. To color parts of the same Master Clip different make independent.

[Shane Ross] “Premiere is a different app. It does different things. FCP does not do this.”

Throw a solid color on timeline and draw with Garbage Matte.

[Matt Lyon]

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “4.) Is it for real that FCP can’t read PNG files which are perfect to work with transparency? And that the only transparency accepted picture format is PSD?”

TIFFs work with transparency too.

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “8.) If I copy a clip from one place in the timeline or a whole other timeline it will paste into the track number correspondent to where it was placed before. This is very annoying since it will probably paste onto a clip that is already there.

You need to use the “autoselect” function: Copy your clip. Navigate to your destination timeline. Hit “command-zero (on the keypad), once or twice to clear your video autoselects. Then enable the autoselect on the track you want to paste too. Now paste your clip! Although it sounds like lots of clicking, but I’ve learnt to do this really fast without taking my hands off the keyboard.

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “10.) Is it not possible to export more than one sequence at a time (no batch processor/queue)?”

Select your sequences in the browser and go “File>batch export”

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “11.) Some times it seems as if it’s not possible to expand a generated matte/shape/etc more than a given time? Shouldn’t a generated shape be endless?”

Open the asset in the viewer and, in the timecode entry box in the top left corner, change the duration beyond the two minute default length.

Hope this helps,

Matt Lyon
Editor
Toronto

[Dennis Radeke]

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “12.) Still question is maybe a bit too technical for this thread: I edit a lot of Canon 5D mkII H.264 clips and it’s not always that I have the time to spend a whole day converting all the footage to prores. So I edit sometimes the H.264 files directly. But when I export the timeline with the ‘current settings’ it gives lots of digital errors everywhere that I use effects (transitions/fades/etc). But if I export the timeline as ‘ProRes’ it renders perfectly. This is very annoying since it takes 20-30 times longer to export into prores instead of exporting in the format it’s already in… Any ideas why it doesn’t work?”

If you need to convert to ProRes and have Adobe Media Encoder, then use it to convert to ProRes in the background while you edit with either FCP or Premiere Pro.

In Premiere Pro create an export sequence that conforms to the ProRes (Mac only) setting you need. From there, in Adobe Media Encoder, create a watch folder that leverages that preset. Drop your media in the folder and voila, instant (not really – it does take some time) ProRes. BTW – in the Adobe Media Encoder preferences, make sure you check the auto-start box to make sure it will automatically start the encode process.

[Misha Aranyshev]

If two clips are joined with transition and there is a need to change one of them it is a waste of time to drag one clip away and drag another clip in. Replace (F11) is much faster and it does keep the transition.

[Toni Martin dobrzanski]

First of all thanks for all you answers! They have all been very very helful! Especially Michael Aranyshev: I must say – your tips were brilliant!! 🙂 And I also liked your autoselect thing Matt!

In the meantime I found some new things I can’t figure out 🙂

13.) When dragging a clip from the browser to the timeline it’s possible to choose to ‘insert’ or ‘overwrite’ by holding the mouse in the upper or lower part of the track. Is it possible to choose ‘insert’ when moving clips around in the timeline from one place to another (in Premiere done by holding CTRL while moving clips)?

14.) In Premiere there is a really neat feature where you can drag a clip from the browser onto an existing clip in the timeline while holding the ALT key. Premiere then substitutes the clip with the new one but keeps all the information from the clip that was already in the timeline (so all motion, effects, in/out is kept). In that way you can quickly substitute the picture material while still keeping all the editing information of a clip. Is something similar possible in FCP? Is this what you called “replace” (F11) Michael?

15.) Is it possible in FCP to reveal a clip from the timeline in the browser? When I right-click on a clip in the timeline I can choose ‘Reveal in Finder’ but what about ‘Reveal in Browser’? That would be much more helpful 🙂 Any hints?

[Michael Hancock]

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] “s it possible to choose ‘insert’ when moving clips around in the timeline from one place to another (in Premiere done by holding CTRL while moving clips)?”

Select the clip in the timeline, move it to where you want to Insert it, and hold Alt/Option. It will change from Overwrite to Insert.

[Toni Martin Dobrzanski] ” Is it possible in FCP to reveal a clip from the timeline in the browser? When I right-click on a clip in the timeline I can choose ‘Reveal in Finder’ but what about ‘Reveal in Browser’?”

Select the clip in your timeline, then Shift+F. It will highlight the clip in your browser.

—————-
Michael Hancock
Editor