Replacing footage while maintaining current transitions in the sequence

[Chris Tompkins]

Select the new clip u want and copy – next, select the clip u want to replace and cntrl click on it and choose paste attributes – then chose content

[John]

Thanks. I was beginning to think it wasn’t doable…

John

[Matt James]

There is a MUCH EASIER WAY! If you want to replace shots that are already together in a sequence with transitions and everything, just put the time marker at the first frame of the video clip In the sequence that you want to replace. Second frame if it is at the Center of a transition. Then double-click the clip you want to use to replace the shot in the sequence, which put’s it into the viewer. Mark an inpoint on the frame you want to start to use as the replacement, and click on the blue Replace-shot button at the bottome of the canvas window. Or drag the clip from the viewer to the canvas window to get all your options, then drop it on the blue Replace button. This will replace the shot where you have your time marker in the sequence, with the shot in the viewer, starting at the frame you marked as your inpoint.

This is a lot of words, but it is really easy. Email me if I’ve confused you.

Matt James
Freelance FCP Editor
Denver, CO
peacejames@aol.com

[Kevin Monahan]

Replace Edit is the most underused and misunderstood editing tool. It’s perfect for replace editing clips in a sequence with existing transitions.

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

[Mike Raff]

I have to confess I must be one of the ones misunderstanding Replace Edit.

My experience is that when I try to replace a clip with a dissolve at the head, I tend to get an “Insufficient Content” error message, but if I delete the transition, then Replace Edit works as I would expect. So, like the person who started this thread, I find I am having a hard time replacing clips while maintaing the existing transitions.

From what I’ve described, Kevin, can you explain exactly what it is I am doing wrong?

TIA

Mike Raff
Richmond, VA

[Matt James]

I can’t tell you how FCP figures it out, but you can have your time marker on the second frame of the clip in the sequence, and it will replace it with what’s in the viewer. Just try moving over one frame if it says there isn’t enough content.

Matt James

[Kevin Monahan]

Hi Michael,
It’s working fine.

If your playhead is centered on the cut, you should be parked on the first frame of the incoming shot. Therefore, you should not have to move forward one frame to complete the Replace Edit. It appears that PeaceJames introduced an In Point, forcing the Replace edit to occur on the first frame of the incoming shot. This is not necessary. Typically, in a Replace Edit, you don’t usually use In or Out Points because a Replace Edit is a “playhead centric” edit.

Typically, if you moved one frame to the left of the centered transition, then that would be the method for a Replace Edit you’d be backing in the outgoing shot from the last frame moving backwards to the first frame. This is because your playhead is parked on the final frame of the outgoing shot.

Typically, if your playhead is centered on the transition, you are actually parked on the first frame of the incoming shot. With a Replace Edit, you’d be replacing the incoming shot from the first frame and moving forwards to the last frame.

The fact that a transition lies between the shots you are replacing makes no difference. The behavior is the same.

I’ll bet you get insufficient content because you have In or Out Points in either the Viewer and/or Timeline. Again, a Replace Edit is playhead centric, you don’t want or need In or Out Points – in fact, they can confuse the operation.

Also, I am thinking you may not understand just how Replace Edit works. Or the many things you can do with it. It’s OK! Not many others do, and it’s worth it to master it. Hint: it’s more than for merely replacing clips with others – it’s also an excellent timing tool to match actions to sounds or vice versa. I use it constantly, especially for music videos and action oriented film and video work. Need to match an explosion to the sound of an explosion? How ’bout a heavy metal downbeat to a diving catch by Jerry Rice? Yup. Replace Edit.

Can you read up on it in the manual and re-post anything you don’t understand? It’s worth the effort, believe me.

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