[Craig Alan]

Highlight the library in the libraries window.

In the inspector

you choose where to store your media (library by default).

You can consolidate it there if it is in more than one place.

FC has a habit of telling you what the original codec was before you optimized it.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Yes for sure back up. Even if you are not switching to a new version … back up. That said, none of the back ups caused a problem moving from one version to another. I really don’t remember hearing problems from anyone. The library system changed and Apple did a good job of taking care of the transition. Though this would be a bigger jump than one version to the next.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Jeremy,
great idea to be able to toggle between the appearance views.
When you are in chicklet view how do you identify what clip you are looking at?
Have you given each clip a unique name? It would have to be short if squeezed into visible portion of timeline.

It would be kinda cool to have some auto naming of clips in the timeline as an option like 1V 2V for visual clip # 1 and 2 – not replacing any other name or keyword but just as a way you could say hey could you cut 5V or move 5V after 8V. Thus making it easier to talk to clients/collaborators about a particular clip? You know without folks pointing at the timeline and trying to turn the monitor into a pad.

As far as seeing the whole timeline, shift-z does a nice job. The only advantage I see to chicklet view is displaying just names?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

go to app store and update fc to the latest version — huge improvements! and free upgrade.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Thanks Jeremy

Yeah I get it now. But I do like seeing both handles to determine what my options are. Each project is different though so you never know if this might come in handy. Not sure why shift X wasn’t working for me the first few times I tried it but maybe I was passed the handles or just need to be parked on the edit point.

But yeah I’m really pleased with the \ for video and shift \ for audio command to set up trimming at an edit point. and shift x to set new edit point … very cool.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Thank you for this detailed post, as I am in the process of coming up with a backup/archive workflow.

I think I followed the step by step but have a couple of questions.

You mention archive raid. Is this the best option? Would a bunch of individual drives be a more secure way to archive? Regardless either would need an extra clone to be reasonably secure.

I ordered a owc two drive dock for backing up projects on the raid I’ll be using for active projects.

I’ve read the article about lto backups and considering that, but for now will go with hard drives.

I’m thinking of creating an excel spreadsheet that keeps a list of drive number and projects stored.

Would it be possible to use the tiny Fcp x project files (not the projects themselves) plus the original media, as you mention you also back up and archive, to recreate a Fcp x project?
. Or does your steps above essentially do this?

I’m asking cause although storage by size has
Gotten way cheaper, I’m ending up with way more media than in the DV days. Plus I don’t have those tapes as the ultimate safety net for lost computer files.

Softraid which now seems necessary since el capitan does not format raids, offers a test to determin health of hard drives either populated -verify, or empty -certify. Do you know if this is a solid indication of hard drive health?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Ok thanks:

Up or down arrow to navigate to edit point (otherwise it does not stick … at least on my rig)

navigate to new edit point

⇧X.

Done.

Get it Got it Good.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

I’m trying.

With ⇧] or [ – sometimes it sticks but usually I have to use the arrow keys to plant the playhead on the edit point first or apply just ] or [ (video) and then ⇧] or [ to get it to drop to audio.

Then if it does stick that’s only one of the two clips. And if I apply a J cut or an L cut the audio I am trying to make inactive needs to be trimmed or the L and J won’t apply. The only way I see to end with a L or J cut is to be in trim mode. Then it trims as it extends.

So what would be the least amount of strokes to get to this point?
So far it’s easier to select both clips control s T click on the edit point navigate to the desired edit point and shift X. equal parts mousing & keyboard.

Not trying to argue. Would love to be wrong.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

[Robin S. Kurz] “[Craig Alan] “I’m not a skilled touch type editor. Though I do like keyboard commands over mousing. ”

The one kind of requires the other, no?? :D”

Not exactly. I worked in house as a writer at a couple of major production studios. When I went in the edit bays, the pros there could touch type basically anything that was in their heads or the director asked them to do. Just cause I prefer hen pecking at the keyboard doesn’t mean I’m anywhere near that level. Touch typing implies typing without looking.

[Robin S. Kurz] “There is no need to explicitly expand the clip first. Simply hitting the aforementioned shortcut(s) will do that for you.”

Well step one is expanding the audio. The fastest way to select adjacent clips requires the mouse – either rope em or shift click em. Or if there is a keyboard way to select two adjacent clips I’m all ears. Arrow keys & C will select one clip.

[Robin S. Kurz] “[Craig Alan] “It really should be a simple command, no? Select two adjacent clips, audio could be expanded or not. With the skimmer or playhead where you want the split edit to be, press a command for a split edit. Done.”

Exactly.”

Not exactly. They need to be expanded first AFAIK. So that’s six strokes to expand audio for two clips. Or one mouse stroke and one keyboard stroke – way better.
Then two strokes to set the bracket at any edit point on the expanded video/audio and another two or more to select the edit point of choice. Then navigate and set your split edit. Then repeat to collapse both clips.

What I’m suggesting is placing your playhead anywhere in the timeline and use a keyboard shortcut that creates a split edit by extending either the audio from the clip before or the clip after without needing to expand first.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

[Robin S. Kurz] “‘m assuming you mean when in the PE?”

I meant the clip skimmer, not PE. And shift x does work.

When I tested it maybe i had gone past the handle thus it did not respond. Again if they would add two-up while using the keyboard it would be helpful.

It doesn’t seem like anyone here finds the PE useful or needed anyway (I like seeing the handles and it’s a quick keyboard shortcut on and off to take a quick look). But I’m not a skilled touch type editor. Though I do like keyboard commands over mousing.

So what I’d like to know is the most efficient way to create split edits?
Possibilities: expand audio/video (select adjacent clips, control-s), use shift brackets, arrow keys, and shift x to set the audio I and O but 2 up is not displayed. Create a split edit by expanding audio/video of adjacent clips and then using the trim tool/mouse to do a roll edit of the audio only. Although now the two up display shows up in the viewer, it doesn’t display the visual.

So what I find myself doing is playing the video, setting a marker where i want the split edit to be and then expanding both clip’s audio/video and then using the mouse and trim tool to roll edit the audio to the marker.

Or I can skim to the point where I want the split edit and shift x

It really should be a simple command, no? Select two adjacent clips, audio could be expanded or not. With the skimmer or playhead where you want the split edit to be, press a command for a split edit. Done. Why not?

I’m asking not telling even though this is the debate forum.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.