Introduction to Final Cut Part 2: Assembling Clips

Note: there are often several different ways to perform a particular operation in Final Cut, and there are many functions available that are not covered here. This Introduction is intended to present an easy-to-learn way to perform the most common operations. Refer to the paper manuals or the onscreen Help menu for further assistance.

Double-clicking on a clip icon in the Browser (see Part 1) opens the clip in the Viewer, where you can play it and scrub through it by dragging the playhead or using the Jog Control (J/K/L). Mark In and Out points by clicking the buttons (I/O), to select the portion you want to add to your sequence.

Place the playhead in the Canvas window at the point where you want to insert the new shot. Add the clip to the sequence by dragging it to the Canvas window and dropping it on Insert or Overwrite, depending on whether you want the clip to replace the material in the Timeline at that point, or be added to the existing material. Or simply click the Insert or Overwrite button (F9/F10).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Timeline normally opens with one empty video track (V1) and two audio tracks (A1 and A2).

The playhead will always be at the same point in the Timeline as it is in the Canvas, and marks where the next shot will be edited. Locking a track prevents accidentally editing that track. The Track Destination tabs control which video and audio tracks the shots will appear on.

Turning on the Rubber Bands allows using the Pen tool from the toolbar to adjust audio levels or title fades.

The Zoom Slider lets you scroll sideways through the clips on the Timeline. Dragging the end of the slider changes the scale of the Timeline window. You can also use the Magnifying Glass in the toolbar.

Snapping and Linking: video and audio which are part of the same shot are normally linked together so they always stay in sync ("Linking"). The playhead normally jumps to a nearby cut, to help accuracy ("Snapping"). Both of these features can be turned on (green) and off (grey) with buttons at the top right of the Timeline.  
 

Select File/Close Project so it doesn't open for the next person in the Editing Room, and Shut Down the computer (in the Apple menu.)

See also Part 1:Starting a Project or Part 3: Trimming and Effects or Part 4: Titles and Output.  
 

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