9 Tips & Tricks To LEVEL UP in FCPX | Final Cut Pro X Tutorial

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I kinda thought I was out of helpful tips and tricks for Final Cut Pro X, but after editing a few projects and watching the terrific Unauthorized FCPX series, I realized there were a few more things I could show everyone.
So, a new video was born!
If you're looking to level up your FCPX game and go from Beginner or Novice to full-fledged FCPX Master .... these 9 Tips & Tricks will help get you there. Be sure to check out my other tutorials on the channel because they're jam packed with things you could be doing right now to edit faster, more efficiently, and to ENJOY editing even more!
Like, share, subscribe!
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Opening
0:29 - Expanding Clips in List Mode
1:37 - Audio Meters Shortcut
02:42 - Toggling Event Viewer
03:55 - Deleting Clips with Magnetic Timeline
4:55 - Hold Frame
7:44 - Adding Clips w/o Audio
12:11 - Solo A Clip
13:33 - Blading Multiple Clips
15:07 - Switching Between Projects
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#fcpx #finalcutprox #videoediting

[@danielmartin1436]

00:29 - Expanding Clips in List Mode 01:37 - Audio Meters Shortcut 02:42 - Toggling Event Viewer 03:55 - Deleting Clips with Magnetic Timeline 04:55 - Hold Frame 07:44 - Adding Clips w/o Audio 12:11 - Solo A Clip 13:33 - Blading Multiple Clips 15:07 - Switching Between Projects Side note: Your tutorials are really great. Your explanations and breakdowns are exactly what I need. Thank you.

[@SonnyGreenwichJr]

Yup, those were VERY good tips! Here are two that changed my life, changed cmd B to just B; and changed the cmd brackets to just [ or ]. Do this the Commands section under Preferences, it sped me a tonne! From grey, wet & humid Ireland! ☘️☮️🤘🏽🤠👍🏽☮️☘️

[@matthewTobrien]

That’s an GREAT tip - I will definitely look at doing that as soon as I figure out if using this Elgato Streamdeck Mobile to handle that function/command is going to work. But absolutely - that saves a ton of time if you simplify those commands. And welcome from Ireland - being an O’Brien it’s one of my goals to make a loooong trip there with the fam. All the way from sunny, rainless, humid Omaha, Nebraska!

[@matheuscosta2773]

Man, you’re amazing ! I’m seeing tips here that I’ve never seen in other channels. Sure I’m subscribing !!!

[@matthewTobrien]

Love it! Glad they’re helping! More FCPX content to come... Thanks for watching and subscribing! 🙌🏻

[@frodhor1111]

Always worth to watch, thank you Matt.

[@matthewTobrien]

You're welcome, Frodho! Thanks for checking out the back catalogue!

[@CraytonTv]

Great video and awesome explanation sure did help me out a lot on certain things I didn’t know especially the solo audio section I always wonder what that was .. I have literally watched this video prolly 5+ times awesome content very helpful and congratulations on your 1.6K subs on KZbin killing it love the helpful tips keep up the great work God Bless

[@matthewTobrien]

Wow, thank you! And thanks for commenting on multiple videos (and watching them). So glad it’s on repeat to help you up your game. Keep at it and happy editing! 🎬🙌🏻

[@johntbd]

Toy maker is so well done.

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks so much for saying so and for watching. Glad you enjoyed it! 🤘🏻👌🏻

[@seanwhite8747]

Such helpful advice and tips. Thank you.

[@matthewTobrien]

You're welcome, Sean! Thanks for watching!

[@DavidsProductReviews]

your tips are awesome man. Really appreciate all the videos you make about FCPX.

[@matthewTobrien]

So glad to hear that, David! Thanks for watching!

[@eastbayjay]

Solid tips & tricks. Extremely helpful. Thanks so much!

[@matthewTobrien]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching. 🤘🏻🙌🏻

[@HardyBrothersOutdoors]

Loving your content! So helpful... been fumbling around for a few months and have learned a ton from your stuff... subscribed and hit the bell icon... :-)

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks you so much for watching and subscribing! Great to hear you're learning a lot from the channel - that's what I'm here for!

[@RAAMandTHETEAM]

Extremely Helpful !! Thank youuu :))

[@matthewTobrien]

So glad to hear it! Thanks for watching. 🙌🏻🤘🏻

[@CharlieSeymourJr]

Phewww... once again I'm out of breath. SO many great suggestions, all presented clearly. Very much appreciated!

[@matthewTobrien]

Haha, that'll happen! Thanks for watching!

[@ThisisDigitalden]

Solid info AGAIN ! Smashing it out with great TIPS here and all tutorials and free help for all, “ he who shares, wins “ thanks 🙏

[@matthewTobrien]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@ThisisDigitalden]

Watching it for a second and third time ! So good

[@BangkokExplorer]

This is awesome! Thanks!

[@matthewTobrien]

You're welcome! Thanks so much for watching!

[@billfried626]

Thanks so much, appreciate it.

[@matthewTobrien]

No problem, Bill! Thanks for watching. 🤘🏻🙌🏻

[@ashychoco6426]

thank you soooooo much i learn from you alot 💕💕 would you like to make video about Magnetic Timeline why advanced ppl dont use it ,, i always wondering ...

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks for watching! You can check out my video on the Magnetic Timeline here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aF6Qn318Z9ZjgpI

[@PallyKAPUKARE]

Thanks 😊

[@matthewTobrien]

You're welcome, Pally!

[@themindfulgentleman121]

After watching this video I would like to subscribe to your channel - had I not done so already! :) Again, amazingly helpful content - thanks, mate!

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks so much for subscribing! So glad you're digging the content. Thanks for watching!

[@flyfishingcrazyeyes]

Hi man. Cool tutorials. I would very much like to now how you can apply transitions and effect to clips and titles above the magnetic timeline, without affecting the magnetic timeline?

[@matthewTobrien]

Without seeing your exact situation, it's hard for me to give an answer that's helpful. As far as applying effects to Titles that are above the Primary Storyline, perhaps try putting the Title in a Compound Clip and then applying the effect to the Title when it's inside the Compound Clip. You may also be able to add a transition to the Title inside the Compound Clip and prevent it from affecting the clips you have in your Primary Storyline. I don't personally apply too many effects to Titles and the transitions I do use on my titles (Slide, Cross Dissolve, etc.) don't affect clips below them. Let me know if you make any progress by using Compound Clips. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesgray9862]

Great tips!! I have been working with Final Cut Pro X for a few years but I love to learn new stuff. I would love to have to do a short training about using Compound Clips. I have been working on creating short animated into's and exits for some of my clients training videos and I want to be able to create a compound clip that I can use generically. I just need to sharpen my skills on these. What drives my crazy is when you make a change on one compound clip this change also happens across all the places this has been used. I just want to duplicate it and perhaps re-name it so I can use it make title changes ( or whatever ) and then not have this trickle down into other projects where this Compound Clip was previously used. I seem to be missing something here.

[@matthewTobrien]

That's a great topic to discuss! And your issue has a very specific workflow to avoid frustration. Here's a link to an Apple support article that will tell you exactly how to create Compound Clips that you can alter/edit without affecting all the places that compound clip appears in your edit or other projects. support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/create-compound-clips-verca9e8d33/mac Check out the section "Create independent compound clips from existing compound clips" You can also check this article: support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/duplicate-projects-and-clips-verfd45ffa45/mac It discuss how to "Duplicate Project as Snapshot" so that you have more control over your compound clips within those projects. Hope that helps!

[@Dwarf78L]

Hi Man, Thanks for all your Tips videos. Just would like to comment the "CMD + SHIFT + B" shortcut which will 'cut' all the clips top to bottom in the timeline. If you want to cut only a bunch of clips and not all the clips, you can CMD + Select the clips you want into the timeline and then, place the playhead at the place where you want to make the cut and then hit "CMD + B". This will cut only your selected clips at the playhead ! Very usefull. (Note that the skimmer has priority to the playhead, and if you use the CMD+B shortcut with the Skimmer enabled, this will cut all the selected clips at the skimmer head, and not the playhead ! congrats for your stuff !

[@matthewTobrien]

Great specifics on the blade tool for viewers, Daniel! You know your stuff!

[@talonsix]

Late to the party, but this is FCPX gold! Thanks Matthew!

[@matthewTobrien]

So glad to hear that! Thanks so much for watching!

[@jaapvw66]

Hi, I loved the Hold option! Please let me be so free to give you some additional audio tips. But to be honest I don't know if I have them from you😂 It's a workflow I use u lot, especially if I work with music. Lots of time you have to put the level down in a part of the music clip for a soundbite. You can do that by using the range tool and then put the level down. Problem is that most of the time you want to have the level down more fluently then the default so you have to move the keyframes. If you have more soundbites you have to do that again and again and is it difficult to have the same level and fluency. . You can also copy only the keyframes using the shortcut shift option C and shift option V. Now you only have to slide the last to keyframes by just standing in between the keyframes and slide it. I hope this explanation was clear enough since English is not my mother language😂

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks for the audio feedback - those shortcuts are great, and I’ve definitely put them to good use. I think I’m going to stop putting music into the backgrounds for my tutorials from now on anyway... ✌🏻😊

[@frankcut7867]

Some people have the knack for teaching others just don’t. Your clarity and expertise with FCPX has really helped me as a newbie. I’m in the notetaking stage right now but soon will be referring to your videos for editing work. Thanks. I hope you can answer an off beat question. When watching a movie or television show and a car goes by with a spoked wheel and it appears to be going backwards or standing still in rotation, does that have something to do with the frame rate it was recorded at or the refresh rate on my television? Thanks

[@matthewTobrien]

Soooooo glad my vids have been helpful, Frank. It's always great to be able to connect with a teacher who speaks your language. And that's a good question about the spoked wheel - I would have to Google it to give a proper answer. I'm not honestly sure why that happens....

[@frankcut7867]

@@matthewTobrien Matthew, Don't waste your valuable time on my question. People need you solving bigger FCP issues rather than spinning wheels! ha I'll research it myself but I sure do appreciate the reply. Frank One more thing: Do you have any fun footage laying around that might pair up with some of my original music? Right now I'm using static drawings from my son Alex Cutri. Just a thought. kzbin.info/door/BW1YqJoly0dlnJ5HOSEhLw

[@matthewTobrien]

I don't think I do, Frank. :(

[@Juliano_DJOL]

I like this style video

[@matthewTobrien]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching. 🙌🏻🤘🏻

[@bwilesuk]

If you’re using a full keyboard with a number pad you can hit the ‘delete>’ button under ‘fn’ and it’ll delete the clip and preserve the timeline spacing and clip connections too. Saves you having to use a second key. But I find this trick and the tilde button are the two most useful things to know about the timeline for new users.

[@matthewTobrien]

Excellent point, Ben. I prefer a full-size keyboard, but with my Magic Trackpad in the mix the full-size keyboard throws me off when moving my right hand from my keyboard (usually to type) back to the Magic Trackpad. I'm sure I'd get used to it, but....I don't want to! Haha. Lots of extra goodies on the full-size keyboard, for sure. Home and End keys (if I remember correctly) are great for navigating to the beginning / end of a timeline. Thanks for watching!

[@bwilesuk]

@@matthewTobrien Totally agree. I always refuse to buy a 'shortened' keyboard for these reasons! ... that'll be an extra £30 a pop to Apple XD

[@sjeditor]

you are the best

[@matthewTobrien]

Really? Thanks!

[@sjeditor]

@@matthewTobrien yep! Been checking out your vids. Super helpful information dude

[@matthewTobrien]

So glad to hear that. Hoping it helps you and others level up!

[@locaalicia_jp]

After setting multiple In-Out, I couldn't change the starting point again in the browser just by selecting the file name. F key →Transfer to Smart Collection →Click the file name →Click the frequently used item →Change the starting point. There is no other way than this, right? ??

[@nelligan5477]

Thanks very much Matthew for that. Those tips were very helpful. Have a good day.

[@matthewTobrien]

You are welcome, Peter! Thanks for watching. 🙌🏻

[@aj-comedy]

Man these are great. Two very simple qs that I can’t seem to find the answer to anywhere: 1. In the inspector window, is there a shortcut to toggle between the different inspectors (audio/color/text etc). I’m constantly having to go click the small icons and it slows me down. 2. Is there a shortcut key to select a clip start or tail of a clip without having bring my mouse to that area and click? Would love to just press a button and already have just the start or tail of a clip selected so I can start trimming. Thanks! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@matthewTobrien]

Great questions! 1. You can bring up the Color Correction pane (where the Color Board tool comes up by default) in your Inspector using Command + 6 From there, you can use these key commands to navigate the different color correction tools: Switch to the Color pane in the Color Board | Control-Command-C Switch to the Exposure pane in the Color Board | Control-Command-E Switch to the Saturation pane in the Color Board | Control-Command-S Unfortunately, the Color Correction pane is the only one you can "switch" to using a Keyboard Shortcut. Audio, Text, Info - as far as I can tell - have to be clicked on to view. 2. I don't believe so. Looks like the only way to do this is by putting your playhead at the edit point and using Left and Right Bracket keys to select the left or right edge of the clip. But that would be a very helpful keyboard shortcut for sure!

[@aj-comedy]

Midland Pictures thanks for responding! OK that helps a lot actually with regard to selecting the clip ends I just have to select the whole clip first and then hit the brackets! LOVE this channel. Thanks for what you too

[@matthewTobrien]

You're welcome!

[@SergioPellico]

Good tips Midland Pictures, perhaps for future content ... you can make specialized videos of tips, organization, workflow ... for specific content ... tips to edit interviews, multicam, highlights of a TV program, making of, youtube content, sports, documentary, or whatever, but specific tips for each type of edition. So when someone goes to edit a job they can turn to your video so that nothing escapes them and refresh shortcuts, organization, etc ... and thus you will also get more views of your videos ... what do you think? ;) Greetings from Spain!!!

[@matthewTobrien]

This is great, Sergio! I'm always looking to add idea to my list of potential KZbin vids, and your suggestions are great! I will add them to my list and think on which ones I can make an awesome video about. Thanks for watching!!!

[@SergioPellico]

@@matthewTobrien I'm glad to contribute something to your channel !!! ... and if you make a video about a specific type of edition (organization, import, edition and output), maybe you can make second videos where you delve into aspects of the first one ... as well the the first video doesn't get too long and you get more views also in the second videos ... I don't know, it's hard work, but it can be very interesting and useful ... = more visits to your videos ... Honestly, I'm fed up of the videos that want to sell me something ... I prefer to learn something new that works for me. Thank you!

[@matthewTobrien]

I completely agree, Sergio! That's great insight. Appreciate it!

[@DavesCave]

You mentioned come - shift - b Could you select the stacked clips (highlight all in yellow) and then use the blade? Would this cut without effecting audio and sound effects?

[@matthewTobrien]

Sadly, no. It’s all or nothing. Which is a bummer. 😓

[@DavesCave]

@@matthewTobrien great videos, love your delivery style and wealth of knowledge. I’m hooked

[@gvc76]

You can blade selected clips only, by using CMD-B. See @Daniel LENAIN's comment for more details.

[@raahgeernitin9288]

Thanks it was really helpful. I have few questions would you please answer them too. Tell me how can I address them

[@matthewTobrien]

You can add them here in the comments, tune in to one of my livestreams and ask there, or you can DM me on instagram @matthewtobrien

[@raahgeernitin9288]

@@matthewTobrien how can i move the time line forward and creat a gap in between without selecting everything and then shifting it. As we do it in premier pro. There is a double arrow tool which selects and moves everything forward.

[@raahgeernitin9288]

And how can i fast forward the clip and listen to it at the same time without changing the speed. Just forwarding and playing it along with double or triple the speed to just listen to what the scene is all about. So is there a way to do that.

[@edwardwhite4790]

I’m sorry I can’t get what you are getting in list view.. I will get a vide bar at the top but I keep this large screen with my video clip to the right.

[@matthewTobrien]

Hard to know how to help without seeing what you're seeing. But no worries, there's a lot of different workspace layouts out there in FCP and until you know how to completely customize them (even though there are significant limitations) it can be difficult to replicate other setups. I also edit in Final Cut with two monitors - do you?

[@asm101]

Hey man....how do you undo a cut/blade way after you've made it? Without undoing for eternity

[@matthewTobrien]

The only way you can undo it is if you see a dotted line at the cut point. You can hit "T" to select the Trim Tool and then click on the edit point so it's highlighted yellow and then just hit Delete. If the cut point *_isn't_* a dotted white line you can't stitch the clips back together.

[@asm101]

@@matthewTobrien thanks for the response these videos are very helpful

[@barxtra679]

Great Tips as always. I am also a heavy FCPX user as well but one thing that frustrates a lot is not having the ability to select clips from the time line and create a Smart Collection or a keyword collection. Maybe, You might know of a way?

[@matthewTobrien]

Ooooh, that's a good one. And, sadly, I don't believe there is a way to do that. Gonna have to think on that one a bit more. I haven't run into a situation where I personally have felt the desire to do that but maybe that would be a cool thing to be able to do.... Hmmmmm.

[@barxtra679]

@@matthewTobrien THX for the quick reply. I do Sports compilations Highlights and sometimes i need to make an extreme short version of whatever i have already edited on the timeline. It would be handy to have that functionality then. BTW , i just subscribed.keep up the good work.

[@matthewTobrien]

@@barxtra679 Thanks for clarifying even more - gonna have to think on what the workaround would be since there isn't a right-click menu option for selecting files in the timeline and creating a Smart Collection. Best you can do is to click on the files in the Timeline and hit Command + K to assign them to a keyword collection or create a new keyword collection. From there you'd have to go back to your Event Browser and do any additional organizing, etc. Interesting request, though, and one I'll ponder here for a bit. Thanks for subscribing!

[@RealRidez]

Click for audio levels 🤯🤯🤯

[@matthewTobrien]

I can't believe I didn't know it was there for soooooooo long. Glad it's gonna help! 🙌🏻🤘🏻