Ben Low

Q: Marking segments of clips as favourites IN timeline?

I know we can mark selections of clips in the Browser as favourites.  And then build a keyword collection / project from these 'F' selects.

 

I find doing this very very slow.

 

I like to skim through the clips in the timeline.  Just blading out the segments I want and bopping them up to next 'track' (Alt Com upper arrow).  X'cuse, I know we no longer have tracks ... but up out of the main storyline.  Once I get through a set of clips I delete all the not-wanted storyline clips and bring my selects back down to the storyline.  Or just lasso copy all the upper clips and bring them to another timeline (project).  And then begin to work with them there.

 

I'm wondering if there is a way to do this more efficiently?  If I could choose 'Favorites' in the storyline, and somehow translate them to a new timeline/project ... I know I can't.

 

So maybe I'm just wondering if there is a more efficient way to make selects IN the timeline?  Without using the Browser?  Something I haven't come across yet in the diverse tutorials.  Which all seem to favour the Browser / Favorite method.

 

All ears and curiosity...

 

Ben

MacBook Pro (15-inch Glossy), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on May 8, 2016 7:09 PM

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Q: Marking segments of clips as favourites IN timeline?

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  • by Alchroma,Helpful

    Alchroma Alchroma May 9, 2016 11:25 AM in response to Ben Low
    Level 6 (18,976 points)
    Video
    May 9, 2016 11:25 AM in response to Ben Low

    I would use the Keyword Editor:

    Screen Shot 2016-05-09 at 2.35.18 PM.png

    Then in the Browser mark in/out points in the desired clips.  With the R key pressed you can easily drag a Range or even leave the Range toll ON.

    Because you have made a Wanted Clip Section in  the first box for Shortcuts all you do now is press Control 1 for each additional clip range.

    To summarise the process is simply, Select a clip - drag a range - Control 1.

     

    Once this is done to all desired clips, select the Event where the clips reside and right click to create a New Smart Collection:

    Screen Shot 2016-05-09 at 2.46.14 PM.png

    Name it something like:

    Screen Shot 2016-05-09 at 2.49.07 PM.png

    Notice the icon is a flower looking thing meaning it's a Smart Collection.

     

    Double click the Wanted Clip Event and the Filter window appears.

    Tell it to find only Keywords then uncheck everything except Wanted Clip Section.

    Screen Shot 2016-05-09 at 2.44.44 PM.png

     

    The Browser will only show those items that you earlier selected using Ranges or in & Out points with a Keyword name of Wanted Clip Section when Control 1 was entered.

     

    Use Command A to select All clips and then hit W to insert them into a fresh Timeline.

    This would be how I'd tackle the task.

     

    Al

  • by Karsten Schlüter,Solvedanswer

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter May 9, 2016 11:25 AM in response to Ben Low
    Level 7 (32,703 points)
    Video
    May 9, 2016 11:25 AM in response to Ben Low

    Ben Low wrote:

    …  Which all seem to favour the Browser / Favorite method.

     

    yep, because that's the concept of using FCPX

     

    I don't see any advantage in pulling everything into a timeline, blading it, pushing it on tracks, lasso it, erasing it, copying it .... phewww!

     

    What you do in a timeline, you do exactly like that, but faster and easier, in the EventBrowser:

    first, arrange windows ... this is my 'taggIng mode layout'

     

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-05-09 um 08.58.20.png

    I'm hopping thru each clip with J/K/L, set I/O (eyes on screen, even without being a typist you can do that), and with the other hand just hammering on F

    => within less than 20min, I found my materiial for edit from ~2h of source

     

    switching to Favorites Only...

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-05-09 um 09.04.49.png

    .... hit cmd-A, hit E, hit cmd-T to apply my custom transition, and 80% of edit done!

    What follows are fine tuning, lots of slowmo/replay/diff cam angle stuff (sports), 'packaging' .... = hours

     

    plus, when I need some additional material from some situation, I just change the display filter, no manual search "where was that scene wiith...."

     

    I really, really recommend to change your habitual workflow! a) no good plan to 'crank' a tool off its concept (you can use a screw driver to hammer a nail, but ...), b) when gears make click, it is much faster, more convenient, by far more powerful  ....

  • by Ben Low,

    Ben Low Ben Low May 9, 2016 5:50 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 9, 2016 5:50 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    Hi Karsten,

     

     

    I will give it another try.  I will experiment.

     

    Even though I'm a very fast 'touch' typist I've found that I can mouse-skim the cursor over clips about 20 times faster on the timeline.  That's my issue with the Browser method.  The very linear back and forth of the j,k,l keys ... which have to become jjjjjj, k, llllll for me because I like to work very fast when selecting, and like to skim back and forth over the exact moments I want several times before choosing.  jkl just too pokey.

     

    The nice thing about the timeline is that when I have four shots that could serve the same purpose ... I can jump in the blink of an eye back and forth between the shots.  In the Browser I have to bop back and forth between mouse and keyboard, or I have to wait till I 'k' from the start of the clip each time to find the moment I want to compare.

     

    If I could use the mouse to skim in the Browser, I think I might happily switch.

     

    I'm not a mouse freak.  I do love staying with the keyboard if I can.  But my first pass through material is my least favourite, and I want to get-on-with-it as quickly as possible.

     

    And thank you for taking the trouble.  I will try the Browser method again.  And see if I can't get faster.

     

     

    All the best,

     

     

    Ben

  • by Ben Low,

    Ben Low Ben Low May 9, 2016 5:59 AM in response to Alchroma
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 9, 2016 5:59 AM in response to Alchroma

    Alchroma,

     

     

    Very cool.  This is what I was looking for.  I think.  I'll compare it with the standard Browser method suggested by Karsten.  Put a stopwatch on the two, see which one works faster.

     

    Of course it could all be about a particular brain function (mine) and not about the actual efficiency of a method.

     

    I scored music for movies for decades... and was always fascinated by musicians' brains.  Those who could improvise beautifully were often not that good at sight reading.  Those who were incredible at sight reading couldn't improvise very well.  And then there were those who could do both amazingly well... but they were fewer in number.  I was never any good at sight reading ... but I could score music for a symphony-sized orchestra without much effort (besides lots of time).  And I could 'read' the score to conduct, but not to play an instrument.  I don't know what that says about my brain.

     

    Will try out these two techniques later today and report back.

     

    Thank you most kindly ... and for the tutorial images ... both you and Karsten ... make this a very easy test for me to do.

     

    All the best,

     

     

    Ben

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky May 9, 2016 5:59 AM in response to Ben Low
    Level 10 (118,222 points)
    Apple TV
    May 9, 2016 5:59 AM in response to Ben Low

    WWhy can't you skim with the mouse in the browser? It works in both filmstrip or list view.

  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H May 9, 2016 6:10 AM in response to Ben Low
    Level 7 (21,800 points)
    Quicktime
    May 9, 2016 6:10 AM in response to Ben Low

    Ben Low wrote:

     

     

    .  jkl just too pokey.

     

     

    Just to comment that it's so interesting that what works best for someone may not be so good for someone else.. In my case using the skimmer (in the Browser) is a way of getting a very rough idea of scenes. But to make the actual selection, using the JKL keys works much better…again, for me.

     

    Russ

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter May 9, 2016 6:10 AM in response to Ben Low
    Level 7 (32,703 points)
    Video
    May 9, 2016 6:10 AM in response to Ben Low

    Ben Low wrote:

    …If I could use the mouse to skim in the Browser, I think I might happily switch....

    ehm, wot!??

     

    For sure you can skim in the browser, switch it on, in case it's off, by typing S ....

    and to jump from clip to clip use the cusor up/down keys ....

     

    and you can select your favorite ranges for sure with your mouse if you prefer that ....

     

    Just as an inspiration:

    watch Steve Martin editing a short without touching the mouse

    http://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/articles/1805-the-next-4-presentation-videos-fro m-the-fcp-exchange-event-at-nab-2016

  • by Ben Low,

    Ben Low Ben Low May 9, 2016 6:19 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 9, 2016 6:19 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    Oops.

     

    What I find fascinating about FCPX.  I've been working non-stop these last 2 years, on half a dozen long complex films.  And, duh, I keep discovering the simplest of things I should have learned in the first week of working with the beast (FCPX).

     

    Okay.  The moment I get into the cutting room I'm going to give this whole Browser thing another shot.

     

    Will report back.

     

    Thank you Karsten.

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter May 9, 2016 6:48 AM in response to Ben Low
    Level 7 (32,703 points)
    Video
    May 9, 2016 6:48 AM in response to Ben Low

    Ben Low wrote:

    ... The moment I get into the cutting room I'm going to give this whole Browser thing another shot.

    ...Thank you Karsten.

    I actually feel like one of those preachers in some cheap television show "another lost soul saved!" ROTFL!!

    (sorry, my weird kind of humor...)

     

    ... in case your schedule offers a few hours off.... try to start from zil, I'm a huge fan of the ripple-twins, Steve and Mark from rippletraining.com, and don't break out in laughter: they offer a 20$ 'app', Lessons for FCPX, at Appstore, first 10 for free, meant for newbies <entrusted voice> "Me? Newbie?!" ....

     

    nobody will know when you spend an hour or two with these tuts ...

     

    finally, for the hasty ones, like me:

    The Manual... <entrusted voice> "Me no need no *** manual!!"

    ... yep, dear, trick is, start with the end...

    http://help.apple.com/finalcutpro/mac/10.2/?lang=en#/ver90ba5929

     

    just read ... overview Keyboard Shortcuts ... you'll be suprised, what gems you'll find....

     

    Have fun with FCPX!

  • by Ben Low,

    Ben Low Ben Low May 9, 2016 7:00 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 9, 2016 7:00 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    K

     

    I'm a super fan of Steve and Mark.  I have their Warp Speed Editing in FCPX.  Love it.  Keep going back to it.  And keep needing to go back to it.

     

    And someone named Ashley Kennedy at Lynda.com (very cool lady).

     

    I think if I had to cut for other directors I would learn the FCPX operating methods a lot better.  Most always being the producer/director I never have someone hovering over my shoulder wanting things to go faster ... so I stay slack.  But I'm getting more and more restless to get out shooting again (I'm trying to catch up with the half a dozen films shot but not completed ... and I'm soooo weary of the cutting room).  But maybe I could have MORE fun editing, by better learning FCPX.

     

    I'm going to check out your Me no need no *** manual.  And start with the end.  Just watched Steve negotiating the cut without a mouse.  Very cool.

     

    Will report back soon.  Thank you mucho mucho...

     

    B

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter May 9, 2016 7:07 AM in response to Ben Low
    Level 7 (32,703 points)
    Video
    May 9, 2016 7:07 AM in response to Ben Low

    Ben Low wrote:

    ... Will report back soon.  Thank you mucho mucho...

     

    you're very Welcome.

     

    over, at my homebase at fcp.co, one board-member nailed it with

    "There are so many requests for features - which actually exist in FCPX!"

     

     

  • by Ben Low,

    Ben Low Ben Low May 9, 2016 11:28 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 9, 2016 11:28 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    Hi Karsten,

     

     

    Screaming along in Browser mode now.  I think it was the 'S' that changed my mind ... being able to skim with the mouse ... though I'm also finding myself now using the j,k,l a lot more too.  Zing zing.

     

    I want to try Alchroma's suggestion too.

     

    But right now it's fun just to be getting-the-job-done.  Will report back after comparing the two modes, when I try Alchroma's.

     

     

    B

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter May 9, 2016 11:36 PM in response to Ben Low
    Level 7 (32,703 points)
    Video
    May 9, 2016 11:36 PM in response to Ben Low

    Ben Low wrote:

    .... finding myself now using the j,k,l a lot more too.  Zing zing.

     

    I want to try Alchroma's suggestion too...

     

    for sure!, what Russ said before:

    there is no THE way accomplishing some task ...

     

    ... but some folks at Cupertino came up with some very smart ideas ....

    (just  to trigger you: ever used the Timeline Index?)

     

    And it depends very much on the 'character' of your projects, my kiddie-football stuff is linear, realtime (could be done, mostly, in iMovie); a documentary, a fictional production demands completely diff. workflows.

     

    just to give in inspiration how 'others' work with FCPX:

    http://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/tutorials/1436-log-like-a-ninja-in-final-cut-pro -x-with-michael-garber

  • by Ben Low,

    Ben Low Ben Low May 10, 2016 5:29 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 10, 2016 5:29 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    K.,

     

    Use the Timeline Index all the time.  And 'roles' et al.  Love it all.

     

    I'm enjoying doing full blown sound mixes with FCPX.  Such a different way of doing things ...  I've used Logic Audio since the beginning, pre-Apple, when the manual was full of German terminology, and it was PC only.  But this non-track stuff.  I'm slowly getting used to it.  And most of the plug-ins I use regularly are sitting right there in FCPX.  Every project I learn more.  Compound clips for blocking sound, lots of fun.

     

    It's also a relief not to have to do round trips to other apps.  I find I'm having to do so many changes at the very end of a film, after 'final screenings' ... and then down the road when 'small' changes are suddenly required.  It's sooooo nice just to pull up the master Library, have everything there, make the change, and re-master a new version.

     

    I'm going to go look at your link.  And relook at the Steve link from yesterday.

     

    A full day ahead ... I'm getting super fast at the Browser selection / favourites routine.  Thank you for that.

     

    Onward, upward, Ben

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