I am looking for help with Final Cut Pro - I cannot find my completed projects or the normal playback screen. I can see uploaded images but not the editing page. I am using 14 inch MacBook Pro with Apple M4 chip. I have used iMovie for many years without any problem but I am having serious difficulties navigating the Final Cut Pro system and effectively cannot use it - be very grateful for any help, guidance or tips. Thank you
MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 27.0
It could be a corrupt render file.
Select your Library in the sidebar, go to File > Delete Generated Library Files and check Delete Render Files (choose All), and click OK.
It's a good idea to turn off background render.
Click on Final Cut Pro at the top left of the menu bar and select Settings>Playback and make sure that Background Render is deselected.
If that doesn't work, delete the Settings . . . shutdown FCP, hold down the Option and Command keys and launch FCP.
In the window that opens click the Delete button.
Note that FCP will no longer have your project on display so you must navigate to where it is stored and open it.
In FCP go to the menu Window > Workspaces > Default.
MtD
It was the first one - deleting the Render Files and unticking the Background Render box. I must say I wouldn't have had any idea that this was the cause of my problem and I feel that FCP seems to constantly recalibrate itself (without me knowingly doing anything specific) which seems to affect the projects I am working on or the final video edits I have created. I intend to watch the tutorial videos you sent to me so that I can improve my understanding of how FCP works. Thanks again for you very helpful guidance.
Unless you have specified a different place your Library containing your projects etc. will be in your Movies folder, the same as iMovie.
Double-click the Library when you find it and it will load into Final Cut Pro.
You should really get some tuition to find your way around.
There are 2 tutorials for beginners on YouTube that are very popular . . .
This will give you the basics and get you off to a flying start.
This will show you more advanced editing techniques and give you some editing hints. Note it is 4 years old and there may be a slight difference in some FCP features but it is still sound advice.
It's impossible to take everything in at once so I suggest downloading the videos and going through them a bit at a time. Ideally you should be able to play them on a second screen (like a phone, iPad or another computer) so it is easy to follow the instructions using your FCP.
Could you post a screenshot of your FCP setup?
Hold down command and shift and press 3
Go up to the FCP icon at the top left of the menubar, click it and select Settings.
Then make sure that Background Render is NOT selected.
Thanks Ian - I've managed to locate the missing projects which is a huge relief ! Unfortunately, when I play the finished edits some of the video clips are blacked out whereas others play fine - do you have any idea why that is happening ?
I will download the links you sent to me so I may be in a better position to navigate FCP once I've read them.
Thanks again,
Paul
That's amazing - it worked ! The blacked out clips are now showing - thank you so much - I am now a very relieved FCP user.
Very much appreciated !
Paul
I gave you two suggestions . . . which one worked?
Final Cut Pro - assistance please
