How do you add chapter markers in Final Cut Pro X? Thanks

Waveform/Filmstrip does not work to my liking and load time is a waste when I don't need them on.

I had to Google the tools to learn how to use them properly. 😕 This should be helpful for anyone else trying to figure them out: http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/docs/Final_Cut_Pro_X_for_Final_Cut_Pro_7_Editor s_final.pdf

Time is money. I always say the quicker I can work, the more money I will make. I am trying to use FCPX to save time as a 64-bit program and injesting native AVCHD video, but there is a learning curve to a whole new program.

There are reasons for continuing legacy applications. They work and people know how to use them! Adobe will not rewrite the programs or change the key strokes on their next version of CS6. It would make all their pro users of their suite go crazy. Much like all the pro users of FCP (ture version) are or acting childish. 🙂 If Apple updated the Final Cut Suite to version 8. The learning cure would be minimal, and I could be doing my editing at full steam.

Let's be honest. FCP X is an upgrade of iMovie. You can only import old projects of iMovie into FCPX. It's a shame to think Apple invested all this time and money into something that will not work on a professional level and yet they keep trying to add to this program that does nothing for those who relied on FCP7 as a professional tool. It would have been convinent to right-click an old FCP7 project and choose open with FCP8 and be on my merry way. Instead, you are stuck reading my complaints. ha ha.

Now you can laugh.

tjwaido wrote:

Waveform/Filmstrip does not work to my liking and load time is a waste when I don't need them on.

Turn them off then, like the rest of us - or don't you know how?

If you're interested, I strongly recommend you watch some good tutorials on FCP X.

I've tried a number of FCP X Tutorials and in my experience, Ripple Trainingis clearly the best.

There is a small fee, but it's more than worth it.

Alternatively, try Tutor For FCP X from the Mac App Store:

It's very basic and the cost is tiny - but I guess he knows how to turn the waveforms off.

Andy

@Tom Wolsky: Thanks for the hint with Event Manager X. 🙂

I wish chapter markers were still available too, but since there not heres a fairly easy workaround.

As you edit your piec add a marker just like you did in Final Cut Pro.

Now you can go back through when your finished but I do it as I go.

I keep TEXTEDIT open with a text ONLY document.

In FCP X right click on the marker and choose MODIFY MARKER.

You will see the timecode in the marker.

Simply type the Time Code of the marker into the heading, then add a space and the chapter name.

Do command+a to select all, then command+c to copy then command + tab to switch to text edit and then command + v to paste it and then hit return to get a new line.

Do that for each marker and at the end of your workflow you'll have a chapter list that will import directly into Compressor 4.

This way there's no need to scrub through Compress 4 to find your chapters.

It's fairly easy.

But Apple....... Please add it back in.

One more thing. You can also add markers on the events, name the chapters there, set in and out points then then "e" to add it to the timeline.

The marker will go with it, pick up the new time code, so all you'll really need to do is add the time code.

There's a useful app called AVT ChapterIt on the App Store. At the moment it is a quick and easy way to add chapter marks to a file you've exported from FCP X, but the developer is almost ready with a version which allows you to include FCP X chapter marks.

Worth checking out.

MST

I am in contact with the developer and have been lucky to test a preview, able to read fcpxml.

As Martin S Taylor writes: "AVT Chapter It" will be able to solve of all of you chapter problems. It is perfect - also the very cheap Pro version of it. Worth every cent.

Apple currently foozles the update of AVT ChapterIt - with FCPXML read in enabled - in the App Store since weeks.

Megalomania of a multi billion USD company. 😟➖😠

Again: AVT ChapterIt is worth every cent. Buy it an wait for the update which is in review since weeks.

Greetings,

Roland

PS: I am not the programmer and have no benefits. But I could test it and so I can testify.

Best solution to solve the lack of chapter markers in FCPX: AVT ChapterIt from the AppStore. Detects all chapters from main time line in FCPX correct, even those in transitions.

Go to AppStore, purchase AVT ChapterIt., it's not expensive, only CHF 10.

Share you movie from FCPX to e.g. an Apple Device.

Export FCPXML with the chapters set as you want them as chapter markter.

Load the movie and FCPXML into AVT ChapterIt. You may now do some editing in ChapterIt if you want to.

Save. Bingo, there you have your chapters.

AVT ChapterIt can do of course much more. But my personal main usage is for easiest chapter marker handling on FCPX edited movies.

DVDs and BDs I make with Toast Titanium. It detects the markers set by AVT ChapterIt correctly and offer much more features than the tools coming with FCPX.

It's really not that hard to do it as you go for free.

I found no solution really working...

And: AVT ChapterIt is almost free (specially in comparision to the money I spent for Apple Computers and Software like Studio Pro 2, 3, FCPX etc...).

And it works worries free. I save that much time with it, not a blink of an eye I am thinking about the tiny costs.

you say "I found no solution really working..."

You can't be serious. It's so easy to do between Text edit and FCPX that when you're done, you're done.

You go straight to COMPRESSOR and load the the marker script.

No additional program or saving and coverting XML...

The only thing simpler would be passing the markers to compressor.

1. Add chapter marker in FCPX as you used to m --- will do it.

2. Right click the marker and modify it. type in the time code that you see IN THE MARKER a SPACE and the chapter name.

3. Select all (command+a), copy (command +c), Command + Tab to an open plain text document in text edit and past (command + v) then return for a new line. Command + tab back to FCPX and continue.

When you're done, that text imports perfectly into compressor.

You can refine it in FCPX and in COMPRESSOR. There's absolutely no need for an intermediate software.

Allen, you can do all of this 1000x typing, again and again, specially after changes in timeline, containing >50 markers.

You can not mean this seriously: "2. Right click the marker and modify it. type in the time code that you see IN THE MARKER a SPACE and the chapter name."

Hello? Anybody out there?

If I change something, I only export the projects FCPXML directly from FCPX and combine it with the fresh exported new cut within 3 clicks, while you type again for an additinonal hour.

I do no conversion or so. I export the FCPXML from FCPX, share the re-edited movie without compressor, load both into AVT ChapterIt, Cmd-S and I am done.

Type the timecode MANUALLY into TextEdit? Come on, this is 1985 style workflow.

Lack of chapter markers = no workflow = inconvenient to the power of ten. Basta!

And a contradiction against anything Apple once stood for: Making life easier, not harder.

You type, I use the very convenient AVT ChapterIt and I am done within seconds.

While you're still typing, I have another and another and another etc. beer next pub, waiting for you to join the table... ;-)

Cheers,

Roland

PS: I am almost sure, FCPX is the one and only editing software in the world, without offering Chapter Markers. Sad to say the truth.

If you say so Roland. but I'm not so stupid to think there is no typing. You type now or you type later if you wish chapters on a finished DVD.

The only difference between FCPX and FCP concerning chapters and markers is the ability to export them to DVD Pro or Compressor, and have multiple types of markers. I miss them.

It still requires my decisions and "typing".

I don't buy it.

But I'm probably going to buy this program, it's only $9.99, but to use it with other video. It looks useful.

You're a little over the top about this program Roland.

FCP X does provide chapter marker functionality, albeit a little buggy.

In the timeline, press "m" to set a marker. Double click it to open the box. Enter the required text then select the right most option in the box to set the associated video. Then click done.

A golden pointer will appear with which you select the frame oyu want to use for this chapter picture.

When exported for apple devices, the video presents a list indicator which when selected shows all the chapters with a picture and description. Click the description and the video jumps to the location of the marker in the timeline. (not the location of the golden pointer).

All good?

Not yet. There seems to be a bug where the pictures do not properly with the text.

I think its not quite there yet but they are getting closer.

Barry