Stay playhead... stay!

Even when skimming is turned off this problem still exists. There is no way to disable the playhead from moving and selecting a clip. It's part of my long list of issues with FCPX. Feel free to read and submit your imput to Apple using http://www.apple.com/feedback/finalcutpro.html

OPEN FCPX and FCP7

• Open FCP7 Legacy Projects without third party conversion. (Should have been Apple's First Priority over iMovie)

• Open FCP7 and FCPX Side-by-Side (These programs are not the same, so why not?)

FCPX WINDOW LAYOUTS

• Canvas Window (Sequence Viewer, similar to FCP7)

• Viewer Window (Incorporate feature into FCPX, Double click assets or clips in Browser and Timeline to open in Viewer Window)

• Window Layouts

- Editing, Color Correcting, Multicam Edits, Etc.

- Save Custom User Layout.

FCPX CANVAS WINDOW (add feature)

• Make a Canvas Window feature within FCPX (FCPX Viewer Window is the FCP7 Viewer Window and FCP7 Canvas Window shown together).

• Canvas Window

- Reflects Timeline Only (Different window for opening clips within Browser and Timeline).

- Sequence Duration Field and Current Timecode Field.

- Scrubber Bar

- Show Sequence Markers.

- Sequence In and Out Points (Playback/Range Export).

- Canvas Window Playhead is Timeline Playhead.

- Navigate between edit points (ability to jump back and forth to clip beginning or end and in and out points).

- Independent Controls (Controls are not shared between Canvas and Viewer Windows).

- Transform, Crop and Distort Controls are confined to Canvas Window (These currently shift over in Angle Viewer or Video Scopes is turned on).

• Canvas Window does not contain Scopes or Angle Viewer (make separate window for these two elements).

FCPX VIEWER WINDOW

• Split FCPX Viewer Window into a Canvas Window and Viewer Window as it was in FCP7 (FCPX Viewer Window is the FCP7 Viewer Window and FCP7 Canvas Window shown together).

• Merge Viewer Window and Inspector Windows into one window.

- Tabs for Video, Audio Waveforms, Inspector Info and Keyframes (Keyframe view just like Motion 5).

• Double click assets or clips in Browser and Timeline to open in Viewer Window.

• Viewer Window

- Clip Duration Field and Current Timecode Field.

- Scrubber Bar (Non-Filmstrip Option).

- Shows asset markers.

- Clip In and Out Points (Playback/Export).

- Memorized Most Recent Settings (ability to leave clip and come back to same in and out points for clips in Browser).

- Viewer Window Playhead.

- Navigate between edit points (ability to jump back and forth to clip beginning or end and in and out points using).

- Independent Controls (Controls are not shared between Canvas and Viewer Windows).

- Independent Transform, Crop and Distort Controls (confined to Viewer Window).

• Viewer Window does not contain Scopes or Angle Viewer (make separate window for these two elements).

FCPX BROWSER

• Filmstrip Show/Hide Toggle

• Waveform On/Off Toggle (in addition to Menu Bar option)

• Double click assets in Browser to open in Viewer Window

• Mark Used Clips (Similar To Favorite in FCPX, but different color).

• Mark Used Column in list view (Inspector Info).

• Favorites with Five Star Rating (Inspector Info).

• Clip In and Out Points.

- Memorized Most Recent Settings (ability to leave clip and come back to same in and out points).

• Import Media using Connect Device Button is part of Browser Window, not main

FCPX TIMELINE

• Video and Audio Tracks (HIGH PRIORITY: I need video and audio clips to stay on same track level to help me stay organized. Clips currently automatically collapse down in available space in a magnetic storyline and gets me unorganized.)

- Timeline is separated with video tracks at top and audio tracks at bottom of timeline.

• Clip Video and Audio are linked in tracks as in FCP7 and not combined in one.

• Ability to label Video Tracks.

- Designate video tracks as b-roll, interviews, etc.

• Ability to label Audio Tracks.

- Designate audio tracks as dialog, music, ambient, effects, etc.

• Magnetic Timeline On/Off Toggle (Eliminate Position Tool and creating Gaps, because Gaps become a nuisance when there are too many or become 1-frame in size).

- Ability to overwrite clips when moving clips and Magnetic Storyline is toggled off (No need for Position Tool).

• Ability to Lock Tracks.

• Timeline Clip Appearance.

- Video: Filmstrip, Thumbnail or None (Image size dependent on track height).

- Waveform Toggle Switch (Just like FCPX Browser).

- Video Track Height Adjuster/Control with options as Small, Medium, Large, X-Large (Filmstrips/Thumbnails are dependent).

- Audio Track Height Adjuster/Control with options as Small, Medium, Large, X-Large (Waveforms Toggle On/Off).

• Mark Duplicated Clips/Frames/Time on Clip top.

• Mark used and blank areas of Timeline/Storyline in Timeline Ruler (Currently shows unrendered as orange, but nothing indicates used or blank areas of the timeline, maybe light gray for used and current state for unused).

• Eliminate Storyline Connections (Sometime I just want to move a video clip and not the audio or video connected).

FCPX TIMELINE INDEX

• Ability to change multiple clip properties at once within Inspector.

- Color Correction.

FCPX INSPECTOR VIDEO

• Color Correction

- Color Wheel Option (Replace Color Board).

- Three Way Color Correction: Blacks, Mids and Whites Color Wheel (Possibly One Color Wheel with all three tones shown on one).

- Skin Tones Reference.

- White Balance Eye-Dropper for each tone.

- Apply Color Corrections to Multiple Clip Selections.

- FCPX Match Color Tool using Clip Adjustment Attributes of selected clip (Not Automated/Current Operation).

- Copy and Paste Color Correction Attributes.

• External Editor (Color)

FCPX INSPECTOR AUDIO

• External Editor (Soundtrack Pro or Logic Pro)

FCPX INSPECTOR INFO

• Color Labels (clip color label appears in Timeline).

• Favorites with Five Star Rating.

FCPX TOOLS

• Keep Tools similar to FCP7 for long time FCP legacy users who shouldn't have to relearn keystrokes and easier making the switch.

• Double and Triple Tap Keys to select tools with different features.

• Pointer Tool (A) Position Tool (AA)

• Blade (B), Blade All (BB)

• Range Tool (G), Range All (GG)

• Marker (M), Marker Settings (MM or M while on marker), Delete Marker (Command-M while on marker)

• Pen or Point (P), Delete Point (PP), Smooth Point (PPP)

• Roll (R), Ripple (RR)

- Ghost Clip Beginning and End Points (Handles)

• Slip Tool (S), Slide Tool (SS)

- Ghost Clip Beginning and End Points (Handles)

• Track Selection (T), Backward Track Selection (TT), All Track Selection (Hold Shift while using Tool)

• Zoom Selection In (Z), Zoom Selection Out (ZZ)

FCPX EDITING

• Skimming

- Timeline Playhead does not move when selecting a clip and skimming is toggled off (playhead currently moves to wherever you click in storyline trying to select a clip).

• Magnetic Storyline

- Magnetic Timeline On/Off Toggle (Eliminate Position Tool and creating Gaps, because Gaps become a nuisance when there are too many or become 1-frame in size).

- Ability to overwrite clips when moving clips and Magnetic Storyline is toggled off (No need for Position Tool).

• Sequences

- Project contains Sequence(s) as in FCP7 (Not a Project Library full of project timelines. It's too cumbersome to have multiple project timelines per project in the Project Library).

- Multiple Sequences per Project.

- Tabs for Opened Sequences within a Project.

- Canvas Window reflects Timeline/Sequence .

• Clips

- Ability to open in Viewer Window (Similar to FCP7) showing in and out points and scrubber bar (Non-Filmstrip Option).

- Toggle On/Off Overlays In Timeline (Keyframes, Audio, Opacity and Timing).

- Color Labels for clips within Event Browser/Inspector Info.

- Five Star Rating for Favorites within Event Browser List View/Inspector Info.

- Ability to change multiple clip properties at once in Inspector (Color Correction).

• Compound Clips

- Drag from Sequence and place in Event Browser.

• Scope Windows

- Checkmark to see multiple scopes at once, uncheck what you don't need.

• Keyboard

- Restore FCP7 Keystrokes and Shortcuts (Consistency for long time FCP users who shouldn't have to relearn keystrokes or buy new third party labeled keyboards)

• Keyframes

- Smooth Time Ramping.

- Bezier.

• Video Transitions

- Favorites.

- Keyboard Shortcuts to Favorites.

- Add video transitions to video clips touching without having to place in a storyline.

- Ability to add video transitions to clips within tracks just like FCP7.

• Audio Crossfades

- Favorites.

- Assign Shortcuts to Favorites.

- Sound Effect Crossfades.

- Add audio transitions to audio clips touching without have to place in a storyline.

- Ability to add audio transitions to clips within tracks just like FCP7.

• Markers

- Chapter Markers.

- Sequence Markers.

- Colors and Labels.

- Jump to Maker Shortcuts (Shift-Up, Shift-Down ) .

• Motion Elements

- Send Clips/Compound Clips/Assets to Motion.

- Embed Motion File Option upon Send to Motion.

- Import Motion Files as an asset into Event Browser.

• Audio

- Out of Sync Warnings.

- User Audio Edits of Clips, Pops and Hum (Non-Automated).

- Send Audio to Soundtrack Pro or Logic Pro.

• External Software Editors

- "Send To" option for user preferred external software editors for assets such as Color, Soundtrack Pro, Logic Pro, Photoshop, etc.

• Multicam Edits

- Cut To Camera Keyboard Shortcuts.

• Retiming

- Bezier Curve Controls.

- Ease In and Ease Out.

• Export

• Self-Contained or Dependent Video Files.

• Export from In and Out Points.

• Video and Audio Adjustments

- Copy and Paste Attributes.

FCPX LOG and CAPTURE/TRANSFER

• List View (No Filmstrips or Thumbnails)

• Viewer Window

- Clip Duration Field and Current Timecode Field

- Scrubber Bar

- Clip In and Out Points

- Memorized Most Recent Settings (ability to leave clip and come back to same in and out points).

- Playhead

- Navigate between edit points (Ability to jump back and forth to clip beginning or end and in and out points).

• Clip Name Field

• Clip Capture Date

• Scene Field

• Angle Field

• Scratch Discs

• Custom Clip Names (FCP7)

• Uncontrollable Device Capture (No Timecode Capture)

FCPX APPEARANCE

• Font Size (Small, Medium, Large).

• User Preferences

- Ability to adjust window darkness (Lighter Tone).

• Lighter Color Tones for Clip Audio and Video Clips.

• Clips

- Get Rid of Rounded Corners (Style) in Timeline and Browser Window Clips.

- Color Labels for Clips in Event Browser List View/Inspector Info.

FCPX PROJECT LIBRARY MANAGEMENT

• Remove Project Library (User saves client project(s) to client's folder on computer and opens projects similar to FCP7)

- Client Projects have dependent sequence(s) and file(s) (No other Events, just slows things down)

• Sequence(s)

- Project > Sequence(s) > Editing

• List View Option (Non-Filmstrip Option)

• Open Multiple Projects

- Tab View for Opened Projects

• Client Library (Alternative to Project Library)

- Client(s) > Project(s) > Sequences(s)

• Project Files are saved outside of FCPX

- User saves client project(s) to client folder on computer.

• Unmount Unused Harddrives

• Rendered Projects Files go to dependent Event Library (Keep Project Files Small)

FCPX SAVE OPTIONS

• Save (Save Version)

• Save As… (Quicker Way than duplicating and renaming project)

• Revert To Save

• Timed Auto Save Vault (Versions, User Time Increment Preference, Max Number of Versions)

• Open Current Sequence and Saved Version Sequence side-by-side in tab view with ability to copy and past portions of Saved Version Sequence to Current Sequence

FCPX Bugs:

• Range Tool

- Hide or Appear Range selection using Disable/Enable Clip (V).

- Skimming over hidden clips (Broke with 10.0.3 update, bring back as user preference).

• Blade Tool

- Skimming over hidden clips (Broke with 10.0.3 update, bring back as user preference).

DVD STUDIO PRO

• Update to 64-bit

• Maintain this softwares professional integrity (No iDVD Pro).

BLU-RAY STUDIO PRO

• Apple, please fully support media we want to use and ability to meet the demand of our clients.

• 64-bit

• Similar features to DVD Studio Pro and ease of use compared to Adobe Encore.

Compressor

• Update to 64-bit

• Multi-core renders without copying files to Apple Qmaster Storage.

Baicxally s/he wants the application to be rewritten so it's FCP7.

Tom Wolsky wrote:

Baicxally s/he wants the application to be rewritten so it's FCP7.

My name is Tommy. It would have been nice to have FCPX be a seamless transition, but instead professionals (people who actually know how to make professional videos) are faced with a lot of turmoil trying to relearn a product we have used over the past 10-years.

I want FCPX to become a professional program and it wouldn't if it weren't for people like me testing it out and giving input to Apple. I share my opinions in these forums so others can recognize issues with this new software and demand Apple to upgrade or change FCPX so it can become better by sending feedback to http://www.apple.com/feedback/finalcutpro.html

There is a lot of potential for FCPX, but it will not be a professional program till it regains a lot of missing features that were incorporated in FCP7 and used by professionals.

Marcus Hackler wrote:

In FCP 7 and earlier when I would need to "get surgical" on clips (trimming, rolling, etc) I would click in an open area of the timeline to deslect whatever I was working on and the playhead would stay put, keeping me on the frame I was dealing with.

FCPX moves the playhead to wherever you click which makes me lose the problem section I'm dealing with. I've tried turning off skimming but it's not the same thing. In FCP 7 you actually had to click the top of the timeline bar in order to move the playhead, not anywhere in the timeline.

Anyone know if this is possible to turn off?

Oh, I just thought of what I do to keep the playhead at it's current point and selecting a clip. Start in a blank area of the timeline and Click and Drag accross the clip you want to select. This keeps the playhead steady and selects the clip. I have Skimming turned off when I do this. I can then add a Marker or edit at the playhead of the selected clip.

If you drag the cursor over clips you want to select, the playhead stays in place - even with skimming turned on.

To deselect clips without moving the playhead, simply press Shift+Cmd+A - the playhead stays in place.

Andy

Marcus and Andy,

Thanks, I learn something new in FCPX everyday reading these forums. I totally don't get how a simple procedure in FCP7 has become a hidden feature within FCPX. It is outrageous to think I have to relearn this program from the beginning and I have been using it since it's inception. Ugh!!

Tommy

tjwaido wrote:

I totally don't get how a simple procedure in FCP7 has become a hidden feature within FCPX. It is outrageous to think I have to relearn this program from the beginning and I have been using it since it's inception. Ugh!!

Tommy, I absolutely LOVE FCP X - and I think that's because I accepted what Apple told me about it being a totally new application. I was perfectly happy to learn how to use it, even though I've used legacy FCP since FCP 3.

It's saving me hundreds of hour of editing.

OK - I accept, the application was nowhere near ready when it was released, and it's been a nightmare experience at times, but now we have 10.0.3, it gets better every day for me.

I still have FCS 3 and in fact, I'm using it today - it's like trying to walk in very deep, thick mud, compared to FCP X.

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 Training is clearly the best.

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

I hope you can relax and enjoy the wonderful features of this new application as much as I do now that it's more stable.

Andy

Message was edited by: andynick

It seems Apple went with an abitrary way of creating keystrokes in FCPX, for example:

Shift-T - Transform selected clip.

Shift-C - Crop selected clip.

Shift-D - Overwite Backward.

Not sure if I will ever overwrite clips backwards, but it seems more uniform to me if these tools had similar keystrokes like this:

Shift-T - Transform selected clip.

Shift-C - Crop selected clip.

Shift-D - Distort selected clip.

I guess that's why you can customize the keyboard.

Shift-Q and Shift-W are backtiming for connect and insert. I guess that's why they went with Shift-D for backtime overwrite. I'd use that much more often than distort I have to say, which is truly weirdness itself, and completely unlike legacy FCP.

Okay, getting back to the origional post:

What if I want the mouse-click to choose the selected clip I click on and not move the playhead, as it did in all previous versions of FCP? And then move the playhead where the mouse is located if I hit C (or different key I customise), basically reverse the roles. I can't figure out how to customize the keyboard or mouse click that way, but I really want to as it is a habbit of mine, as well as most legacy FCP users like Marcus, since he started this forum.

FCP X is not legacy FCP and never will be.

Why not spend more time using and enjoying it, and less time wishing it was something it's not?

Andy