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I can't activate (or find) magnetic timeline in FCPX

Hi,


I have watched the tutorials showing the magnetic timeline. It shows the little symbol that indicates dragging, but it the tutorial it also shows a little rectacngle thing just under the drag symbol. Forgive my lack of knowing what the technical names for those little symbols are.


Anyway, I don't have the little rectangle box. It also states that you can just select a clip and drag it to another place on the timeline. It shows the other clips moving to make space for the dragged clip. Mine don't make room. The clips just move up above the original timeline.


Oh, I am just using the trial version at the moment to make sure I can actually use it effectively, so maybe that feature is not in the trial version?????


Please help...



Kerryn

Mac Pro

Posted on May 26, 2012 4:15 AM

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Posted on May 26, 2012 4:33 AM

Only storylines are magnetic. The primary storyline, the dark bar down the middle, is magnetic. Connected clips move out of the way for each other, which is what you're seeing when the clips move up and down. You can combine the connected clips into a secondary storyline and then they will also have magnetic behavior that lets you re-arrange clips.

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Question marked as Best reply

May 26, 2012 4:33 AM in response to kerrynfromvic

Only storylines are magnetic. The primary storyline, the dark bar down the middle, is magnetic. Connected clips move out of the way for each other, which is what you're seeing when the clips move up and down. You can combine the connected clips into a secondary storyline and then they will also have magnetic behavior that lets you re-arrange clips.

May 26, 2012 5:11 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks Tom. I worked out that I had the audio clip in the story line. Once I put my clips in the storyline the magnetic symbol appeared.


One question though, how do I combine clips to make a secondary storyline.


Actually one more. If I have 2 rows of clips, one on the story line and then extras above that line, is there a way to make the top extra clips into cutaways, rather than them just imposing their image on top of the one in the original storyline? The reason I might want to do this is because I don't want to break the flow of the clip in the storyline but just want a brief interuption to it.


Hope that makes sense.

May 26, 2012 5:37 AM in response to kerrynfromvic

The clip you put above the timeline will last for whatever is its length (obviously).


So just position your cursor near either end (so that you get the "2 triangle symbol") and you will be able to drag it to make it shorter.


User uploaded file


If the shortened clip is not in the exact position you want just grab it in the middle and drag it to reposition it.

May 27, 2012 12:32 AM in response to somanna

You can make a gap clip however long or short you want. They are unique to FCP (and film editing) and create space and connection on the FCP storyline that has to be continuous.


I have to say that a forum is not a good way to learn about about an application as it is inherently piece meal, not comprehensive, and often out dated or just wrong. I see comments appearing on threads that were started almost a year ago for software which is now essentially obsolete, and questions that are basic to editing and the application that can be found in detail elsewhere.

May 27, 2012 2:48 AM in response to kerrynfromvic

It sounds as though you have watched some tutorial (?) videos but the best way to learn an editing app is to have somebody talk to you patiently about it.


This way you get to understand it rather than just be able to use it.


Whilst most people can't get that personal tutor to explain matters, there is a next best thing.


Tom didn't mention that for the last decade he has been teaching editing in FCE, FCP and FCP X to numerous editing/film-making students and has written many tutorial books and produced DVDs.


If you want to gain a thorough understanding of FCP X in a carefully graded step by step approach, I suggest you invest in one of these.


They are available from Amazon and are extremely cheap:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Final-iMovie-Express-Users-ebook/dp/B00763WFKC/ref=sr_1_ 2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338111872&sr=8-2


This is the Kindle version . . . the paperback is about 10% more.

May 27, 2012 4:24 AM in response to kerrynfromvic

It is a pleasure to me that you have benefited by my questions. I am very new to this field and am just 'strolling around' in this forum which I have joined up very recently. I am learning many many things in this stroll! Ask you also to do the same i.e. if you are not already doing it.


May I know what you meant by:

kerrynfromvic wrote:

And thanks Somanna for giving me more to think about.

I would like to know that really so that my knowledge also will improve.

May 27, 2012 6:42 AM in response to somanna

Have you already got FCP X ?


If not you can download the 30 day trial free of charge:-


http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/trial/


You can also download over 2 hours of free video tutorials from here to get you started:-


http://www.izzyvideo.com/final-cut-pro-x-tutorial-2/


However, if yo want to dig deeper and have the info/tuition available at any time of the day you can't beat Tom's book.

May 27, 2012 9:32 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Hello Ian,


Thanks for the interest shown. Seen and liked your smiling photo. From Cheshire Eh? I tell my daughter Aruna that she smiles as a Cheshire cat! Do all the folks at Cheshire smile, smile as you do?


I have an IMac and have also purchased FCPX and am a member of IzzyVideo.


I am learning my steps in this field which is so very vast. If a senior member as you have recommended Tom's book, I am sure that there ia a lot of useful data in it.


I sing songs, brought out five audio albums so far and am right now busying myself in this: adding visual content [making song videos] to my audio. If you go to my first post [changing gears] in these forums, you can see the video of the first song of my first album. I have done, with some initial help of a video editor, the editing of this song by myself. Not knowing the basic needs to set uo scratch drive and TM backup etc., I had used the Mac's hard drive for all purposes: storing camera footage and scratch drive use. I did not have any backup at all and do not have one even at this time of typing in this post.


Could you please, after viewing this song video, give me your suggestions of how to set up these drives for having a good workflow?


Thanks one again for your response and hoping to see your reply to this request.

I can't activate (or find) magnetic timeline in FCPX

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