Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.1.2 User Guide

							 Chapter 1    What’s new in Final Cut Pro? 11
Import and export features
 •Export and import entire libraries as single XML files using XML 1.4. See Use XML to transfer 
projects and events
 on page 326.
 •Create keywords from Finder tags when you import media from a storage device. See  Import 
from a hard disk
 on page 38  and Organize files while importing on page 42.
 •Quickly export cuts-only projects containing XDCAM media.
Other notable features
 •You can now import media by dragging it from the Finder to the Browser (rather than to the 
event in the Libraries list). See Import from a hard disk
 on page 38 .
 •Nudging a clip in the Timeline now works like a slide edit. See Arrange clips in the Timeline on 
page 11 7 .
 •You can now break apart an audition. See Create auditions to try out clips on page 294.
What’s new in Final Cut Pro 10.1?
Final Cut Pro 10.1 introduces numerous new features and enhancements, detailed below.
Performance and Mac Pro optimizations
Final Cut Pro 10.1 brings the following performance improvements:
 •Optimization to take advantage of multiple GPUs in the new Mac Pro
 •HDMI and Thunderbolt output at frame sizes up to 4K (UltraHD and DCI 4K)
 •Better playback and rendering performance, plus faster opening of the application and projects
 •Improved performance when modifying or keywording large numbers of clips at the same time
 •Selected titles, effects, and other media content scaled for 4K projects
Project and media management
Project and media media management tools have been enhanced to deliver:
 •Improved media management with the introduction of libraries, a new way to organize 
multiple events and multiple projects in a single container
 •Project snapshots: on-demand backups that allow you to quickly return to an earlier version of 
a particular project
 •Media file storage on disk locations external to the Final Cut Pro X library, making your media 
accessible in specific folders on a wide range of SANs
 •Direct importation of MTS/M2TS files into Final Cut Pro
 •Used clip range indicators that show you at a glance which clips are already in a project
 •Direct import of photos from iOS devices using the Media Import window
 •Support for portrait/landscape metadata in still images
For more information, see Organizing libraries overview
 on page 56, Media management 
overview
 on page 417 , and Editing overview on page 87.
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							 Chapter 1    What’s new in Final Cut Pro? 12
Playback and effects
Significant improvements in the Final Cut Pro playback interface and powerful new effects 
features will empower your workflow.
 •Improved retiming lets you set custom speeds easier than ever—by typing frame rates directly 
in the interface. You can also create jump cuts at specific frames, replace and retime in one 
step, and retime clips without rippling the Timeline. For more information, see Retiming clips 
overview
 on page 300.
 •A new stabilization method called InertiaCam has been optimized to smooth video footage 
containing camera moves such as pans and zooms. Tripod Mode creates the effect of a static 
camera, as if it were mounted on a tripod.
 •An improved optical flow algorithm makes retiming and frame rate conform speedier than 
ever. In addition, for Macs with two GPUs, the optical flow algorithm now makes use of both 
GPUs, providing a more than 2x speed increase over a single GPU.
 •You can now create custom project resolutions for web video, digital signage, and other 
nonstandard frame sizes.
 •New controls in the Viewer menu let you switch between better playback quality and better 
playback performance. There’s also a control to switch between proxy media and original or 
optimized media.
 •And you can now view all pixels of a 2K frame on a MacBook Pro with Retina display.
Editing
Improved editing tools give you more creative flexibility than ever.
 •Through edits are now supported in all types of clips. The new Join Clips command removes 
cuts from bladed Timeline clips.
 •You can detach the audio portion of multicam clips in the Timeline to manipulate audio and 
video separately. You can also make video-only or audio-only edits into the Timeline with 
multicam clips as sources.
 •You can blade audio cuts in J- and L-cuts separately from the video. And you can now roll the 
audio in open split edits.
 •If no clips are selected in the Timeline, a white dot now appears on the playhead to indicate 
the clip whose attributes are shown in the Inspector.
 •Moving clips with transitions is now easier. 
For more information, see Editing overview
 on page 87 .
Share
When it’s time to export your project, there are several new Share options:
 •You can share 4K finished videos directly to YouTube.
 •You can share videos directly to the Chinese video sharing websites Youku and Tudou.
 •And you can receive notifications on the status of items you shared.
For more information, see Sharing projects overview
 on page 399 .
Audio
Audio fade handles have been added to individual audio channels in the Timeline. For more 
information, see Fade audio in or out
 on page 17 6 .
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							 Chapter 1    What’s new in Final Cut Pro? 13
Third-party support
Final Cut Pro 10.1 also features several new third-party support options:
 •Developers can utilize a new API for customizing Share operations.
 •FXPlug 3 has been updated to include the ability to design custom effects interfaces.
 •Effect parameters, fonts, and text size information are now preserved in XML files.
General application
You can now hide the Browser to free up more screen area for color grading and other 
operations that are improved by larger video images.
What’s new in Final Cut Pro 10.0.6?
Final Cut Pro 10.0.6 includes numerous new features and enhancements, detailed below.
Advanced multichannel audio editing
Final Cut Pro automatically groups audio channels into audio components according to how the 
channels are configured for the clip. You can now expand the audio portion of clips to view and 
edit audio components down to the individual channel level. You can edit audio components in 
a variety of ways, including any of the following:
 •Adjust volume or pan.
 •Disable or delete ranges within an audio component to quickly edit out unwanted sounds.
 •Apply and adjust audio effects.
 •Add or remove audio components in a multicam clip.
For more information, see Audio editing overview
 on page 17 0 .
Streamlined sharing and export
Sharing your finished work is easier and more flexible in Final Cut Pro 10.0.6. Destinations—sets 
of preconfigured export settings—allow you to quickly publish a project or clip to a sharing 
website, export it for viewing on iPad or iPhone, or burn it to a disc. Final Cut Pro comes with a 
variety of destinations, and you can also modify destinations and create new destinations.
The simplified and streamlined sharing workflow includes these enhancements: 
 •Simplified and consolidated menus that you can easily populate with customized destinations
 •Reusable destination bundles that allow you to share to multiple output formats and locations 
at once
 •Automatic sharing of project and clip metadata, with the ability to customize the metadata 
that is shared
 •Support for multiple accounts at video-sharing websites such as YouTube
 •Faster sharing and export using the GPU and background processing
 •Sharing of a selected range in a project in the Timeline or in a clip in the Browser
For more information, see Sharing projects overview
 on page 399 .
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							 Chapter 1    What’s new in Final Cut Pro? 14
Unified import
Simplified and easier to use, the new unified Media Import window provides one place to go for 
all your importing needs. Final Cut Pro 10.0.6 offers dedicated areas for connected cameras and 
devices, both file-based and tape-based, as well as a new Favorites section, where you can add 
frequently used folders for file import from your hard disk or an external drive. Other new import 
features include list view to see multiple columns of metadata, multiple range selections within 
individual clips from file-based cameras, and complete archive-management tools.
For more information, see Importing overview
 on page 23.
Dual viewers
The Event Viewer is a separate video display that appears next to the main Viewer so you can 
compare shots to match action and color. With the Event Viewer and the Viewer open, you can 
display two clips at the same time: one from the Browser and one from the Timeline, each with 
its own video scope display.
For more information, see Play back and skim media in the Event Viewer
 on page 82 .
Native REDCODE RAW (R3D) support
Final Cut Pro 10.0.6 provides native support for REDCODE RAW (R3D) files. You can now import 
RED files directly, make nondestructive RAW settings adjustments, and save those adjustments 
as metadata, all within Final Cut Pro. This allows you to take advantage of the full latitude and 
dynamic range contained in the REDCODE RAW source files.
For more information, see Import and adjust REDCODE RAW video files
 on page 47 .
Improved range selections
Start and end points in clips in the Browser now stay in place when you click elsewhere. You can 
also create multiple range selections in one or more clips. 
For more information, see Select a range
 on page 94  and Manage multiple range selections in 
event clips
 on page 97 .
Other notable features
 •Chapter markers and chapter marker thumbnails allow you to prepare chapters and their 
representative poster frame images directly within Final Cut Pro for output to DVD, Blu-ray 
disc, iTunes, QuickTime Player, and Apple devices.
 •The new Paste Attributes window is a powerful way to transfer specific effects and other 
settings between clips.
 •You can now add freeze frames quickly and easily with a single keyboard shortcut.
 •Titling is significantly improved, including support for the new title markers feature in Motion.
 •Flexible connection points improve manual control over connected clips as you slip, slide, or 
move clips in the primary storyline.
 •New compound clip architecture makes compound clips easier to reuse in multiple projects 
and provides improved performance.
 •You can now import and export MXF files using third-party plug-ins. For a list of supported 
media files, see Supported media formats
 on page 46 .
 •Final Cut Pro 10.0.6 provides improved support for anamorphic media.
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							 Chapter 1    What’s new in Final Cut Pro? 15
What’s new in Final Cut Pro 10.0.3?
Final Cut Pro 10.0.3 includes major new features and enhancements, detailed below.
Multicam editing
You can now use multicam clips to edit footage from multicamera shoots or other synchronized 
footage in real time. Working with multicam clips in Final Cut Pro is a flexible and fluid process. 
While the active angle plays in the Viewer, you can also view all angles playing simultaneously in 
the Angle Viewer and easily cut and switch between them. You can create multicam clips from 
diverse media sources and modify existing multicam clips during the editing process.
For more information, see Multicam editing overview
 on page 327.
A/V output
You can now connect your computer to an external video monitor for audio and video (A/V ) 
output. In addition to showing you how video and audio look and sound on an NTSC/PAL or HD 
broadcast monitor, this feature also allows you to test output with more sophisticated devices 
such as vectorscopes and waveform monitors.
A/V output is available only with OS X Lion v10.7.2 or later and requires compatible third-
party video interface hardware and software. FireWire DV devices are not supported. For more 
information, contact the device manufacturer or go to the Final Cut Pro X Resources webpage at 
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/resources .
For more information, see  View playback on an external video monitor
 on page 83.
Manual relinking of clips to media files
Now you can manually relink event clips and project clips to media files. Manual relinking gives 
you more control over your post-production workflow. 
For more information, see Relink clips to media files
 on page 4 21 .
Other notable features
 •Layered graphics files, such as Adobe Photoshop (PSD) files, can now be edited so that each 
layer appears as a connected clip in the Timeline.
 •Advanced Keyer controls are now available.
 •Keyframing controls are improved in the Video and Audio Animation Editors.
What’s new in Final Cut Pro 10.0.1?
Final Cut Pro 10.0.1 includes a number of new features, enhancements, and changes. The most 
significant features are introduced below.
Roles
You can use the new roles metadata labels to organize clips in your events and projects, control 
the appearance of the Timeline, and export separate video or audio files (also known as  media 
stems) for broadcast delivery, audio mixing, or post-production. For example, you can export 
roles as media stems in a combined, multitrack QuickTime file, or as separate audio or video 
files. During the export process you can assign mono, stereo, or surround output for your 
audio channels.
For more information, see Roles overview
 on page 318  and Destinations preferences on page 447 .
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							 Chapter 1    What’s new in Final Cut Pro? 16
Storage area network (SAN) locations
You can now add network volumes as storage locations for events and projects. When you 
remove SAN locations in Final Cut Pro, other users on the network can work with the events and 
projects stored on those locations.
XML export and import
Final Cut Pro now supports XML import and export so that you can transfer your project and 
event information to and from systems and third-party applications that don’t recognize 
Final Cut Pro projects and events. 
For more information, see Use XML to transfer projects and events on page 326.
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							  17
What is Final Cut Pro?
Final Cut Pro X is a revolutionary application for creating, editing, and producing the highest-
quality video. Final Cut Pro combines high-performance digital editing and native support 
for virtually any video format with easy-to-use and time-saving features that let you focus 
on storytelling.
In Final Cut Pro, you can:
 •Edit everything from uncompressed standard-definition video to HDV, DVCPRO HD, and 
uncompressed high-definition video—as well as file-based formats such as AVC-Intra, AVCHD, 
and XDCAM HD.
 •Play back and skim resolution-independent media up to 1920 x 1080, 2K, 4K, and even 5K 
resolution. You can also play your video full screen or on a second display.
 •Assemble clips with ease using the Magnetic Timeline, which fluidly adjusts clips around the 
clip you’re dragging to eliminate gaps, collisions, and sync problems.
 •Edit quickly with the complete set of professional editing and trimming tools. Fine-tune edits 
with the inline Precision Editor.
 •Have Final Cut Pro analyze your video and nondestructively fix common problems such as 
camera shake, excess hum, or loudness. You can also have Final Cut Pro detect the presence of 
people or the shot type, and automatically apply keywords such as One Person or Wide Shot.
 •Organize your media using Keyword Collections, which automatically group clips based on 
keywords, and Smart Collections, which automatically group clips based on criteria you specify.
 •Try out clips in your project using auditions—sets of alternate takes, effects, or text 
treatments—and then choose the best clip for the edit.
 •Create compound clips to group any combination of clips, and nest clips within other clips. 
Final Cut Pro basics
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							 Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics 18
 •Use connected clips and storylines to add cutaway shots, superimposed titles, and sound 
effects to your project. Connected clips and storylines always stay in sync.
 •Add special effects to video, audio, and photos, and adjust them using keyframes and onscreen 
controls. You can also change clip speed to create fast-motion or slow-motion effects.
 •Automatically balance and match color, or use the color correction tools to precisely control 
the look of any clip in your project.
 •Publish your project directly to websites such as YouTube and Facebook, or send your project 
to iTunes for syncing with Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
What are libraries?
In Final Cut Pro 10.1 or later, you organize your work in libraries. A library contains multiple events 
and projects in the same location. The first time you open Final Cut Pro 10.1, it creates a library 
file in the Movies folder. When you create a new project or event, it’s automatically included 
in the active library. The library tracks all your media files, your editing decisions, and the 
associated metadata.
LibraryLibraryLibraryLibrary
Clip Clip Clip
EventEvent
Clip ClipProjectProject Project Project
Event
You can have multiple libraries open at the same time, and you can easily copy events and 
projects between libraries. This makes it simple and quick to move media, metadata, and creative 
work to another system for mobile work, work with multiple editors, or archiving. You can open 
and close libraries as needed so that you never have too many libraries open at once.
The following concepts are important to understand when you work with libraries.
Managed and external media
Media that you import into a specific library is stored inside the library and is referred to as 
managed media. Media can also be imported or copied to any location on a connected volume 
and linked to the library as external media. Multiple users can access this external media instantly 
on shared storage.
Managed media can be made external at any time if you want to share access, and external 
media can be collected as managed media inside the library for easy transport or archiving. For 
more information, see Consolidate projects, events, and libraries
 on page 424. 
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							 Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics 19
Generated media
Render files, optimized files, proxy files, and analysis files are all considered generated media 
because the system creates them in the background after the original media has been imported. 
You can store generated media inside your Final Cut Pro library or in an external location you 
define in the Library inspector. For example, to organize media in a large facility more efficiently, 
you can put generated media on a SAN or on a storage device outside the library. For more 
information, see Manage storage locations
 on page 434.
To reduce a library’s size, and to move, copy, or archive a library more quickly, you can delete all 
the generated media (proxy, optimized, or render files) in one step. For more information, see 
Manage optimized and proxy media files
 on page 425  and Manage render files on page 429.
Note:  By default, copying a project between libraries does not copy the associated proxy, 
optimized, or render files because these files can be quickly regenerated. However, you have the 
option to include proxy or optimized media when you copy a project to another library.
Final Cut Pro workflow overview
To give you an idea of the possibilities, the overall process for putting together a movie with 
Final Cut Pro is described below. You don’t have to do every step, and you might do others that 
aren’t listed. The workflow isn’t necessarily linear. You could, for example, go all the way through 
editing and adding effects, and then import more new media for your project.
Import your media into Final Cut Pro
To use Final Cut Pro, you need to transfer your media (video, audio, and still images) from your 
recording device to your computer or an external disk. You can import media from many kinds of 
cameras and other devices, or from other applications such as iMovie.
Organize your media
Final Cut Pro automatically organizes your imported media into events. An event is similar 
to a folder that can hold dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of video clips, audio clips, and 
still images, as well as projects. In Final Cut Pro, your media appears as clips, which link to the 
media files stored on a disk. You can reorganize your clips by creating or renaming events and 
moving clips between events. For example, you could create an event for all the media shot for a 
specific client.
As you review your footage, you can easily rate clips as Favorite or Rejected. These ratings make 
it easier to focus on your best footage. Final Cut Pro also offers other useful organizing tools, such 
as Keyword Collections and Smart Collections.
Create a project and add clips to it
Your project is the movie you create using clips from your events and from the Final Cut Pro 
media browsers. Start creating your movie by adding clips to the Timeline. You make all your edits 
in the project; your original media files remain untouched (this is known as nondestructive editing).
Arrange and edit your clips
Now your movie can really begin to take shape. To assemble a rough cut, rearrange and trim 
clips in the Timeline. You can also try out different clips using auditions. Use connected clips 
and storylines to add cutaway shots, titles, background music, and sound effects to your project. 
Create compound clips to group any combination of clips and nest clips within other clips. You 
can simplify a complicated project by creating a separate compound clip for each major section. 
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							 Chapter 2    Final Cut Pro basics 20
Add effects and transitions
Add special effects from the ample collection of video and audio effects in the Final Cut Pro 
media browsers. Give your movie titles and credits, and apply video or audio transitions. Adjust 
clip speed settings to create fast-motion or slow-motion effects. 
To further polish your project, you can fine-tune cuts and transitions with the Precision Editor, 
keyframe video and audio effects, correct color, and composite motion graphics.
Share your movie
When your project is finished, you can publish your movie right from Final Cut Pro to the web, or 
send it to iTunes, iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Apple TV. You can also burn a disc to give to others.
Final Cut Pro interface overview
The Final Cut Pro window has three main areas:
Viewer: Play back clips and projects.Browser: Access all the source media you import.
Magnetic Timeline: Edit your 
movie in this area.
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