Which to Pick: Connected Clip, Storyline or Compound Clip in Final Cut Pro

Apple Final Cut Pro has four ways to place clips: In the Primary storyline, a connected clip, a connected storyline, or  a compound clip. There are several differences between these. Here’s how to choose which to use.

NOTE: For the purpose of clarity, when I use the word “effect,” this includes all color grading, position, scaling, and Effects browser effects. In other words, anything that changes the look or placement of a clip or pixel.

PRIMARY STORYLINE

The primary storyline holds individual clips, which can contain audio, video or both. The magnetic nature of the primary storyline connects the clips horizontally preventing accidental flashes of black.

In the Primary Storyline:

• Each clip can be moved or trimmed independently.
• All primary storyline video clips must touch each other, unless separated by a gap clip.
• Effects can be applied to each clip, independently.
• Transitions can be added between any two adjacent clips.

CONNECTED CLIPS

A connected clip is one or more clips located on a higher layer (video) or lower layer (audio) from the primary storyline. All connected clips are attached to a clip, or a gap clip, in the Primary Storyline.

NOTE: To create a connected clip, drag it from the Browser or timeline above any clip in the primary storyline, or select it in the Browser and type Q. This places the clip at the position of the playhead on a layer above (video) or below (audio) the primary storyline.

A connected clip can be:

• Re-positioned or trimmed independently of any other clip
• Positioned anywhere, even if it leaves gaps in the layer
• Audio-only, audio/video, or video-only
• Assigned effects different from any other clip

However, each connected clip must attach to a clip immediately below them in the primary storyline. This connection point can be moved. Connected clips do not support transitions. If a connected clip uses a different frame size or frame rate from the containing project, the clip is rendered to match the project settings.

NOTE: Earlier versions of FCP did not support roll trimming between connected clips. Current versions do.

STORYLINE

A storyline is a sequence composed of one or more connected clips all on the same layer. Storyline clips can be video-only, audio-only, or synced audio/video

NOTE: To create a storyline, formerly called a “connected storyline,” select one or more clips on the same layer, they don’t need to be touching, and choose Clip > Create Storyline (shortcut: Cmd + G). Any space between them is replaced by a gap clip.

A storyline supports:

• Adding or removing individual clips from it
• Adding transitions between or at the end of enclosed clips, even if there is a gap
• Roll trimming between clips
• Split edits between synced audio/video clips
• Moving/deleting all the clips in the connected storyline as a group
• Unlike a connected clip, a storyline only needs to attach to one primary storyline clip, regardless of how many clips it contains. This connection point can be moved.

A storyline does not support:

• Clips on multiple layers
• Video clips with detached audio
• Adding an effect to the storyline which then affects all enclosed clips
• If a storyline contains clips with different frame sizes or frame rates from the containing project, the storyline is rendered to match the project settings.

COMPOUND CLIP

A compound clip is like a project contained inside another project. It can contain clips, clip components and other compound clips (a nest within a nest).

NOTE: To create a compound clip, select one or more clips in the project, then choose File > New > Compound Clip (shortcut: Option + G).

A compound clip supports:

• Creation in the timeline or browser
• One or more clips on multiple layers
• Applying a transition to any clip, or set of adjacent clips
• Applying one or more effects simultaneously to all enclosed clips
• Adjusting clips inside the compound clip independently from the compound clip
• Different frame sizes or frame rates from the containing project
• The same trimming rules that apply to any project timeline
• Unless located in the primary storyline, a compound clip must attach to one primary storyline clip. This connection can be moved.

However, compound clips are rarely supported when exporting projects using XML for import into other software.

SUMMARY

Connected clips are the easiest to create. Storylines are most often used for transitions and trimming between clips.

Compound clips are the most flexible, from combining multiple clips into a single entity, syncing one or more video clips with multiple audio clips, or creating mini-projects with different specs than the master (containing) project.

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