CommandPost is an indispensable tool for Final Cut Pro. One of its key features enables a scrolling timeline. However, this feature can conflict with the latest version of Final Cut. Here’s what you need to know.
In this short video, Larry Jordan shows how to create and motion track a shape mask to change the color of objects in a frame. He also shows how and why to use the Broadcast Safe effect.
Masks hide things – even in video. In this short tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to use shape masks and color masks to change the color of objects in a video.
In this short video, I show how to change the color of a single object in a frame. This is called a “secondary color correction.”
The color capability of Apple Final Cut Pro continues to expand with new color tools added to an already powerful tool set. Join Larry Jordan as he starts at the beginning then, step-by-step, illustrates all the major color tools in Final Cut, how they work and what you need to know to make the most of them.
I wrote last week that a bug in Final Cut prevents dynamically updating Photoshop images in Final Cut when they are revised and saved in Photoshop. At some point, Apple will fix this. But, for now, here’s a workaround, first …
Sometime in the past, Final Cut Pro handles importing Photoshop images. Changes used to be handled dynamically, but, in the current version, changes to a saved file seem to be ignored. This is not right. Here are the details.
ChronoX is a utility that measures the elapsed time of Final Cut Pro exports in a precise and fully automated way. There are two versions: Standard (free) and Professional. Here’s a detailed review of what this software does.
Most of the time, syncing clips to be frame accurate is good enough. But, sometimes you need more precision. This tutorial illustrates how to slip audio inside the frame in 1/80th of a frame increments using Apple Final Cut Pro.
In this short video, Larry Jordan illustrates the differences between Paste Effects and Paste Attributes in Final Cut Pro. He’ll also show their impact on keyframe timing.
Recent updates to Apple Final Cut Pro added several more mask effects, three of which I illustrate in this tutorial: Corner mask, Graduated mask, and Image mask. Here’s what they look like and how to create them.
What causes those strange hash marks at the top of clips in Final Cut Pro? Actually, they are indicating a good thing – here’s what they are and how to turn them on or off.
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.
So, I wondered whether Final Cut Pro exported faster if you rendered the timeline before exporting. The answer surprised me – most of the time, it doesn’t. Here’s what you need to know to speed your exports.
Have you ever wanted to find a shot you haven’t used yet? Yeah, happens to me all the time. Fortunately, Final Cut Pro makes it easy. Here’s how to either find the media you are using, or find the media you are NOT using.
There’s a hidden rating feature in Final Cut Pro that can help you organize your clips. It’s been there since FCP was first released over a decade ago. However, in recent years, Apple has deemphasized this to the point you …
Recently, I’ve gotten a lot of email from people trying to capture video from video tape. This used to be easy… but with changes to Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple Final Cut Pro, it has become more challenging. Here’s what you need to know.
Creative Cow reports that Retroactive 2.0 now supports Apple Final Cut Pro 7 running on macOS Mojave and High Sierra. Here are the details.
Export segmentation is one of the new features in Final Cut 10.7 that becomes available when you upgrade to macOS Sonoma. This harnesses the power of multiple media engines in Apple silicon chips to accelerate H.264 and HEVC exports in FCP or Compressor. While this makes exports faster, it also has other benefits – and limitations.
In this short video, Larry Jordan explains how to configure either Apple Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro to use SSDs instead of hard disk drives (HDDs).
In this short video, Larry Jordan demos Smart Collections – which are simply saved searches – in Apple Final Cut Pro.
Many projects use the same effects – and effect settings – over and over. Creating these each time is a waste of time. Why? Because Apple Final Cut Pro makes it easy to create custom effects, reuse them as often as you need, even share them with other editors. Here’s how.
Apple has improved object tracking in the 10.7 version of Final Cut Pro. While still not perfect, it is much faster and more accurate. Here’s how it works.
Apple updated Final Cut Pro to version 10.7 and included a number of new features. Here are details on three that are especially useful: Timeline scrolling, collapsing clips and faster H.264 and HEVC exports.
Today, Apple released new versions of Final Cut Pro (10.7), Motion (5.7), and Compressor (4.7). Here are the details.
There are a variety of ways to find, select, and rename media in Apple Final Cut Pro. Here’s what you need to know.
A typical problem when I record Zoom calls or screen captures is that the audio and video are out of sync. Here are three ways to sync clips, with one being the best option.
Picture This… Imagine clicking a button and having a high-quality, AI-generated image appear directly in your Final Cut or Premiere Pro timeline. It exists. Philip Hodgetts describes the software.
Bill asks: How I can sync an out-of-sync Zoom recording for a multicam project in Apple Final Cut Pro? The answer is fairly simple, but not obvious. Here’s how to do it.
There are advantages to moving video editing projects between applications. In this video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to move an Apple Final Cut Pro project from Final Cut into DaVinci Resolve for color grading, then bring it back to Final Cut for final output.
Apple announces new versions of Final Cut Pro for the Mac (v10.7) and iPad (v1.3) – both “coming soon.” However, many of these “new features” already seem to be in the software. This is a confusing announcement.
In Apple’s recent introduction of their M3-series chips, the screen shots revealed a hidden story. Apple launched their most powerful computers ever – but Final Cut was nowhere to be found. What happened?
There are six hidden keyboard shortcuts in Apple Final Cut Pro that can simplify editing dialog and action scenes – four of which are not even assigned to keys! Here’s what they are and how they work.
Apple released Final Cut Pro version 10.6.10, which fixed two major bugs. Here are the details and new features.
Storyboards are a great way to help you think about a shot before getting on set. Here’s a great way to use placeholders in Final Cut Pro, along with Photoshop, to create simple – but flexible – storyboards.
3D text is exciting because of its depth and the variety of textures available for each surface. But the real excitement comes when you start to play with lighting. Here’s a simple tutorial on how this works.
Yesterday’s update to Final Cut Pro breaks most FXFactory plugins. Caution is urged on updating. Here are the details, along with Release Notes for new versions of Final Cut Pro, Compressor and Motion.
Normally, double-system sound needs to be synced before you start editing. But, if that’s not possible, Larry Jordan presents a way to sync clips after they are edited into the timeline.
With the pace of development slowing for Apple Final Cut Pro on the Mac, here are some of Larry Jordan’s thoughts on what he sees as its future.
Camera archives appeared with the initial release of Apple Final Cut Pro more than a decade ago. However, they aren’t talked about too much these days, which is a shame, because they have several useful functions.
Personally, most of my projects are stored in a single library. However, if I needed to tackle something really big, I’d probably go with Option 3. Here are three options for organizing, managing and exporting large projects in Apple Final Cut Pro.
Apple Final Cut does not support exporting markers – or anything else – displayed in the Timeline Index. However, there’s a cool work-around that works perfectly. Here’s what you need to know.
The week, Apple released bug-fix versions of Final Cut Pro, Motion and Compressor. Here’s a list of what’s new and links to get more information.
Wondering how fast your computer is compared to the latest Apple silicon Mac desktops? We have the answers! In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan measures the differences in computer speed between Intel and Apple silicon Macs when running Apple Final Cut Pro and compressing video.
For video editors, any M-series Mac computer is a vast improvement over any Intel system. In this detailed review, Larry Jordan looks at setup and performance tests of the M2 Mac Studio computer using Apple Final Cut Pro.
Shooting log video is a great way to preserve highlight and shadow detail in an image. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to color grade Log video without using a LUT in Apple Final Cut Pro.
Apple Final Cut Pro provides powerful color tools that improve video. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan demos two quick color tricks that fix color casts and make sure skin tones are accurate.
Final Cut Pro provides powerful color tools that improve video. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to keyframe a color correction, plus an easier way to correct white balance problems.
Final Cut Pro provides powerful color tools that improve video. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan explains what LUTs are, how they can improve your images, how to use them – and what to avoid – plus, how to create a custom LUT for your next project.
The color capability of Apple Final Cut Pro continues to expand with new color tools added in the 10.6.6 update. If you’ve wondered what the latest color tools are, how all the different color tools work, or how to make your images look even better, Larry Jordan has created a session just for you.
This TWO WEBINAR bundle covers tools and techniques for the entire audio workflow. We start in Final Cut, transfer to Audition, then move the finished mix back to Final Cut. Everything you need to know – all in one place.
What’s the future of Final Cut? I have no inside knowledge. I’ve talked to no one inside Apple. I just look at what’s been said and done in the past. And it gives us guidance for the future.
The new Color Conform in Apple Final Cut Pro takes a really complex subject – matching color spaces – and makes it accessible and easy to use. Here’s how it works.
Apple just updated Final Cut Pro, Compressor, Motion and Logic on the Mac to support the release of Final Cut and Logic on the iPad. Here’s the compete details of what’s in the update.
Here’s a quick tip to use roles to quickly and easily mute different audio channels in the timeline. This is especially useful when working with double-system sound.
Apple just announced new versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the iPad. The iPad version is a harbinger of things to come; both good and bad. Professional editors are not the market. Here’s what’s in the new software and, more importantly, what it means.
Audio is a huge part of any project. In this short video, Larry Jordan presents how to use keyboard shortcuts and “fade dots” to preview audio and add fades between clips.
Audio is a huge part of any project. In this short video, Larry Jordan illustrates how to work with double-system sound – where the audio is recorded separately from the video – inside Apple Final Cut Pro.
Audio is a huge part of any project. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to work with multichannel audio in Apple Final Cut Pro.
Audio is a huge part of any project. In this short video, Larry Jordan presents three techniques you can use to repair problems with your audio.
This session illustrates how to work with audio in Apple Final Cut Pro. Hosted by Larry Jordan, this detailed online training starts with basic editing and audio levels, then moves into advanced features such as auditions, double-system sync, audio roles and effects.
In the old days, to monitor video to see exactly what it looks like for color grading required an external video monitor. Today, that’s no longer necessary. Here are three different techniques to view full-screen video from cheap to high-quality.
A reader requested help in creating a video with burned-in timecode so he could send dailies to a client for review. Final Cut has supported this feature for a long time, but, recently Apple changed the process. Here’s what you need to know.
Most of the time, Final Cut just “works.” Which is great, because we can get our work done. But, then there are those other times which drive us nuts. Try these ten trouble-shooting tips before contacting Apple Support.
There’s a strange playback glitch when you use compound clips to generate slow-motion effects in Final Cut. In this short video, Larry Jordan shows what the glitch is and demos work-arounds to avoid it.
Changing the playback speed of a clip is a fast and easy way to create an eye-catching visual effect. In this short video, Larry Jordan shows the differences in image quality using five different techniques to create slow motion in Final Cut Pro.
Changing the playback speed of a clip is a fast and easy way to create an eye-catching visual effect. In this short video, Larry Jordan shows how to create fast-motion transitions within a clip to move quickly within a scene.
Changing the playback speed of a clip is a fast and easy way to create an eye-catching visual effect. In this short video, Larry Jordan shows how to create a Fit-to-Fill edit in the Timeline.
AI is enabling new ways to change the playback speed of clips for video editing. In this webinar, Larry Jordan showcases a variety of ways to change the playback speed of video clips in Apple Final Cut Pro.
This articles details the performance of the M2 Pro Mac mini, specifically the speed of rendering visual effects and exporting projects in Apple Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro. 77 tests were performed and some of the answers are surprising!
This tutorial looks at how to get the best image quality out of still images that don’t move (i.e. animate) in Final Cut Pro. You’ll find these results surprising – there’s only one key parameter that affects image quality.
I am often asked which NLE is “better.” That question can’t be answered, except to say “It depends…” However, we CAN test render and export speeds, along with multicam streaming support using the new 2023 M2 Pro Mac mini. I did – and here are the results.
The new 2023 Mac mini is a powerhouse – especially when equipped with an M2 Pro SoC. In this detailed analysis, Larry Jordan looks at the performance of the M2 Mac mini specifically for use editing media in Apple Final Cut Pro.
Still photos, slides and digital images are a common component in many video projects. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to use keyframes inside Final Cut Pro to animate still images using straight lines and curves.
Still photographs, slides and digital images are a common component in many video projects. In this session, Larry Jordan takes you step-by-step from scans to image prep to import and animation in Apple Final Cut Pro and Motion.
This you won’t believe. I tested to see how many streams of 4K media Final Cut Pro can edit in a multicam clip. The answer blew me away. These are the details.
A frequent question is whether a computer has the power an editor needs. Here I look at what Apple Final Cut Pro needs for 4K multicam editing and the speeds your storage needs to support. The answer is not what you expect.
The macOS 13.2.1 update fixes a significant bug in the current version of Apple Final Cut Pro. Here are the details.
Apple Final Cut Pro is a very stable program. But, sometimes, it gets confused. When it does, the first step to reset Final Cut is to delete its preference files. Here’s how.
There’s an undocumented timeline project verification and repair function built-into Apple Final Cut Pro. While you may not ever need to use this, it is good to know that it’s there. Here’s how to access it. Option-click the Clip menu …
Adding a few dozen To-Do markers to any Final Cut project won’t cause any problems. However, if you regularly import transcripts into FCP, take the time to read this thread, especially if your system seems to be slower than usual.
Masks allow us to select a portion of a video image. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows a variety of ways to use color, shape and draw masks in Apple Final Cut Pro to create visual effects or fix problems.
Multicam editing allows us to edit several camera clips at the same time. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to use the multicam Angle Editor in Apple Final Cut Pro, along with some advanced techniques that make multicam files easier to edit.
This week, we go deep inside Apple Final Cut Pro to discover tips and techniques that can help you work faster, create higher-quality images and use effects more, um, effectively. Topics covered include: masks, chroma-key, speed changes, multicam, and ProRes.
Apple Final Cut Pro supports having more than one project open at once, even though only the active project is displayed. Here’s how to open, switch between and close one or more projects inside FCP.
Shaky video footage can cause an audience to get motion sick watching your program. Fortunately, Apple Final Cut Pro provides three ways to smooth shaky footage. Here’s an illustrated tutorial on how these work.
Recently, Alteon.io announced a new workflow extension for Final Cut Pro that provides an end-to-end media workflow from within FCP. (They also have one for Adobe Premiere Pro.) In this interview with Larry Jordan, CEO Matt Cimaglia explains why Alteon is, why video editors should consider it and how it compares to the competition.
Apple recently partnered with Future Media Concepts to create three certification exams for Apple Final Cut Pro editors. Here are the details, along with a website to learn more.
One of our favorite – and most wide-ranging – sessions returns with “Ask Larry Anything!” Presented by Larry Jordan, this is a free-form conversation based on questions submitted by viewers. In this short video tutorial, Larry presents three methods of importing only a portion of a video clip into Apple Final Cut Pro – along with an explanation of why you can’t.
This morning, Apple released new versions of Final Cut Pro, Motion and Compressor. Here are the details, along with links to the full release notes.
Here’s an illustrated tutorial on how to animate multiple elements in a bar graph to illustrate a scientific concept. While this will work with most video editing software, I use Apple Final Cut Pro in this example.
Here are two very clever workarounds to create short extracts of much larger media files to save storage space when importing video into Apple Final Cut Pro.
Looking for ways to work faster? Here are five pretty much undocumented quick tricks – from import to export – that make Final Cut Pro work even faster.
In this illustrated tutorial are three interesting, but little-used, effects in Apple Final Cut Pro that create interesting backgrounds or change the mood of a scene.
There are seven Stylize effects in Apple Final Cut Pro that create illegal video levels. This tutorial shows what they are, the problems they cause and how to fix them before final export.
[ Updated Aug. 22, 2022, with comments from Ed Cilley. ] Kristen Flynn asks: “How do people keep track of stock music? Where do they keep it? How do they access it for an edit? I feel like I have …