FCP X: Cool Keyboard Shortcuts

Posted on by Larry

Logo-FCPX.jpgI was browsing our new Tip of the Day – https://larryjordan.com/free-tips/ – and re-discovered a technique I had totally forgotten about. This became the first shortcut in this article and got me thinking about including a few other shortcuts you may not know.

NOTE: By the way, a tip of the hat to Brianna Murphy, who’s been trolling some of my past articles looking for tips to post. Thanks, Bri!

MOVE A PRIMARY STORYLINE CLIP

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Here’s the scenario: A clip in the Primary Storyline has a connected clip (or connected storyline) attached to it. You want to move the Primary Storyline clip, but every time you do, the connected clip moves with it.

However, it’s possible to move the Primary Storyline clip without changing the position of the connected clip hovering over it.

The first and only step is to press and hold the Grave (`) accent key on your keyboard. (It’s right above the Tab key.)

When you do, you’ll see an odd little orange globe icon next to the cursor; you can now move the Primary Storyline clip from under the connected clip. Downstream clips move up to take the place of the moved clip, without the connected clip changing position.

TOP AND TAIL TRIMMING

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Here’s a fast way to trim the beginning or end of a clip. Put the playhead at the point you want to trim a clip.

Even faster, use the Range tool (R) to draw a range within a single clip; this technique won’t work across multiple clips.

This works with the Skimmer, too, if it is active instead of the Playhead.

OPEN A LIBRARY

OK, I don’t know when Apple slipped this in, but it surprised me as I was researching this article.

D’uh. I know, its the keyboard shortcut to open a document in every other application. I just never noticed it before.

VIEWER SHORTCUTS

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Granted, it doesn’t take a lot to click the small Viewer icons for Transform, Crop or Distort. But, fast as your mouse finger may be, there’s a faster way:

Remember, in order to control a clip in the Viewer, you need to select the clip in the Timeline.

LEAVING GAPS

To delete a clip and not leave a gap, press the big Delete key (above the Return key).

To delete a clip AND leave a gap, press the small Delete key, next to the End key. (This key only exists on full-screen keyboards.)

SCOPE OUT THE SITUATION

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Video scopes have a variety of useful shortcuts:

LARRY’S FAVORITE SHORTCUT –  …this week

With more than 700 shortcuts to choose from, its hard for me to pick a favorite. But, for the last couple of weeks, there’s one clear winner:

Hiding those two parts of the interface provides a lot more room for the Viewer, Scopes, or Multicam Angle Editor.

SUMMARY

Good shortcuts are worth their weight in gold. (In fact, I include a list of my favorite 220 keyboard shortcuts with all my Final Cut Pro X training.)

Let me know what some of your favorites are in the comments section below.


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2 Responses to FCP X: Cool Keyboard Shortcuts

  1. Neil Groundwater says:

    >> To delete a clip AND leave a gap, press the small Delete key, next to the End key. (This key only exists on full-screen keyboards.)

    On a laptop or a small keyboard, Fn-Delete operates like the forward-Delete key does on the large keyboards. Thanks for all the great tips!

    …Neil

  2. Misha says:

    ‘move the Primary Storyline clip without changing the position of the connected clip hovering over it.’
    I forgot about this possibility, thanks! Very useful.
    Also you can change the connection point of a clip holding Alt+CMD and CLICKing the targeted point you need

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