FCP X: Create Chapter Markers

Posted on by Larry

Final Cut Pro X Logo[ There are more than twenty significant new features in the 10.0.6 update to Final Cut Pro X. This article looks at one of them. Check out our latest training covering the Final Cut Pro X 10.0.6 update here ]

Chapter markers may not seem like a big thing, but Apple brought joy to a lot of hearts when it added them back to Final Cut with this release.

A chapter marker is a special kind of marker that is used to help viewers quickly navigate within a lengthy project. Chapter markers travel with the exported file and can be viewed when the movie is compressed for a DVD, or displayed to the web, or played in QuickTime.

Setting them in Final Cut Pro X is easy – as long as you have version 10.0.6 or later. Here’s how:

Chapter Markers in Final Cut Pro X 10.0.6

Open a project into the Timeline and put the skimmer where you want to place the Chapter marker. (If skimming is turned off, the position of the playhead is used instead.)

Type M, then type M a second time to open the Edit Marker dialog box.

By default, Chapter markers are named “Chapter” followed by a number. However, I generally rename my markers to indicate the subject of that particular section of the video. In this example, I’m renaming the marker to “Jump Mountain”.

Renaming a marker is not required, but I find it helpful, especially for DVDs

Renaming Markers in Final Cut Pro X 10.0.6

There are three types of markers:

NOTE: Only Chapter Markers export with the file. Click the far right marker icon at the top to set a chapter marker.

Setting Chapter Markers in Final Cut Pro X 10.0.6

Chapter markers are indicated with the color orange and two icons: the marker and a poster frame pin. By default, the poster frame, that is, the image that’s associated with the marker, defaults to the frame the marker is on. However, you can change the marker’s poster frame by dragging the pin. This allows you to select a more representative poster frame for the marker.

Not all applications support poster frames, for instance, DVDs do not. However, for QuickTime movies, this gives you a greater range for selecting exactly the right image for your marker.

NOTE: Only Chapter Markers have pins that allow you to select poster frames.

Change Chapter Markers in Final Cut Pro X 10.0.6

Once a marker is created, you can change it by right-clicking the marker and selecting the marker type you want to use. To delete a marker, select Delete.

Include chapter markers when you export your project in Final Cut Pro X 10.0.6

When you export your project, be sure the Include chapter markers checkbox is checked. In this example, exporting a master file, this is checked by default.

Chapter Markers in Quicktime 7 (QT 7)

In QuickTime 7, you can see a list of all markers by clicking the marker name in the lower right corner of the window, next to the end of the Timeline.

Show Chapters in QuickTime Player X

In QuickTime Player X, click the Four Squares icon…

A list of all chapter markers in a movie

… to display a list of all markers associated with that movie.

The nice thing about chapter markers is that they will travel with a file even after it’s compressed. I use these markers all the time for DVDs or my H.264 training movies that are available for download or streaming.

It is REALLY nice to see these return to Final Cut Pro.

 


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28 Responses to FCP X: Create Chapter Markers

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  1. Ulli Jossner says:

    Sorry to ask this here, but I’m kind of desperate. Can you delete chapter markers in QT. I’ve replaced some parts in a QT film and QT created chapter markers without me noticing. Deleting them on a QT level would save me hours. Otherwise I’d have to export a 90′ film again.
    Thanx in advance
    Ulli

    • Larry says:

      Ulli:

      You can delete entire marker tracks in a movie using QuickTime 7 Pro. However, you can’t rename or delete individual markers.

      However, you MAY be able to do so using MusicBrainz Picard. Check out this website to see if it can help you:

      https://picard.musicbrainz.org

      Larry

  2. Mary B says:

    Is there a way that Chapter Markers can be made visible on a youtube clip

  3. Cory Langley says:

    after placing all markers, can you batch process all of them into the orange ‘chapter marker’ or must you do it one by one?

    thanx Cory

    • Larry Jordan says:

      Cory:

      You can’t do this natively in Final Cut.

      You could export an XML file and change the marker types within the XML file, then reimport it.

      I did a quick Google search but didn’t find any specific marker conversion tools.

      Larry

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