FCP 7: Using the Keyboard to Move Things

[ This technique works in Final Cut Pro 7 and all earlier versions. ]

This article was spurred by an email yesterday from Michael Harrell who was trying to sync separate audio with video clips. He asked:

Is there a way to move clips one frame at a time? I don’t mind doing it manually, but it’s frustrating when I can’t get it within a frame or so by dragging it.

The answer is yes – in fact, we can easily move quite a bit of stuff. Specifically, we can move the playhead, a clip or group of clips, or an edit point.

• If nothing is selected, you move the playhead.
• If a clip, or group of clips, is selected, you move the clip – provided they are not blocked by other clips on the same track. You can move clips on multiple tracks – they all just need to be selected and not blocked.
• If an edit point is selected, you move the edit point – provided you have sufficient handles (extra video before the In or after the Out) for the move. You can only select one edit point per track.

The key is to select something first. (The playhead is the default selected object in the Timeline, if nothing else in the Timeline is selected.)

Here’s how to get something to move:

• Press the comma key – the selected object moves one frame to the left.
• Press the period key – the selected object moves one frame to the right.
• Press Shift+comma – the selected object moves 5 frames to the left.
• Press Shift+period – the selected object moves 5 frame to the right.

You can change the default of 5 frames in Final Cut Pro > User Preferences > Editing tab. Change the value in “Multi-Frame Trim Size” to the number of frames you want to move when pressing Shift + comma/period.

I’ve been using this technique for years and find it invaluable. This allows you to move one clip, a group of clips, or every clip on every track — all you need to do is select something first.