If you’re an editor working in Final Cut Pro, you know how critical it is to maintain precise timing while cutting, trimming, and deleting clips. But sometimes, when deleting a clip on the Magnetic Timeline, the entire sequence shifts unexpectedly, sending your carefully arranged edit haywire. This is the magic — or the challenge — of Final Cut Pro’s Magnetic Timeline.
Fortunately, there’s a powerful shortcut to help you delete clips without affecting the rest of your timeline: Command-Option-Delete.
What Does Command-Option-Delete Do in Final Cut Pro?
On macOS, the Command-Option-Delete keyboard shortcut is commonly used to delete an item without causing ripple effects. In Final Cut Pro, this means:
- Deleting the selected clip or portion of a clip without shifting or moving connected clips on the timeline
When you delete a clip normally, you remove the clip and all clips connected to it due to the Magnetic Timeline’s clip connections — causing other clips to be deleted unexpectedly. Using Command-Option-Delete prevents these clip connections from deleting linked clips.
Video editing requires exact timing. The Magnetic Timeline is designed to make editing easier by keeping clips connected and aligned, but it can sometimes work against you by causing unwanted shifts when deleting clips.
With Command-Option-Delete, you can:
- Remove clips without the ripple effect of shifting connected clips
- Maintain exact timing and alignment of connected clips
- Keep multi-track edits intact, avoiding the hassle of manual re-adjustments
- Edit confidently without worrying about throwing your timeline off balance
How to Use Command-Option-Delete in Final Cut Pro
- Select the clip (or portion of a clip) on your timeline that you want to remove
- Press ⌘ (Command)- ⌥ (Option)– Delete on your keyboard
- Watch the selected clip disappear while the rest of your timelines connected clips stays perfectly in place
This simple shortcut stops the Magnetic Timeline from moving your connected clips — no more chaos caused by deleted clips!
The Command-Option-Delete shortcut in Final Cut Pro is an essential weapon in your editing arsenal. It allows you to remove clips without disrupting the timeline’s flow, maintaining control over complex sequences and preserving your edit’s timing. Whether you’re trimming clips, cutting unwanted footage, or fine-tuning your timeline, this shortcut makes your editing workflow smoother and more efficient.
Next time you’re editing, try Command-Option-Delete — it might just save your timeline from chaos!
