If you’re editing in Final Cut Pro, you know how important it is to make quick decisions about your clips. Whether it’s testing out different takes, color grading variations, or trying out new effects, you need a way to explore multiple options without cluttering your timeline or losing your original work. That’s where the Option-Y keyboard shortcut—Duplicate as Audition—comes in handy.
What is the Option-Y Shortcut in Final Cut Pro?
The Option-Y shortcut in Final Cut Pro creates a duplicate clip and place it in an Audition. This means you can make different versions of the same clip and toggle between them right in the timeline. It’s a great way to experiment with variations—such as different edits, color grades, or audio adjustments—without overwriting the original.
Once you’ve created an audition, the duplicated clips are grouped together, and you can cycle through them to compare how they fit into your project. The best part? Your original clip stays intact, and you can switch between options quickly, helping you decide which version works best.
Why Should Editors Use Duplicate as Audition?
Here are a few reasons why the Option-Y shortcut is an editor’s best friend:
- Experiment Without Risking Your Original Edit | When testing different variations of a clip (like different takes, effects, or adjustments), you don’t have to worry about losing your original work. Auditions let you try out different edits without making permanent changes until you’re ready
- Quick Comparison | Auditions allow you to view and compare different versions of a clip side-by-side in the timeline. You can cycle through them with just a few clicks or keystrokes
- Keep Your Timeline Clean | Instead of cluttering your timeline with multiple copies of the same clip, you can consolidate everything into one audition group. This keeps your project organized and easy to manage
How to Use Duplicate as Audition in Final Cut Pro
Using the Option-Y shortcut is the quickest way to get it done. Follow these steps to make the most of this feature.
Step 1 | Select the Clip You Want to Duplicate
Start by selecting a clip in your timeline that you want to experiment with. This could be a video clip, a compound clip, or event a title.
Step 2 | Press Option-Y
To duplicate the selected clip as an audition, press Option-Y on your keyboard. A new duplicate of the clip will appear in the timeline, and it will automatically be grouped as part of an audition.
Step 3 | Make Changes to the Duplicated Clip
Now that you have a duplicate, you can apply any changes you want. You can:
- Adjust the color grading
- Change audio levels or add effects
- Apply different transitions
- Experiment with different cuts or takes
These changes will only affect the duplicate clip, leaving your original clip untouched.
Step 4 | Toggle Between Audition Versions
You can cycle between different versions of your audition clip by selecting the audition group in the timeline. To do this:
- Click on the audition icon in the upper left of the clip or press Y to open the audition, and use the Audition interface to toggle between the variations.
- Alternatively, press Control-Option and the left or right arrow keys to cycle through the different clips within the audition.
This makes it easy to quickly compare how different edits or effects work in the context of your full project.
Step 5 | Finalize Your Choice (optional)
Once you’ve decided which version of the clip works best, you can keep it and delete the other versions. Simply right-click on the audition group and choose to finalize the clip, or Option-Shift-Y.
Final Cut Pro’s Option-Y shortcut—Duplicate as Audition—is a time-saving tool that can streamline your editing process. Whether you’re testing different edits, effects, or takes, this feature allows you to experiment freely without affecting your original timeline. By using auditions, you can keep your workflow clean, organized, and efficient, all while ensuring that you always have the best possible version of your clip ready for final approval.
Give Option-Y a try the next time you’re editing in Final Cut Pro, and see how much it can improve your editing experience!
