Welcome to this beginner’s guide on editing video with Final Cut Pro! Whether you’re new to video editing or transitioning from a different application, such as iMovie or Premiere, this quick crash course will walk you through the basics of Final Cut Pro’s powerful editing features.
Installing Final Cut Pro
Before you begin editing, you need to install Final Cut Pro on your Mac. Open the Mac App Store, search for Final Cut Pro, and click on the price to complete the purchase and start the download. If you’re unsure, you can also try a free 30-day trial by visiting Apple’s website. The installation process generally takes about 20 minutes.
Exploring the Final Cut Pro Interface
Once installed, open the application by clicking on the Final Cut Pro icon. The default interface consists of four main areas:
• Browser (Top left)
• Viewer (Center)
• Inspector (Right)
• Timeline (Bottom)
These areas can be resized or hidden. If you ever need to return to the default layout, use the shortcut Command-0.
To start editing, you’ll likely see an “Untitled Library” and an event with the date. To create a new library, go to File > New Library and name it (e.g., “Donut Dynamite Documentary”). Choose a location like the Movies folder or an external hard drive.
Importing Media
To import media into Final Cut Pro, press the Import button at the top left of the toolbar. This will open the media import window, where you can choose your source (camera, device, or folders). For example, you might have video clips, sound effects, and logos stored on your desktop. You can preview clips by selecting them and pressing the play button.
Once you’ve identified which clips you want to import, select them, then click Import. Make sure that the clips are being added to the right library and event. You can manage your imported media using the “Copy to Library” option, ensuring everything is saved in your selected location.
Organizing Your Media
After importing, organizing your clips is key to a smooth editing process. You can rename events and organize clips based on your preferences. To rename an event, click once on its name, wait, and then click again. The clips you see in the Browser can be previewed by skimming across them or pressing the spacebar.
Final Cut Pro lets you zoom in and out of clips for easier organization. In the Browser, you’ll notice an appearance and filtering menu where you can adjust the clip view. This helps you see more clips at once and manage them efficiently.
Marking and Rejecting Clips
As you review your clips, mark the ones you want to use as Favorites by pressing F, or Reject the ones you don’t want to use by pressing Delete. Rejected clips aren’t deleted, just hidden, and you can switch the view to Show All if needed.
Building Your Project
When you’re ready to start building your project, go to File > New Project. Name the project, choose the right event, and select the automatic or custom settings for your video. After confirming, click OK to create the project.
To add clips to the timeline, simply drag them from the Browser into the Timeline. You can place clips wherever you like, but they’ll automatically connect with others due to Final Cut Pro’s magnetic timeline feature.
Adding B-Roll and Titles
Once your primary footage is in place, you can add B-roll (secondary footage). Drag the B-roll clips above your primary clips in the timeline. This method allows for a layered, top-down editing style where the clips on top are visible first.
To add a title, open the Titles and Generators sidebar. Drag the title to the top of your project in the Timeline. You can adjust the title’s position using the Inspector to change its font, size, and more.
For a professional touch, consider adding transitions between clips. The Cross Dissolve transition is commonly used and can be dragged between two clips for a smooth transition.
Cutting and Refining Your Clips
To cut clips, use the Blade Tool by pressing B. Click on the clip where you want to make the cut. Afterward, you can press A to switch back to the Select Tool and delete unwanted sections by selecting them and pressing Delete.
For faster edits, try using the Range Selection Tool (press R), then click and drag across a section of the clip to remove it.
Finalizing Your Project
After editing, you may want to add an opening title, transitions, or music. Final Cut Pro makes it easy to drag and drop elements into your project. You can customize transitions, apply effects, and adjust the audio levels within the timeline.
Once you’re happy with your video, it’s time to export! Final Cut Pro offers various export settings based on your desired format, resolution, and platform (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
This concludes our beginner’s crash course on Final Cut Pro! Practice these steps to get comfortable with the editing process, and explore more advanced features with other tutorials on this site as you continue. Happy editing!
