Open Auditions in Final Cut Pro with the Y Keyboard Shortcut

Keyboard shortcut: Y

What the Y Key Does

In Final Cut Pro, pressing Y runs Open Audition. It opens the selected audition so you can see every alternate clip inside it and choose which one plays in your project. It has nothing to do with audio components; it's all about comparing alternate takes.

What Is an Audition?

An audition is a container that holds several alternate clips in one spot in your timeline. Only one clip, the pick, plays at a time. You might use an audition to compare two takes of a line, a few different B-roll shots, or several music cues, all without rebuilding your edit.

How to Use Y

  1. Select a few alternate clips in the Browser and press Command-Y to create an audition, then edit it into your timeline. Auditions show a small spotlight icon.
  2. Select the audition clip in the timeline.
  3. Press Y. The Audition window opens and shows the current pick and the alternates.
  4. Use the Left and Right Arrow keys to move between the clips and preview each one in context.
  5. Click Done to keep the clip you chose as the new pick.

Tips

  • Auditions are great for client reviews: keep the options in the project and switch picks in seconds.
  • Once you've decided, you can finalize the audition so only the pick remains in the timeline.
  • Press Y again any time you want to revisit the choices.

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