Understanding the Option-N Shortcut: Create a New Event in Final Cut Pro

Keyboard shortcut: OptionN

Good organization starts before you import a single clip. In Final Cut Pro, Option-N runs the New Event command, which creates a new event in a library.

What an Event Is

An event is a container inside a library that holds your clips and projects, a bit like a folder. Many editors make one event per shoot day, location, or type of footage, such as "Interviews" or "B-roll". Events appear in the Libraries sidebar, and you can import straight into whichever one is selected.

How to Use Option-N

  1. Press Option-N. The New Event window opens.
  2. Type a name for the event.
  3. Choose which library it belongs in from the Library pop-up menu.
  4. If you like, select the option to create a new project at the same time.
  5. Click OK. The new event appears in the Libraries sidebar, ready for media.

Practical Tips

  • Make the event before importing. Select it in the sidebar first, and new media will go right into it.
  • Use clear names. Names like "Day 1 - Interviews" make large libraries much easier to work through.
  • Keep events focused. Smaller events plus keywords and favorites are easier to search than one giant event.

A Common Mix-Up

Option-N does not create a compound clip. If you want to combine selected timeline clips into a single compound clip, that's Option-G. And to make a new project in the selected event, use Command-N.

Option-N is a small shortcut, but using it every time you start a new batch of footage keeps your libraries tidy and makes every edit after that go faster.

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