Final Cut Pro

Layout

Top Row

Browser (CTRL + CMD + 1) -> Viewer () -> Inspector (CMD + 4)

• Browser: Shows media, events, and libraries.
• Viewer: Displays the selected clip or timeline playback.
• Inspector: Adjust settings for clips, effects, etc. (Similar to format sidebar in Keynote)

TIP

The height of the inspector can be toggled using CTRL + CMD + 4 shortcut.

Bottom Row

Index (Shift + CMD + 2) -> Timeline (CTRL + CMD + 2) -> Effects/Transitions (CMD + 5 / CTRL + CMD + 5)

• Index: Navigate and filter clips, roles, markers, etc.
• Timeline: Where you assemble and edit clips.
• Effects: Browse video and audio effects.
• Transitions: Access transition effects.

Terminology

INFO

Final Cut Pro uses Non-Destructive Editing. That is, none of the original clips get effected by the edits.

Library (The Master Container)

• A Library is the top-level container for all your media, metadata, and editing work.
• It holds everything - Events, Projects, imported media, render files, and backups.
• You typically create one library per major video production (e.g., "Wedding 2025", "YouTube Channel", etc.).

Event (Buckets of Related Assets)

• An Event is a sub-folder inside a Library.
• It stores related media, Projects, and metadata (e.g., clips, audio files, stills, keywords, etc.).
• You might create Events for different shoot dates, scenes, or content types.

Project (Your Timeline / Edited Video)

• A Project is where you actually edit your video — it's your timeline.
• It lives inside an Event.
• A Project contains all the clip arrangements, transitions, effects, and edits.

TIP

When editing a video, the narrative and the order of clips is the first thing you should think about.

Timeline

The timeline in Final Cut Pro is a Magnetic Timeline. It is called so because:

• Clips automatically snap together, so there are no accidental gaps.
• Moving or trimming a clip automatically shifts the other clips to adjust.
• You insert a clip in the middle of your edit — everything moves forward to make space.

Shortcuts

• You selected a portion of the clip and then want to select whole clip again, use the shortcut x.
• To fit entire project inside timeline for full view, use shortcut Shift + Z.
• Use v shortcut to toggle audio.
• Use j (backward), k (pause) and l (forward) for playback controls.
  • These are universally accepted shortcuts for video editing in general.
• Use q (overlay - clip on top), w (wedge - insert clip between others) and e (extend - append clip at end) for inserting clips in the timeline panel.

TBD

Cut Over

Playhead -> used for playing content in the viewer -> Skimmer (red line -> to view the clips without actually playing it)

Speedometer for speeding up a clip.

Blade Tool to clip a clip.

Snapping useful to cut using Blade at the exact end.

Background Tasks