- Introduction
- Definitions for This Chapter
- Mark Clips
- Edit Clips
- Editing Tools
- Trim Clips
- The Timeline Index
- Chapter 4-Basic Editing Shortcuts
- Chapter Wrap
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Definitions for This Chapter
Editing. Editing decides what clips to use, their order, and duration.
Trimming. Trimming adjusts where two clips touch.
Through edit. This is a cut (edit) in a clip where nothing was removed on either side.
Camera. The camera represents the eye of the audience. Every time you change the shot, you move the audience to a new place. Treat the audience gently, and be careful not to disorient them.
Primary Storyline (aka magnetic timeline). This is the black bar in the middle of the timeline. Designed for speed and to minimize errors, it’s where you put the principal clip for each scene.
Layer. Other NLEs call these tracks. Apple prefers the term layers. Layers are horizonal levels that hold clips above or below the Primary Storyline. There is no limit to the number of layers in Final Cut.
Connected clip. This is a clip on a higher (or lower) layer that “connects to” a clip on the Primary Storyline. Connected video clips go above the Primary Storyline, while connected audio clips go below it. Connected clips are always rendered to match the project settings.
Storyline. This is a group of connected clips on a higher (or lower) layer that are treated as a single clip. It can hold audio or video but can’t contain clips on multiple layers.
B-roll. This is an old film term describing video clips placed on a higher layer to illustrate what the clip in the Primary Storyline is discussing.
Downstream (upstream): Timelines are often described as water flowing from the beginning (left) to the end (right). Downstream refers to all clips from the playhead (skimmer) to the right. Upstream refers to all clips from the playhead (skimmer) to the left.
Snapping. When enabled, this option snaps the playhead (or skimmer) to edit points and markers. When snapped to an edit point, the playhead (skimmer) is always parked on the In.
In. This is where the playback of a clip starts, which is most often not the start of the clip.
Out. This is where the playback of a clip ends, which is most often not the end of the clip.
Range. This is the part of a clip, or timeline, defined by an In and an Out.
Handles. This is extra audio and video before the In and/or after the Out used for trimming and transitions.
Edit point. This is where two clips touch in the timeline. An edit point has three “sides” or edges: the In, the Out, and both the In and the Out.
Ripple trim. This adjusts one side of an edit point, the In or the Out. Ripple trims always alter the duration of a project.
Roll trim. This adjusts both sides of an edit point at the same time. Roll trims never alter the duration of a project.
Timeline element. This is shorthand for things in the timeline: clips, titles, generators.