The development of Clip Exporter continues. The tool for extracting used sections of clips in Final Cut Pro X has got an update and some new features accompany the publishing of a second version.
If there is one thing that FCPX cannot be touched on, that's the enormous ecosystem that has developed to support the application. One of the developers in that group, Thomas Szabo has just updated Clip Exporter.
Clip Exporter is a $109 standalone application that reads FCPXML and allows trimmed media (so you don't have to use the whole clip) to be sent to After Effects or Nuke automatically, or simply just used as shortened quicktime files.
If you haven't come across Clip Exporter before, we suggest you read this page which has a lot of information and some great videos that show what the application can do.
Back to the update and 2.0.3 is really a bug fix for the Mac App Store version, but the new functionality has been added to a non MAS version. This gets authorised through the MAS so you have to have the paid version installed.
Features added:
- added support for the export of MXF files (requires Pro Video Formats 2.0)
- (re-)adding support for Quicktime Reference movies
- adds full RED file support. In contrast to the MAS version, RED clips that consist of multiple r3d files can be exported now.
- adds option to use the legacy video exporter from version 1. In some rare cases AVFoundation fails to export drop frame ProRes source videos. In that case use the legacy exporter.
Thomas told us why there are two versions:
"I've added back the good old QTKit to the non MAS version, which was used in ClipExporter 1. Although it´s a deprecated framework it´s currently the only way to natively support MXF files and export Quicktime Ref movies in OS X 10.9. For me, it was more important to give my customers these (requested) features and fixes as to wait until Apple officially gives us developers documented APIs, so we can use modern frameworks to accomplish the same task.
Although this might sound strange but the non MAS version is authorized through the App Store. Therefore you must have purchased ClipExporter 2 in the Mac App Store before. The non MAS version can be obtained here."
Here are the new video exporter options for the non-MAS version of Clip Exporter.
We have said it before and we will say it again, this is so close to becoming a tool for 'old style FCP7' media management. With media arriving on cards, the extraction of segments from files isn't needed for many editors. For those who work with long files, we wish that Apple would add this feature.
Maybe Thomas might beat them to it!!!
I am the Editor-in-Chief of FCP.co and have run the website since its inception ten years ago.
I have also worked as a broadcast and corporate editor for over 30 years, starting on one inch tape, working through many formats, right up to today's NLEs.
Under the name Idustrial Revolution, I have written and sold plugins for Final Cut Pro for 13 years.
I was made a Freeman of Lichfield through The Worshipful Company of Smiths (established 1601). Though I haven't yet tried to herd a flock of sheep through the city centre!
Current Editing
2020 has been busy, the beginning of the year was finishing off a new property series (cut on FCP) for Channel 4 called The Great House Giveaway. I also designed and built the majority of the graphics as Motion templates. It has been a great success and the shows grabbed more viewers in the 4pm weekday slot than any previous strand. It has been recommissioned by C4 for 60 episodes, including prime-time versions and five themed programmes. The shows have also been nominated for a 2021 BAFTA.
Although both were postponed to later in the year, I worked again on ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta. 2020 was my 25th year of editing the TdF and my 20th year as lead editor. The Tour was the first broadcast show to adopt FCPX working for multiple editors on shared storage.
BBC's Snooker has played a big part in my life, I've been editing tournament coverage since 1997. I'm proud to be part of a very creative team that has pioneered many new ideas and workflows that are now industry standard in sports' production. This is currently an Adobe Premiere edit.
Covid cancelled some of the regular corporate events that I edit such as trade shows & events. I was lucky however to edit, from home, on projects for Amazon Kindle, Amazon Black Friday, Mastercard and very proud to have helped local charitable trust Kendall & Wall secure lottery funding.
As for software, my weapon of choice is Final Cut Pro and Motion, but I also have a good knowledge and broadcast credits with Adobe Premiere Pro, MOGRT design and Photoshop.
Plugin Design & Development
I'm the creative force behind Idustrial Revolution, one of the oldest Final Cut Pro plugin developers. It hosts a range of commercial and free plugins on the site. One free plugin was downloaded over a thousand times within 24 hours of release.
I also take on custom work, whether it is adapting an existing plugin for a special use or designing new plugins for clients from scratch. Having a good knowledge of editing allows me to build-in flexibility and more importantly, usability.
FCP.co
Now in its 10th year and 4th redesign, running FCP.co has given me knowledge on how to run a large CMS- you are currently reading my bio from the database! Although it sounds corny, I am pretty well up on social media trends & techniques, especially in the video sector. The recent Covid restrictions has enabled live FCP.co shows online. This involves managing a Zoom Webinar through Restream.io to YouTube and Facebook.
The Future
I'm always open to new ideas and opportunities, so please get in touch at editor (at) fcp.co. I've judged film competitions, presented workflow techniques to international audiences and come up with ideas for TV shows and software programs!
