Ever wanted to time your Final Cut Pro X exports exactly? Now you can with ChronoX, an app that means you don't have to sit there with a stopwatch!
Timing Final Cut Pro X exports has always been a bit of a sport seeing as FCPX is the Usain Bolt of NLEs when it comes to getting a project out to disk.
The legendary BruceX speed test was born from a review here on FCP.co of a very slow exporting MacBook Air. Yes, we really did have to leave the timer going for two hours and our life would have been a lot easier with an automated solution.
Chrono X is a new app from Antonio Marogna that automatically measures FCPX export times. You might remember Antonio from his EVR X app that added EXIF data to video clips in FCPX.
There are two versions available. The free version will time an export with a pop-up window, the pro version ($5.99) adds generating a report file in CSV format and allows an export to repeat up to three times.
ChronoX Features
- Measures Final Cut Pro X export elapsed time in seconds.
- Fully automated: just one click.
- Repeat export function (up to 3 exports in one click) [ChronoX Pro only]
- Save log report in CSV format [ChronoX Pro only]
- Keeps record of user note for each export in the report file [ChronoX Pro only]
The log report file will contain this data-
OS X Version, Mac Model, FCP Version, ChronoX Version, Project Name, Video Codec, GPU Selected, Export Folder, Date, Start Time, End Time, Elapsed Seconds, Iterations #, Iterations Start Time, User Notes.
Now, we think thank Antonio has missed a trick here and we have sent him an email explaining our thoughts. Timing an export is great, but as the app can detect the end of an export, how about it being able to send a message to the user via SMS that it has finished? We will see what he says!
In the meantime, if you find yourself sitting with the stopwatch app on your phone staring at that blue bar's progress, then this app will let you go and put the kettle on without you having to worry about catching the exact moment an export finishes.
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!
