Faster access to Fade Handles

Anyone else find it annoying to have to click on a clip, ctrl-v to access animations, click on an arrow to get to the Fade Handles and transparency band? Is there a faster way?

I would love to be able to access the video fade handles the way we can the audio!

Feature request? Macro?

Jon

There's a feedback page you can fill out. Look in the Final Cut Pro menu.

You can also use Command-T and make your default transition a Cross Fade or Fade To Color.

Can't you just keyframe in the inspector?

Good Point!

But, I think I'd like to have Opacity handles and keyframe line like we do for audio now. Like we did in version 7. Nothing that I ever have need of, but I'm sure other folks would find it handy.

Yes that would be very handy.

Another thing that would be handy is the ability to solo, or perhaps even, hide certain headings in the video animation. It would make working in the time line a lot nicer.

Lets admit it. Having all the parameters opening in the viewer in FCP Classic was genius.
These other methods are work arounds for something that was much easier before.

Now that we have a second viewer it should come back.

I'm not a massive fan of having them in the timeline either Seanus. If they could be solo'd I think I'd be ok with it, but I'm all for getting them in the viewer, the inspector or for having the option.

For the future I'd like to see parameter behaviours in FCPX, if this happens I recon I'd prefer them to be in the timeline with the ability to show how they affect the animation in the keyframe editor just like in Motion.

It was when I first saw the video animation in the timeline that I thought of this and wondered if it was part of Apples longer term plan.

I'm also wondering where Apple are going with these fade handles and the keyframe editor in FCPX. Within video animation We've always had them available for opacity and for effects in the effects browser, but not for any of the built in effects.

I noticed that with the effects that have the keyframe editor sometimes fade handles are available depending what keyframes are chosen to be displayed. I've not spent a lot of time analysing but at first it seems very incomplete and unpredictable.

It kind of says they are working on this and the fade handles will come to the built in effects when the keyframe editor comes. If only then they could somehow translate to the timeline fade handles.

I definitely don't want keyframing back in the viewer. I always found having to go from the viewer to the timeline back and forth clunky.

I think Apple's implementation in the timeline will work, but it needs to be severely streamlined.

There should be function keys for individual keyframable attributes for clips, like the p, t, r, s, quick-keys for layers in AfterEffects. You can open more than one at a time, but only the ones you need.

The "r" retiming editor works very well in the timeline (though it needs a maintain duration override badly). I don't see why this can't work as well.

OMG I would NEVER want it to go back to the clunky, awkward, slow manner it worked in FCP 7. I'm perfectly happy with the way it is now. Hitting one shortcut to have access to all my keyframing in the timeline is good for me. Much easier than the layered menus you had to jump through for the same thing in legacy versions.

Yeah, having to switch between a Video tab and the Motion tab, oh hell no, do NOT bring that back. Being able to see the video in the Viewer AND access my controls in the Inspector at the same time is awesome.

In the Timeline at least we can see exact timing of keyframes, while having access to the Inspector at the same time, very cool.

In the Timeline at least we can see exact timing of keyframes, while having access to the Inspector at the same time, very cool.

You got me thinking there Ben, my problem with video animation in the timeline is solely a real estate issue. I understand that many would like simple access to everything without having to go here there and everywhere, and for simple projects I get that. But when timelines/use of templates get more complex I'm finding to be quite in-practable.

On initial thoughts I'm liking the sound of this.

Video animation in the timeline only displays the keyframe curve for what ever effect/parameter is selected in the inspector, with the option to have multiple selections to display multiple curves if desired.

One day perhaps parameter behaviours could appear in the inspector in a similar way as to how audio channels do in the audio inspector, but with how they affect the animation being displayed in the timeline as a curve.

I recon that would suit my needs.

At least the current model we are working with is much more elegant than the hoops we had to jump through in legacy versions. We will see what happens over the next 12 months of updates.

Yes, I agree it's better than 7 but I do wish the fade controls (handles and line) were in each video clip like the audio controls are. Then I could see what my fades are doing without having to "click- control-v -click" every clip. I don't use the other controls often so don't mind having them usually hidden.

Actually, even if the opacity line is left in the animation pop-up that would be ok if we could only have the fade handles in the clip filmstrip itself - how time-saving would that be!

Please Apple - can you put the fade handles in the clip film strip?!?

jon

Command-T, with a Cross Dissolve set as the default transition, does pretty much the same thing, too.

What if those little fade handles were on each video clip, just like the audio, but they controlled whatever effect/parameter was selected in the inspector rather than just opacity. I'd like that.

Great idea Noco!

Ah wait, there's a problem with that. I usually create my keyframes in the Viewer or Inspector. I only use the Animation things in the timeline for "timing" them together. It is very helpful, nay, "necessary" to see them all at once, so I can drag them left/right to line up the timing of my keyframes for various parameters together.

Personally I'm fine with it as it is, "mostly". But an opacity band in the Timeline clips, just like in legacy FCP, would be cool.

Please everyone who fancies this get on to the feedback page, I'd love to see it happen.

What good would "fade handles" do for any other parameter than opacity?

If you applied an effect you could select the "amount" parameter and have it blend in/out etc.

It would be very useful for some things but come to think about it it would have limitations. It would go from full on to full off, or reverse, using the handles. Some parameters would be a bit iffy, such as positions and rotations. Scale could be good but the "Ken Burns" effect already does that better and fast enough.

Such a simple control probably would be too limited, maybe it's just a want for behaviours driven suggestion.

I just noticed you changed your post #17060 after I posted #17063. At least you seen limitations too.Well my feature request is in, maybe the FCPX team will read it and find a way to make it workable.

Not as a replacement for controlled animation, but a way to make it work for certain quick adjustments. you never know they've proven themselves very good at what their doing.