Consolidating an FCP Session?

Hello Everyone!

I've just finished a video in FCPX and wanted to know if there's a way to "consolidate" all of the files into one continuous track. Excuse me please if I'm using incorrect terminology here. I'm a complete novice.

I've included a screenshot of my project. You'll notice there are several "tracks" comprised of both video and audio which I'd love to ultimately reduce to one final track (or two if audio needs to be separate.

What exactly does the command "New Compound Clip" do?
What does "Append to Storyline do?
What does "Connect To Primary Storyline" do?
Are there two Storyline's? (Primary and . . .?)

Ohhhh . . . and is there a "rewind" button somewhere (key command)? I'm really getting tired of dragging my playhead back to the beginning all the time.

In advance . . . thank you all very much!!

P

If you want to reduce all your clips in the project to one single clip, highlight them all (either SELECT ALL from menu, or rubberband around to highlight them all) and press OPTION G to make a compound clip. Now you will have one single clip in your timeline that comprises all the audio tracks, titles, clips, templates, etc. that are in the project (timeline).

The main or primary storyline is your basic timeline. When you add connected clips, cutaways, titles, etc. above that storyline and add transitions and such to the connected clips they remain in the primary storyline and you can choose to lift them from the primary storyline to a secondary storyline to better organize your project. The latter is sometimes used to segregate interviews and other auxiliary project segments from cluttering your project.

Connecting to Primary (see above) writes those segments, secondary storyline clips, titles, etc. directly to the main storyline at their current location.

Yes, there is a primary storyline and a secondary storyline (if you choose to create and use one).

To begin at the start of your timeline just click the mouse either above or below your clips at the beginning of your project. No dragging required. If you have SKIMMING turned on, under the VIEW menu the skimmer will follow your mouse movement as well.

Hope this helps.

Hello dgwvideo,

Thanks so much for your reply. That clears some things up.

It just seems to feel "safer" (at this point in my newbie career) when things are consolidated. One wrong, or absent minded click and next thing I know, my video is out of sync with my audio. I used the "Option G" command and there you go . . . neat and tidy! Thanks! Still would love to just hit "Return" to send the play head home though.

Thanks again!

If you really want to use the keyboard, then FUNCTION LEFT ARROW will send the playhead to the start of the timeline.

Dang! I don't have that little old "fn" key. Hmmm, well if the command exists as you've said, then perhaps I can reassign it somewhere . . . hmmmmm.

Thanks so much!!!!

"FUNCTION LEFT ARROW" on laptops and wireless keyboard.
HOME and END keys on a full size keyboard.

Awesome! Works great! Thanks so much!

P.S. If you do have a full size keyboard, look to the left of the Home key, there is in fact a "fn" key, which works with the arrow keys exactly the same as it does on a Mac laptop or wireless keyboard.

Oooh, right you are indeed! I was looking for it on the lower, far left side of the keyboard. The Home+End works great. You can actually hit 'em both with one finger if you practice.