Top 10 must know quick keys for FCP x for fastest workflow

Hello guys,

Looking to see what you experienced editors frequently most used quick keys shortcuts you use most for FCP x or what top 10 or top 5 quick key shortcuts every professional editor should know and use to become a fast and efficient editor. Please chime in

Undo, Cmd=Z
Fit to window, Shift-Z
The three edit keys, (Q W E)
Clip duration, Cntrl-D
Trim head/tail, Opt-[ or ]
Timeline activation, Cmd-2

I tell my students to pick up as much as the can during the class, then learn them as needed. When you do a function more than twice in one sitting, look it up and memorize it. It is easier to just learn one at a time while you're actually working.

I wouldn't call myself an 'experienced' editor, ...
so here come the obvious (and some not so obvious) ones

E = Append to storyline (btw: I memorize it by 'add to End')

W = insert

Q = Connect to Primary (=cutaway)

shift-2 = use video only ('m doing tons of slowmo-cut-aways in my soccer-reports, so I have to keep the original audio = no need for the cut-aways audio)

command-option-arrow_down = overwrite to primary (to clean up the mess, after 'stapling' all sorts of cut-aways )

J K L Space, resp. holding k + j/l = for precision playhead movements

cmd-shift-G = I made my own short-cut for "apply 25% slow mo" (again: I need it constantly, and G stands for Geschwindigkeit = speed)

cmd-shift-V = paste attributes (colors, my cheap cams deliver very diff. colors, so when I found one good correction, I apply to all from that cam in this project)

cmd-T = apply standard transition (set individually, not 'dissolve', I made my own "team logo swooshes thru frame"-transition, I like to apply across my reports ... )

.. and most used: 'delete' :lol:

... what I'm still not so common with are the 'selection' short-cuts, e.g. switch btw. project and event window. I still waste too much time on click-here and click-there just to 'initialize' the right area ...

the biggies for me when cutting are Q,W,E,D in conjunction with SHIFT-1 , 2 , and 3.
In the Timeline, the main ones I use are V , OPTION-S , CMD OPTION-S, CNTRL-S, CMD-4, CMD-5.
I've made a ton of custom commands for timeline clip height switching, expanding audio components etc.

I think that there are no "real" top ten.

It always depends on the work you do. This often enough means that you create custom shortcuts to make the work(flow) faster.
Since I work with XMLs and subtitles very often I made shortcuts for XML import/export. I also hacked FCPx a bit to make inserterting a title a "real" subtitle — and so on.

- Andreas

Andreas Kiel wrote: I don't think that there are no "real" top ten.

It always depends on the work you do. This often enough means that you create custom shortcuts to make the work(flow) faster.

Totally agree. My work is usually very audio heavy, so My main shortcuts/custom keys are geared toward manipulating audio clips/components etc. My usual advice to everyone when asked similar questions is to just open up the command editor and start poking around. There's a lot of cool stuff in there.

Ben's list is a great start as well as the advice to learn as you go. I learn new keys all the time.

The newest one I am learning is Shift+I and Shift+O to go to in our out point in a clip in the browser can be very useful (in FCP7 you could use the up and down keys for this).
I think being able to switch between windows is the most important way to keep from going to the mouse less.
Command+1 Browser
Command+2 Timeline
Command+3 Viewer
Command+4 Inspector (great to close it when not needed if you are on a slower computer)
Command+5 Effects (not the most helpful since you need to use the keyboard to browse and apply them anyway)
Command+6 Color Board (very helpful since the button for the color correction is pretty small)
Command+9 Background Tasks

One of the most helpful custom keys I have is assigning "/" to Reveal in Finder.

I have a custom shortcut that I couldn't imagine working without: control-option-command-(down arrow).

I use it to open clips in their own timeline. Extremely handy for easily getting inside compound clips, multi cam clips and even regular clips.

Doug


I really like this one.

Thanks Dave

Nervebroke wrote: Doug


I really like this one.

Thanks Dave

Enjoy!

One custom one that really speeds things up is remapping Trim Start and Trim end to G and H respectively. Way faster than their standard mapping. I use them constantly to quickly trim up an edit with the skimmer.

q for connected clip, control q for connect video only, option q for connect audio only
This is way easier than using Shift 1, 2, or 3


control option c to toggle color board on and off
Very useful when color correcting


F1 - clip appearance in timeline name only, F2 - clip appearance in timeline full audio waveform, F3 - clip appearance in timeline full filmstrip view
I toggle between these a lot when editing multilayer spots

Cntrl-Opt-[up arrow/down arrow] to change waveform height in Timeline.
Shift-Z, fit to window.

I'm changing clip appearance settings in the Timeline a lot, so these work great.

Doug: that's a great custom shortcut, I just added it myself.

Ben: Do you mean ctrl-Opt-up/down for waveform height? That's the default.

anickt wrote: ... control q for connect video only, option q for connect audio only
This is way easier than using Shift 1, 2, or 3....

missed that completely! Should spend more time studying the Manual.-
THANKS for sharing that ...

CTRL+ALT+CMD+C

Toggle colour board on and off.

Saw this on a MacBreak Studio sometime ago.