Looking for help with Software Development with FCPX

Hi there. I am new to the forum! Thank you for taking the time to read my message.

I am a full time editor and have a task that I do for my style that I know can be automated. I am looking for a way to create this in a software format.

The task that I do, to be replaced by software, is that I mark clips where I like it, and then I go back and cut out the parts that I marked.

The software would read the markers for a timeline and make cuts on the outside of the markers ( a sensitivity switch would be nice to customize ). Then the parts with markers could be exported into a new project.

This software would replace a task that I do over and over currently by hand to create these beautiful Films // www.stillwatercinematography.com

Thank you very much for reading this and taking a momen to enjoy our website.

Zachariah Stowasser
Stillwater Cinematography

Anyone interested in helping to create this? Feel free to write here or contact me on my website. Thanks. Z

Sounds like just marking ranges as Favorites, changing the browser filter to Favorites, Select All, E to append edit them all at once (list mode).

Thanks BenB!

Do you know of a way to automatically mark ranges ?

I'm trying to find a way to save myself from doing that manually.

Do you know anyone that programs software ?

OK, not sure how an application could read your mind to know what ranges to select. Not doing it manually? Only the editor (you) can make those subjective decisions. Even if you just made Markers (M), not each cut will be the same duration. How would software decide that?

Click and drag to make a range, or use i to mark the in point, and o to mark the out point.

F makes it a Favorite.

Setting the clip filter to only show Favs is no time at all.

Cmd-A selects all.

E does an Append Edit to all selected clips, in the order in which they were selected.

It is a super fast system, faster than anything else around.

Thank you for your message and workflow.

To answer your question "how does the software read my mind", it's through me setting markers as I watch the video in real time.

What I'm doing is a 2pass select. I do a similar input workflow like you to set in and out points with the keyboard at first. However, what I choose later is based off of what I've seen from all the footage. I'm selecting the BEST of the Best to use in my Highlight Films. { www.stillwatercinematography.com }

I have learned some keyboard shortcuts to edit on the timeline and I could do that to bypass the mouse ( my shoulder is getting sore ).

Sure would be nice to have some simple software that can cut around the edges of a grouping of markers .. would look like this... [ m m m m m m ... m . m m m m m ... m m mm m mm m m ].........[ m m m m m m m ]. .......................................[ m m m m m ] .............................................[ m m m m m m m m m m m m m m ]

The software would be built around the cutting sensitivity, which is a setting based on markers. It would see where the markers are grouped and then would compute where to cut around the beginning and ending. Then it would create a new project and put the selected results in there as individually trimmed clips.

Thank you so much Ben for your feedback. It's helping me formulate what I'm going for.

All my Best,

Zachariah

OK, try this.

• Bring up a clip in the Browser (I use List mode, personally).
• Start playback.
• I to set in-point, O to set out-point.
• Then Shift-Cmd-i and Shift-Cmd-o to set additional in and out points as the clip continues playing. This sets multiple ranges on the same clip at the same time, so to speak.
• When done, space bar to stop playback.
• F to set all of them as Favorites in one key stroke.
• DONE!

I just tested this, works great. Then set the filter to Favorites, Cmd-A, E, and you have your timeline ready to rock. Very fast, very easy.

But personally, I still prefer hitting S, skimming through a clip, using my shortcuts to set in and out points. I find it way faster than anything else. Skimming, fantastic tool.

Hi Zachariah,
Welcome to FCPX
Think BenB is right.
Play clips, as viewing hit I > O then F, keep going using shift key modifier if you want.
Once all favorites are in folder, review them, modify them as desired; new edit points, unmark as favorite if you don't want that clip, select all, append to storyline. Or append individual clips in any order you want.
You can then change order, apply effects etc…
Don't think you can get anything better or faster, no need to use mouse for initial selection.
There is really no way to automate via software selecting portion of clips unless you plan on using everything that was shot.
Give the IOF a try. Really exactly the same as setting markers.
You can also use skimming to speed up the process of review if you want. Skim review clip, go back to in point set in and skim to out. You can also play clips at faster speeds to quickly view them.
I use a ShuttlePro controller but you can use the keyboard as well.
Hope this helps, Greg