Connecting clips w/ Cross Dissolve

Hey

I'm fairly new at Final Cut Pro, so bear with me I attached a screenshot to help me explain... I am currently working on a project, where I have two clips (clip #1 and #2) that I would like to merge together with Cross Dissolve. As you can see on the screenshot, I also have an underlying clip (clip #3), where I am using the audio.

My problem is when I add the Cross Dissolve to clips #1 and #2. Clip #1 dissolves into the bottom clip for a split second, and then clip #2 is presented. Isn't there a way to use Cross Dissolve to kind of "merge" clips #1 and #2, so I don't get a glimpse of clip #3?

I realize, you can just move clip #2 on top of the clip #1, so the Cross Dissolves match, but I was just wondering if there isn't an easier way, where the clips can remain on the same line?

Thanks for your help!

Best regards,
ShortyDK

EDIT: It may be worth mentioning that the clips I am trying to merge with Cross Dissolve is not from the same event... I can see that clips from the same event naturally merges, when they are placed next to each other... That is not the case here

Hey Jesper, and welcome to the forum.

The problem is that your clips #1 and #2 are not in the same secondary storyline (they both have a separate black bar above them while they should be under the same black bar).

This is what you do:

Select the existing dissolves on clip #1 and clip #2 and delete them.
Then click on clip #2 and drag it next to clip #1. When you see a blue vertical line appear, drop clip #2.
Now both clips will be in the same storyline (one black bar) and you will be able to add a dissolve between them.

- Ronny

Thanks a lot, Ronny

That cleared everything right up! Now that I have a FCP-veteran, I have an additional question - hope you don't mind... I tried importing an image into my project, and it looks nice and sharp when the video is not playing, but once I start the video, the image gets all blurry in the preview-window.... any thoughts? ( i.imgur.com/XjvBt7S.png )

Everyone here is always happy to help someone who starts using FCP X

There are different ways you can make an image fill the Project frame size.

1. Drop the image on the timeline and select the image clip. Then go to the Inspector > Video tab and set the Spatial Conform type to "Fill". Your image should now completely fill the Viewer. You can use the Transform adjustments (Scale, Position...) to further adjust the image if you wish.



2. Leave the Spatial Conform type to "Fit" (which is the default setting) and just modify Scale and Position in the Inspector to make your image fill the screen.



If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.

- Ronny

As to your next question:

To preview your video at the highest quality:

- Make sure your Playback settings are set to "Better quality"



- Render your timeline before playing the video


- Ronny

Thank you sooooooo much This is great! One last thing... You say I should render before playing the video... Where do I do that? I just thought it rendered the project automatically in the background?

IMO it is better to leave Background Rendering OFF and just render manually whenever you want. This will prevent any unnecessary re-rendering of modified clips and you will get better performance on your system. AFAIK most of us have Background Rendering turned off by default.

You can turn Background Rendering off in Final Cut Pro > Preferences > Playback tab



Whenever you want to manually render your timeline you go to Modify > Render All (or just press SHIFT+CTRL+R) and you wait for the timeline to render.

I you only want to render some clips on the timeline to improve playback quality you select the clips, then you go to Modify > Render Selection (or just press CTRL+R) and you wait for the clips to render.

- Ronny

Great, thanks a bunch! Quick and efficient help, I will definitely be using this site more!

This the best place on Earth for all things FCP X

BTW where do you live in Denmark? I will be in Copenhagen on August 6th and 7th working with FCP X at Metronome Productions: www.metronome.dk

- Ronny

Wow, that sounds really interesting! I live in Aalborg, which is pretty much as far away from Copenhagen as you can get (while still being in Denmark ) Have they asked you to give a presentation on the possibilities of FCP X?

Actually they are already using FCP X intensively and they are very positive about it. I have been working with them for some time now, advising them on improving their workflows and their collaborative system setups. It's a really great team to work with. Very professional.

- Ronny

Awesome that they've asked someone to improve their workflows instead of just teaching the employees the basics and letting them sink or swim Anyways, thanks a lot for your help!

ShortyDK wrote: ... have two clips (clip #1 and #2) that I would like to merge together with Cross Dissolve. As you can see on the screenshot, I also have an underlying clip (clip #3), where I am using the audio....

... is there any good reason, why you do not add the two clips to the storyline, but in a secondary?
And, when you like to use audio-only of a clip, why you do not just use the audio of a clip?

I would add (keyboard E) the clips to your main story line, plus add as a connected clip (Q) the audio-only of some other clip (shift-3); click on border of 1+2, ctrl-T => done.

from here, it looks a lil' bit like you still think in 'tracks' ........ :woohoo:

Karsten > In the original storyline I have the interviewee, which on occasion will be shown talking about the project, and in other occasions will be talking over other clips. Therefore, I have the overlying clips in a separate storyline and her interview in the original, giving me the option to fade into the interview with her picture and away again when I want to visualize a clip that relates to what she's talking about. (see screenshot: i.imgur.com/ZSOJpqh.png )

Don't know if that made sense, but there it is...

ShortyDK wrote: ... Don't know if that made sense, but there it is...

perfect sense - cut-aways, in a single word

What I'm doing here (often, in my tiny soccer-reports, I like to add tons od cut-aways, showing the scene again from a diff.perspective, or in slowmo, or... while the crowd is keep yelling "goaaaal!") :

• You have your interview-partner in the storyline
• You add 'on top' your cut-aways (as video-only).
• When timing is perfect, I select the top ones and hit cmd-alt-arrow down => this overwrites the video in your storyline by your cut-aways. And keeps automaticaly the original audio!

being now in the Primary, I can add Transitions as usual....

so, it's maybe a bit different workflow - by using the keyboard-shortcuts, it's super-fast.

Plus, your timeline isn't 'cluttered' = no 'tracks'

Ahh, that was a great idea Like I wrote I am relatively new at all this video editing, so my clips are somewhat limited - didn't really consider shooting in different angles... But I will definitely keep it in mind for the next time.

ShortyDK wrote: ... didn't really consider shooting in different angles....

years ago, a professional camera-man (me just hobbyist!), tought me the expression 'noddy shots': before/after an interview, you record a few takes, showing your interviewer silently nodding, 'making faces' ("interesting, you don't tell, ahaaaa, really, explain, more detail" ... etc).

You can use'em in edit to hide audio-cuts:
you have to, for example, cut a lengthy answer - you can not do so in 'on', otherwise the pic will 'jump'. plastering a noddy-shot over it, it will hide the imperfect video, while the edit in audio is unheared.....

cut-aways are an awesome 'trick'...

Ahhh, clever! I will definitely use that later on... So far, if I have a clip that's a bit dull, I use the Ken Burns effect to liven it up a bit - works great