Precision editor - please help!

In early Vegas versions you could indeed turn off "Quantize to Frames" to move clips independently of the project frame boundaries. Then when you set the project to "BPM" instead of TC you could perfectly align video to the beat rulers. This looked great on the timeline...

BUT exporting the edit caused horrible issues because the encoder was trying to fit everything back into the frame boundaries of the export format, causing frame jutters all across the program. That's why this useless "feature" has been removed.

A frame is the smallest possible element of video. So no, you can NOT cut a video frame in half or move a video clip boundary between the frame boundaries of a project. Not in FCP X, nor in any other video application in the world. And there is absolutely no need for this either, as no-one can notice if a cut has been made half a frame before or after the beat. Quite the opposite: cutting a video clip a few frames before or after the beat is perceived as more natural than cutting it on the beat.

- Ronny

Not directly related to the topic of this thread but just can't help but think this seems like a perfect example of the kind of the "problems" or "lack of pro features" misinformation that FCPX gets lumped in with all the time lol.

"You can't edit in the hidden dimension between a single video frame!?!! UGH, SO-NOT-PRO...! I'm switching to Premiere!"

:lol:

shane82388 wrote: .... just can't help but think this seems like a perfect example of the kind of the "problems" or "lack of pro features" misinformation that FCPX gets lumped in with all the time lol....

Add this thread
www.fcp.co/forum/4-final-cut-pro-x-fcpx/...-into-main-storyline
to your list ...

same: really weird workflow, then 'lacking' a feature... LOL :woohoo:

I've seen other systems that do this. Edious Pro will analyze a music track and segment video clips to the beat. I would only use this as a starting point, however.

It still requires a human ear/eye to fine tune how each edit should feel with the music.

In FCPX, I use the "dancing finger" method. I never referred to it that way before, but it does make for a more organic- and therefore more pleasing music cut.

I will very often, go back and move edits AWAY from the beat to get the feel I want. Many times, I'll back-time visual hits to a music beat, and let the one video clip straddle several bets. It all depends on what the cut demands.

Someday, a machine may be able to make decisions like this, but I think part of the fun of editing is exploring for yourself when these kinds of edits can and should be used.

Hope that helps.

Scott Markowitz wrote: … In FCPX, I use the "dancing finger" method. I never referred to it that way before, but it does make for a more organic- and therefore more pleasing music cut.
…..

Perhaps, I should 'Dancing Finger™' this .. :lol:

Saw this method first in my analogue days, a cutter editing on a U-matic (yep, a while ago.. ) system, which allowed to set markers too... but using Markers on a non-NLE is ... a pain. He 'pre recorded' the tape and then inserted everything... really painful process.

... 'organic' is an excellent phrase, I'll use in future discussions on this topic. In contradiction to 'machine based' ....