"Efficient" way to edit Synchronized Clips?

Sorry if this is a dumb question but is there an easier way to edit Synchronized Clips?

Context: I use the "Synchronize Clips" feature to sync 2 different clips based on their audio. The problem with editing the "Synchronized Clip" directly is that I can't "Break Apart Clip Items" since it's technically NOT a compound clip, so I can't easily edit the clips within the "Synchronized Clip".

Please see here for a screenshot of what I'm talking about:  cln.sh/3YTKAI

Any advice would be appreciated!

You can 'Detach Audio' which separates all audio components from the one video component of your synchronised clip. You can then edit them independently.

Sync clip isn’t designed to combine two video clips, which is what I think you’re doing. For that you should use the multicam clip function. 

Thank you both.

@Tom Wolsky - That's exactly what I mean! I need to combine 2 video clips (both with audio). Do you have any links to tutorials you have found useful regarding multicam flip function?

I could only find:

1. Apple support 1: support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/mu...flow-ver10e087fd/mac
2. Apple support article 2: support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/cr...lips-ver23c764f1/mac

This is old but it might help

www.fcpbook.com/updates/multicam1/

jakeleefcp wrote: I need to combine 2 video clips (both with audio). Do you have any links to tutorials you have found useful regarding multicam flip function?...

To make the FCP multicam sync work properly, the clips must be labeled with an angle name or camera name or recorder name in the Inspector before doing the sync. This isn't that difficult and the entire batch of clips shot by one camera can be named in a single step. In general create multicam clips, not sync clips -- even if you only have a single camera and external audio source. Overall procedure:

1. Before importing anything, put all clips from each camera in a separate uniquely-named named disk folder. E.g, Wide_DVX200, CloseUp_S1H, etc.

2. When importing make sure the FCP preference>Import>Keywords from folders and Finder tags are set. This will automatically tag the imported clips with the camera name. This is especially important when using similar cameras where you can't tell the shots apart from the filenames.

3. Set Event Browser to List View to better see the clip data. Pick menu View>Browser>Toggle Filmstrip/List View or press OPT+CMD+2.

4. If you determine that time of day is incorrect for certain clips since the operator did not set the camera or recorder clock, the clips will not sort adjacent to each other chronologically. This can complicate picking all clips from a given take to sync in a multicam. This can be fixed and adjusted for all clips from that camera. Select the batch of problem clips and Modify>Adjust Content Created Date and Time.

5. After clip time of day is correct, in the Event Browser, select all clips from a given audio recorder or camera. If the Inspector is not on, use CMD+4 to show it.

6. In the Inspector, click the "i" button to show information about the clip. This will reveal a "Camera Name" edit box at the bottom.

7. Enter a Camera Name for that group of clips and press return. This batch labels all selected clips with that camera name.

8. Repeat for each camera AND audio recorder. Note all clips from a given device can be labeled in one step, so this is quick.

9. Select all clips in the Event Browser you wish to sync

10. Right-click and select either "New Multicam Clip". Some experienced editors suggest using multicam clips even for single-camera with external audio: www.fcpworks.com/sync-or-multicam-clips/

11. For either multicam or sync clips make sure the checkbox "use audio for synchronization" is checked.
This will create a new multicam or sync clip which is synchronized using audio. You can double-click the multicam clip and open it in the Angle Editor to verify or adjust the sync. SHIFT+Z to fit to screen. If the sync is not correct you can drag the problem clip left/right or use the comma/period keys for single frame adjustment or left and right angle bracket for 10-frame adjustments.

If you later want to add another camera to an existing multicam, click on down arrow next to the angle name at left of the timeline when in the Angle Editor, and select "Add Angle", then drag the new clip from the Event Browser to the new lane on the timeline.

If a clip is synced incorrectly you can selectively re-sync that one clip within the multicam. In the Angle Editor, click down arrow next to the angle name for the master audio you wish to sync to, and select "Set Monitoring Angle". Then select the clip which is synced wrong, and on that lane's name select the down arrow and pick "Sync Selection to Monitoring Angle". Only that one clip will be re-synced.

Likewise if you forget to add a clip to the multicam during the initial sync, it's not necessary to rebuild the multicam. Just drag/drop the additional clip to the proper angle in the Angle Editor, then use the above procedure to sync that one clip within the multicam.

After the multicam is created, do not simply dump that on a timeline. Use FCP favorites, rejects and keywords on the MC clip to tag it curate the content. Have the Angle Viewer enabled when doing this -- SHIFT+CMD+7. Ideally mark all the individual "parent" clips comprising the multicam as "rejected" and run the browser filter with "hide rejected". This will help prevent accidentally adding a single-cam clip to the timeline which would later require manual frame matching with the multicam clip.

See also below tutorials:

MacBreak Studio #469 "Top 10 Multicam Editing Tips":


"Fast and Easy Multicam Editing Setup":


Just to throw this into the mix if you only want to edit audio for both clips in a Sync Clip; Expand Audio Components. First make sure audio channels in both clips of your sync clip are enabled. Expand Audio Components will give you access to both audio channels independently without breaking anything apart, keeping it all collapsable.

Thank you Joema and Ben, this was very helpful! After reading through the instructions and watching the videos I have a follow up question: My "second" camera is just a screen recording. I would like BOTH the screen recording AND my face to be on screen at the same time instead of SWITCHING between them seamlessly, would this be possible as well?

jakeleefcp wrote: ...I would like BOTH the screen recording AND my face to be on screen at the same time instead of SWITCHING between them seamlessly, would this be possible as well?

That is a form of split screen or multiscreen. See MacBreak Studio #285: "Multi-screen multicam in FCPX": 



Thank you!!!!