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141Final Cut Pro User Guide
Insert browser clips in the timeline
1. In Final Cut Pro, select one or more clips in the browser.
2. Move the playhead to the point in the primary storyline or in a selected storyline (or
make a range selection) where you want to insert the clip.
3. Do one of the following:
• Choose Edit > Insert (or press W).
Note: If you use the keyboard shortcut and the skimmer is present in the timeline,
the edit occurs at the skimmer position.
• Click the Insert button in the top-left corner of the timeline.
The clip appears in the timeline, and all clips after the insertion point are rippled forward. If
the skimmer is not present, the clips are inserted at the playhead position. If you perform
an insert edit in the middle of an existing timeline clip, that clip is cut at the insertion point,
and the second half is moved to the end of the newly inserted clip, along with the rest of
the footage to the right of the insertion point.
Insert a gap or placeholder clip in the timeline
If you want to reserve space in the timeline for a clip that you don’t yet have, you can insert
a generated placeholder clip or a blank and silent clip (called a gap clip). You can adjust a
gap clip or placeholder clip to any duration.
1. In Final Cut Pro, move the playhead to the point in the primary storyline or a selected
storyline (or make a range selection) where you want to insert the gap clip or
placeholder clip.
2. Do any of the following:
• Insert a placeholder clip: Choose Edit > Insert Generator > Placeholder (or press
Option-Command-W).
Final Cut Pro inserts a clip with gray placeholder imagery that you can customize.
See Add placeholders in Final Cut Pro.