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497Final Cut Pro User Guide
Create an empty compound clip
You can create new, empty compound clips and then add clips to them. Each compound
clip can be considered a mini project, with its own distinct project properties.
1. In the Libraries sidebar in Final Cut Pro, select an event to which you want to add the
compound clip.
2. Choose File > New Compound Clip.
In the window that appears, type a name for the compound clip in the Name field.
3. To further customize settings for your compound clip, click Use Custom Settings.
Note:
Final Cut Pro shows the Automatic Settings by default but retains the settings you
used last, so this step may be unnecessary.
4. If you want the compound clip’s timecode to start at a value other than the lowest
timecode value in the selected clips (the default), type that timecode value in the
Starting Timecode field.
5. To adjust video, audio, and rendering settings, click Custom.
Unless you have a specific requirement for the compound clip you’re creating, it’s best to
leave “Set automatically based on first video clip” and “Use default settings” selected.
6. Click OK.
The new compound clip appears in the event.
Edit the contents of a standard clip in the timeline
You can edit the contents of a standard clip.
• Select a clip in the Final Cut Pro browser or timeline, then choose Clip > Open Clip.
The timeline displays the contents of the clip. Most standard clips include a video
component, an audio component, or both. You can’t edit the contents of these video
and audio components.
You can add media to the contents of this clip (by adding clips to this timeline). To close
this clip, choose View > Timeline History Back.
Note: Because editing in Final Cut Pro is nondestructive, any changes you make to the
contents of standard or compound clips do not affect the corresponding source media
files, which remain unchanged on your Mac or storage device. See Media files and clips in
Final Cut Pro.
Break apart clip items
You can break apart a compound clip or a standard clip to convert its contents to individual
clips in the timeline.
• Select a compound clip or a standard clip in the Final Cut Pro timeline, then choose
Clip > Break Apart Clip Items (or press Shift-Command-G).
Final Cut Pro replaces the clip selected in the timeline with the individual items that
made up the clip.
If you selected a compound clip, its contents revert back to the original clips that made up
the compound clip. However, the parent compound clip remains in the browser.
If the selected clip is a standard clip, the contents appear as individual clips in the timeline.
Most standard clips include a video component, an audio component, or both. The audio
appears as a connected clip.