Final Cut Pro X – Master Class

If you don't currently own FCP X, you can use this link to download a 30-day free trial from apple.

Download the footage and script to follow along and create your own version of 'Dale's Date' as you learn how to work in FCP X.

This pre-show video is here in case you have never used FCP X, or haven't used it for a while, or if you need a refresher after taking my other course on Udemy. We'll cover the parts of FCP X and where to find everything, as well as what all the buttons do.

Understanding how FCP X handles projects, footage, files and more will help you be set up for future successes. Learn about the difference between, libraries, events, and projects.

This video will cover the process of bringing your footage and files into FCP X. Importing is a major part of the editing process, you won't be able to stitch clips together until you can learn how to get them into FCP X.

Before we get too deep, let's look at how FCP X handles render files. We'll talk about when and how to get rid of extra render files that you don't need anymore. Keep your libraries at a decent size and avoid bogging down your harddrive by learning how FCP X handles those extra render files.

We'll talk about the main timeline. The space where you will build your masterpiece. Learn how to set it up and how to make sure your video will be the right size and resolution.

This one is a big one! There is so much to cover when it comes to editing. Learn keyboard shortcuts and which buttons will do what you need while you edit. This lesson focuses on the mainstay of the Editing processes. Time spent here will be well spent!

Moving yourself around your project (timeline) is much easier when you use keyboard shortcuts, J,K, & L. Learn how to use these keys, and you'll find a new freedom for getting good work done fast.

The 'J' and 'L' cuts are classic cuts that allow you to propel a story forward simply by using a leading or trailing audio.

Beside that handy arrow tool that you use for moving things around, there are several other tools that can make your life easier when you need them.

Learn how, and when, to attach clips to your primary storyline, and also when to use secondary storylines in your edit. Learn how to connect each clip, where you want it to connect.

Keeping your timeline clean and predictable will go a long way in helping you create fantastic stories. Learn where to situate your background audio, your overlay graphics, your main clips and your SFX on the timeline.

Learn how to work in passes as you complete an edit. Learn about the polish you can achieve as you work in passes, focusing on one thing at a time as you finalize your perfect piece.

Time to work on your own rough edit! Take the practice footage and use what you know so far, to get a first pass done. Lay down all the clips in order according to the script. We'll come back for the polish, so don't worry about that too much right now.

Sometimes you might have more than one take that could fit your story. Learn how Auditions can help you decide which clip flows the best within your story.

Love it or Hate it, Snapping is a feature that can help you make sure your timeline stays clean. Avoid accidental flash frames by making sure you're snapping your clips to the right spot.

Markers come in a few flavors. Learn which Marker will help you in telling your story, and which might help you in creating a DVD. Markers are an easy-to-use construction tool that will help you build a solid project.

Learn how to employ markers while you quickly and efficiently chop up your footage and match the beat of a song. Making memories out of your family photos will never be dull again!

Learn how to take several clips from your timeline and create a single clip from them. Nesting or compounding a clip can help you level up your production by making things easier to modify and move around.

Learn about the power of the keyframe. In this lesson you will see the how you can apply keyframes to video filters, audio and elsewhere to control the timing of your effects or transformations.

Every project needs to have a solid beginning with the proper audio setup. Is your project best experienced in mono, or stereo sound? Do you need to take a clip that was only recorded on the left side, and make it the same for both ears? This lesson will help with that setup.

Clean, consistent audio is important for any video. Learn how to adjust the volume of clips, how to apply keyframed audio adjustments, and where to find the auto fades for each clip. This lesson also covers the best practices for choosing the appropriate levels for your audio.

Learn how to manipulate the EQ attached to each clip. Boost the bass, or kill the highs, the choice is yours with the power of the EQ.

Learn how to add filters and effects to your audio clips. Make your clips sound exactly how you want them to sound. Filters and Effects can subtly enhance your audio, or completely change the sound that was recorded.

To record excellent audio, you need a microphone near to your main talent. But to get a great picture, your camera needs to not be so close. ;) ...So to have the best audio and the best video, you often will have separate files for good clean audio and video. Learn how to marry the two in FCP X and edit with the best of both.

Learn how to manipulate your clips. Change their size and layout in your project. Make them smaller or move them off to one side or place a second smaller image up in a corner...add graphics and overlays to your project with the transform tool.

Learn how to Trim, Crop or Ken Burns, your clips. Reframe footage that was shot with too much headroom, or create a subtle move across a still image to provide more engagement.

Learn about the power of transitions, how to get from one clip to another, or from one scene to the next. Transitions add an additional level of story, by moving things forward, or slowing them down.

There are so many filters and effects you can add to your video clips. Learn how and when to apply them. Add a drop shadow to an overlay image, and how to tweak the settings for each filter and effect you use.

Learn how to use the re-timing tool to speed footage up or slow it down. Learn the different ways that FCP X can interpret your footage as it retimes it.

Learn how to take edits that you make on one clip and apply them to multiple clips at once. Copy your settings for audio levels, cropping, and video filters from one clip and paste them to all the other clips you want.

Learn how to add a Censor blur to a face, or t-shirt, login info, whatever you want. We'll cover two ways to get this effect; using a built-in filter and also creating a manual filter. We will even cover how to move the blur around using key frames.

Learn how to add a single transition to numerous clips at once. Add a simple dissolve between 30 still images, with a simple double click. Learn how to change your default transition.

Green Screens are often used in digital media to replace backgrounds, or perform special effects. In this lesson, you will learn how to use a green screen (Keying) filter to quickly replace backgrounds and more. You will also find a few helpful tips on how to set yourself up for success by shooting the cleanest key possible.
If you need some green screen clips for practice, you can download a few here. One set is Full HD, and the other is low-res for faster downloading. I don't mention this in the video, but my green screen is just a bunch of bright green fabric I bought at a fabric store.

Add titles or generators to your project. Learn where to find them and how they operate.

Learn how to modify the look of the built-in titles and generators. Change the fonts, colors, shadows and more.

Learn the differences between Proxy and Optimized media. Learn when it makes sense to use which type and how to work with large files without bogging down your computer.

Learn how to prepare your clips and project for multi-camera edits.

Learn how multi-cam clips function within your project and how to change angles and set your primary audio while you edit.

Learn about some of the features in FCP X to help you fix clip colors, like Match Color and Balance Color, as well as some auto-magical options for fixing color problems.

Learn how to use Color scopes to manually adjust the color of your clips. Scopes can be very powerful for getting the correct colors on your clips.

Learn how to add an additional layer of Color Grading to your corrections. Learn how to set grades using color wheels or presets. Learn how to keep your corrections and grades separate.

Captions are easy to add to your videos. In this lesson we explore all the ways to create, export and import captions.

If your project start to feel a little cluttered and you wish there was a way to be more organized in your timeline... This lesson is for you! Use Roles to create audio lanes, and visually separate the parts of your project into easy to use, easy to modify, sections.

While it's not official, you can use this easy method if you want to use the same custom roles and sub roles in more than 1 library.

Learn how to set up your core sharing options in your shortcut menu. Set up settings that you can use over and over. Learn how to set up 'bundles' for exporting multiple versions of your project at once.

Learn how to export a single frame from your project as a JPG, TIFF, or PNG.

Learn about Master Files, and how to create them and when to use them.

Learn how to export your videos for distribution on the web. Lightweight videos with the best quality possible.

Learn how to create a DVD from your timeline. Create chapter markers and DVD Menus inside of FCP X.

Congratulations! You've completed this Master Class! Using all that you've learned in this class, you should be able to create a complete and polished video.