Solution To The Inconvenient Magnetic Timeline

I am fairly new to the creative video editing world and FCPX was ideal to work with following my transition from the wretched iMovie. However, after using the program for a while, I realised that the magnetic timeline, which has been slated by many professional video editors, can be worked around.

In the end, I decided to place the audio bed and my collection of audio files on the primary storyline, and then create a second storyline above this. This meant that the video files could easily be manoeuvred around the timeline without being inconveniently sucked back into their incorrect places.

I hope this helps, I understand many of you may have found alternative solutions, but this is what I believed worked the best.

You might also want to try the Position tool - the P key. This allows you to drag material wherever you want without snapping material out of the way.

Ben

Edit Out Ltd
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FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
EVS/VT Supervisor for live broadcast
RED camera transfer/post
Independent Director/Producer

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/community/communitydetails/?UserStoryId=87...

You can even press and hold the P key (if the arrow tool is selected) to temporarily turn off ripple.

The same is true in reverse. If you'd like to shut off ripple for the most part, always use position tool, and hold the 'a' button to temporarily turn on ripple.

[T. Payton] "the client asked for an early shot to be a few frames longer, it was very easy to accommodate, and other last minute changes were very simple.
"


That's what I really love about it T.

When the client wants a change it seems totally set up for that.

I used to dread changes, but with this TL it's so quick.

[Ben Taylor] "I understand that the magnetic timeline can be very beneficial, but I always find my timeline to be somewhat messier in comparison to using a program such as Adobe Premiere or FCP7?"

Not when you know how it works! It does take a while to get used to the logic of it, but when you do it becomes second nature.

Steve Connor
"The ripple command is just a workaround for not having a magnetic timelinel"
Adrenalin Television

I can understand "messy" but in this way:

In final cut pro legacy (or other NLEs) you put clips wherever you want, in whatever track, and they stay there and don't move. However, there is no relationship between clips. The timeline doesn't distinguish between SFX or B-Roll or whatever. All clips are independent. They are all independent (with the exception of an audio track linked to a video clip). Therefore relationships were kept in the head of the editor.

FCP X is all about relationships. Relationships between clips are now the norm and are a part of the timeline itself. The timeline "knows" what is B-Roll over an interview and knows what is a SFX on a car crash because of the relationships.

FCP X gets messy when we want to take back all the relationships in our head. Then we are fighting with the magnetic timeline rather than it doing our biding.

I think you'll find that if you take the time to learn how to wield the magnetic timeline you'll find that it is brilliantly thought out, efficient and allows your work to be done much faster than a track based NLE. But really it is a matter of preference, I can totally understand why someone wouldn't like it and think it is messy. But I find that it changes the editing process and frees your mind to focus on the edits themselves rather than how to wield all those clips. I feel that it makes me a better editor because of it.

Now there are times when the relationships can drive you crazy (specifically in doing multilayer composting ) in the timeline and you want to just place items. You do need a workaround for this such as secondary story lines and other tricks, but those workarounds are nothing compared to the typical workarounds that are needed in track based NLEs.

You might have seen this videos before from Apple, but you might want to give them another viewing. They are quick and a little marketing heavy but they are very true.

http://support.apple.com/kb/VI288

http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/includes/videos/overview-faster.html#video...

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T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque