FCP X: This Cool Workaround Creates Multiple Sequences

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Larry

[This article was first published in the July, 2011, issue of
Larry’s Final Cut Pro Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.]

One of the limitations of FCP X is that it only allows one sequence per project. While Apple argues that we can create an unlimited number of projects by duplicating an existing project, I find this to be awkward.

Here’s a simple workaround you can create that may do the trick. (Thanks, by the way, to Pond5 for supplying the clips I use in this demo.)

The Primary Storyline is the main “track” in FCP X. Think of it as V1/A1/A2 in FCP 7. By default, all your edits go to the Primary Storyline.

Then, we can “connect” to the Primary Storyline additional clips, collections of clips, called Connected Storylines, or Compound clips (which we used to call “Nests” in FCP 7).

It’s these Compound clips that hold the solution.

We can use Compound clips as independent sequences and add them to as many different projects as we want. For instance, we could use this technique to create a show open we want to share between projects.

Here’s how.

1. Select a couple of clips in the Event Browser that you want to add to the Compound clip. Don’t worry, yet, about setting ins or outs. Just select the clips.

2. Select File > New Compound Clip (Option+G).

3. Give your new sequence a name – I used Seq 1: Dancing and, like FCP 7, the Event Browser displays clips in alphabetical order.

4. Important note: Unless you change a setting, FCP X creates all your audio as a surround mix. This is unnecessary, and not controlled by a preference. I make a point to change Audio and Render Properties to Custom and set the Audio Channels to Stereo. Saves file space and stress.

5. Double-click the compound clip in the Event Browser to load it into the Timeline. It opens like any project, except that it is stored in the Event Browser, not the Project Library. Edit, adjust, and trim clips until you are happy.

By first creating the Compound Clip in the Event Browser, you are able to access it from any project. And, because it acts just like a project, you can use this for building sequences – such as complete scenes – that you can incorporate later into other projects.

This includes adding audio and titles, if you so choose.

6. To add this compound clip into your main project, open your main project into the Timeline, place your playhead where you want the compound sequence to go, and click the Insert Edit button (or type W).

You can add Compound clips as part of the primary storyline, or as a connected clip. Either way, this is a fast, simple way to create multiple sequences which you can then add into your main movie.

Cool.

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24 Responses to FCP X: This Cool Workaround Creates Multiple Sequences

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Eric Beels says:

February 21, 2012 at 1:20 am

Hey Don:

I agree there should be a way to send a compound clip to the event browser. Although could work, too (though it’s a work-a-round) is to select the clips you want in your compound clip and just copy and paste them into an empty compound clip that you’d create inside the event browser. Yeah, it’s a few extra steps then clicking on a button that says “Send Compound Clip to Event Browser” but until that’s implemented good ol’ copy/paste should work.
Evan says:

April 19, 2012 at 8:54 am

I just stumbled upon this topic… I’m late to the discussion I know..

but from what i’ve experienced, there isn’t a way to export just a compound clip. Am I wrong? I tried doing the same thing so I didn’t have to create multiple projects. So I created several compound clips then tried exporting them individually. When I went back and viewed the exported files, they were identical. All separate copies of the primary timeline.

Is there something I missed?
Frank Dima says:

May 2, 2012 at 10:26 am

Hi Larry –

The lack of multiple sequences and the convoluted project / event / organizational design in FCP X were the two main reasons why I switched to Avid. Thanks for this post. But it still sounds way to convoluted to me. Two viewer windows rather than one and multi-sequences are MUST HAVES – as far as I see it. We’ll see what happens in future updates. Keep up the great work.
Daniel says:

August 5, 2012 at 12:38 pm

Hi Larry
I was just wondering : How big CAN a compound clip be ? Is there a limit ? I mean can we built a whole project as a compound clip ? ( you know, a compound clip for Act1, another for Act2 etc) . Can it be 10 minutes long or just a few minutes ? Is it “robuste” or just some kind of small container that brakes if you load it too heavily ?
Thanks
D
Adam says:

August 15, 2012 at 9:51 am

Hi Larry, thanks for the article. Questions upfront, detail later:
1.Can you let me know how to get a compound clip into the event browser.
2. Can you create a new project based on a compound clip (currently have to copy and paste into new projects)

I came across this looking for a way to batch export compound clips…that doesnt seem possible, ok find FCPX. I would like to get compound clips in the event browser (seems like no know else is having an issue with this…does it automatically) or better yet create a new project based on a compound clip so I can then just send to compressor and encode a batch overnight (rather than cutting and pasting into new projects.

A couple other related questions, just throwing them out there:
3. I use media from other events, when I do the source media is NOT copied over to my “original media” in the current project in which I am working on. This creates archival issues as well as HD sharing issues. Is there a workaround?
4. Is there any way to maintain the folder structure while importing media (workaround is to create a folder within the event folder and then import as reference media rather than copy the media.
5. If I imported as reference media but now want all the source media to be in my original media folder for archival purposes, is there an easy solution (instead of reconnecting one folder at a time)??

Thanks Larry
Kika says:

February 7, 2013 at 12:03 am

Is it possible to use multiple projects to create a movie? I have created an intro, part 1 etc to end of movie each being a separate project. Now I would like to drop them on a timeline to create the full movie. I did this for the ease of editing and changing ideas as I went along on each chapter. No I donʻt know what Iʻm doing but now I cannot figure out how to make the movie with all these parts. lol, help… Thanks in advance.
j says:

May 8, 2013 at 5:17 pm

Let’s be honest, Final Cut X sucks if you have to do something besides “left click new sequence” to make a new sequence. I’ve been a Final Cut user for 7 years now and I’m really disappointed. Apple lost their minds when they made this absolute piece of garbage program and tried to pawn it off as good. Sorry fanboys but Final Cut X is crap. I’m heading back to Avid or maybe I’ll try Adobe
j says:

May 8, 2013 at 5:18 pm

sorry I meant right click
Scott says:

July 14, 2013 at 7:51 am

See ya, J! Have fun storming the castle! 🙂
Conrad says:

September 11, 2013 at 9:00 am

Another useful feature of previous versions of FPC was to create sequences at different resolutions to do a scaled export of the sequence. Is there a work around in FPCX?