How to Edit to the Beat of Music in Final Cut Pro X

It used to be simple to edit to the beat of music or edit to any sequence that you wanted to in Final Cut Pro. However, in Final Cut Pro X we have to find a way to make it work. After editing some footage where I was replacing clips that had a predetermined length in the timeline I thought that it would probably work for editing to music.

The process is simple. Drop a black layer down in the timeline and drop your audio track under that. Stretch the black layer out to the full width of the project or the audio track. Hit the spacebar to play. While the music is playing hit Command and the B key to create breaks with the blade tool. You can do this in real time. I like to time it to the beat to make it interesting but you could do this however you wish. Then all you have to do is drag your images or clips over the black clip you want to replace and then choose replace from beginning. You have to do this for each clip, which is the time consuming part, but it does give you a lot of customization albeit forced customization. If you are dropping in video tracks and it seems to have placed the track incorrectly you can use the slip tool to slip the portion of the clip that was brought in to an earlier or later portion of the clip.

To be honest I find this a much easier task in Adobe Premier Pro, but we are using Final Cut Pro X.

Hope this helps you edit your videos and slideshows to the beat of music. Make sure to share this video with your friends.

Little Tikes Gymkhana Drifting Video BTS

Final Cut Pro X Podcast IconI thought it would be fun to show some of you who are geeky enough to care the editing process behind the video I put together of my son and I drifting around our house in his Little Tikes Car. I have received a few emails from people asking how I got all of those camera shots so I thought I would also explain that. The following video shows the complete project in Final Cut Pro X and I explain each portion of the project including how I set up the camera for each shot.

In future videos I will make behind the scenes part of the process so I can explain how everything was achieved and show it as it is happening. I know that I am not producing feature quality video here but it’s fun to show how people can make short videos like this using cameras and Final Cut Pro X.

Resources:
GoPro – http://gopro.com
Youtube – http://youtube.com
Killswitch Engage – http://www.killswitchengage.com/

Tutorial: Mixing Photo and Video in Final Cut Pro X

Shortly after posting my tutorial on Creating a Photo Slideshow in Final Cut Pro X I was asked several times about mixing photo and video together on the same timeline. Of course Final Cut Pro X can do this so I thought I would put together a followup video describing the process of editing photos and videos together on the timeline.

In this video I describe how to edit photos and videos together in one project to create a hybrid slideshow. Video can add a really interesting dynamic to a photo slideshow. Since most of the cameras released today shoot both photo and video, it is easy to grab a couple of video shots to spice up your photo montage.

Stay tuned to my Vimeo profile to see an example of a hybrid slideshow. At a recent wedding I shot photo and video and am excited to create my first hybrid slideshow for my client.

Tutorial: Creating Photo Slideshows in Final Cut Pro X

I went right out and purchased Final Cut Pro X when it was released. I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew is that it was different and it was cheap. I was growing tired of the long render times required just to make my wedding photography clients a photo slideshow. In the past I have used Fotomagico, Adobe After Effects, Motion and Final Cut Pro 7. However, I was excited to figure out how to create a slideshow in Final Cut Pro X because it boasted quick render times. I decided to put together a short tutorial explaining how I used Final Cut Pro X to create a photo slideshow for my wedding client because it was a different process. I hope this video helps you.

Here is the first slideshow I created in Final Cut Pro X:

I would love to see the slide show you create, post a link to it in the comments below as well as ask any questions you may have.