Everyone knows Cmd+B and Cmd+Z. This video is about the other stuff: 14 tips and tricks that even experienced Final Cut Pro editors tend to miss. Here are some of the highlights, and the full rapid-fire rundown is in the video above.
Navigation tricks that compound
Small navigation wins add up over a full edit. Jump the playhead between edit points with the up and down arrow keys instead of scrolling. Use Shift+Z to fit your entire timeline in the window instantly. Hold Option while scrolling to zoom the timeline in and out around the playhead. None of these feel dramatic in isolation, but they remove hundreds of tiny scroll-and-hunt moments per project.
Selection and editing speed
Pressing X marks the entire clip under the playhead as a range instantly, which pairs beautifully with copy, delete, or effect application. Option+W inserts a gap clip. Shift+1 through the number row switches between your tools faster than clicking the toolbar. And when you need to select everything downstream of a point, the Position tool plus a drag-select beats clicking clips one at a time.
Interface tricks
Double-click the space between clips to open the Precision Editor for frame-accurate trimming. Customize the toolbar by right-clicking it and dragging in the tools you actually use. Save custom workspace layouts for editing, color, and audio under Window, then switch between them as your session changes phases.
Watch all 14
The video runs through every tip with on-screen demonstrations, and the back half has the less obvious ones. When you're done, there's a sequel with 15 more: Level Up With These 15 Final Cut Pro Tips & Tricks.
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