Edit multicam clips in Final Cut Pro for Mac

You can switch multicam clip angles directly in the timeline or the Info inspector, without having to open the angle viewer.

Multicam clips generally function just like standard clips in the timeline. You can add video and audio effects, transitions, and markers; attach connected clips; and apply retiming effects. You can apply split edits to multicam clips and edit them in the precision editor. You can nest multicam clips in compound clips and storylines.

However, multicam clips do have some unique characteristics in the Final Cut Pro timeline:

• You can display the names of the active video angle and the active audio angle in the multicam clip.

• Cut and switch edit points appear as dotted lines. These are through edits (in which the video or audio content on either side of the edit point is continuous). In the case of multicam editing, through edits indicate that the content on either side of the edit point comes from the same multicam clip. A gray dotted line indicates that different angles from the same multicam clip are on either side of the edit point. A white dotted line indicates that the same angle is on either side of the edit point.

  

  

  In the case of video-only or audio-only cuts and switches, the edit point can be mixed (with both gray and white dotted lines). For example, when you cut and switch video only, you see a gray dotted line for the video and a white dotted line for the audio.

  

• When you move the pointer over a multicam through edit, the pointer changes to the Trim tool, indicating that the edit will be a roll edit (because any other type of edit breaks the relationship between the clips on either side of the cut and switch edit point in the timeline).

• Many edits (such as split edits, markers, connected clips, and retiming effects) remain in place on a multicam clip in the timeline even after you switch the angle. However, the following editing operations are associated directly with the specific angle and are not retained when you switch angles:

  • Video and audio effects

  • Keyframing (including audio volume and panning)

  • Role assignments

Display the names of active angles in the timeline

You can display the names of the active video angle and the active audio angle in a multicam clip in the timeline, in the following format: V: video angle name | A: audio angle name.

1. In Final Cut Pro, click the Clip Appearance button in the top-right corner of the timeline.

   

2. Select the Angles checkbox.