Intro to the Magnetic Timeline in Final Cut Pro for Mac

The Magnetic Timeline in Final Cut Pro replaces traditional track-based editing with an intuitive trackless design that streamlines editing and lets you focus on creative decisions. The main elements of the Magnetic Timeline are the primary storyline, where you build your core narrative, and connected clips, which let you add titles, music, sound effects, and more. When you add, move, or delete clips, the Magnetic Timeline automatically adjusts adjacent clips to close up gaps, avoid clip collisions, and keep all the elements of your story in sync.

To learn the basics, watch the video below.

Primary storyline

At the heart of the Magnetic Timeline is the primary storyline, where you place your main video and audio clips, such as primary visuals, dialogue, and voiceover. You can easily drag clips from the browser to the primary storyline or add them in other ways. When you insert, trim, or move clips in the primary storyline, surrounding clips automatically move out of the way or snap together to avoid unwanted gaps and collisions. See Drag clips to the timeline, Insert clips, Arrange clips in the timeline, and Extend or shorten clips.

Connected clips and storylines

You can connect clips to clips in the primary storyline to enhance your story with B-roll, titles, graphics, music, and sound effects. Visual elements like titles and B-roll connect above the primary storyline, and audio elements like sound effects and music go below. When you move a clip in the primary storyline, all of its connected clips move with it, keeping your edit in sync. Dialogue stays married to picture, sound design remains attached to its moment, and you can make structural changes with confidence—even late in the edit. See Connect clips, Add titles, and Add music and sound.

The timeline showing the primary storyline and connected video and audio clips

You can also group connected clips in storylines, which let you easily move complex clusters of shots and audio while keeping them in sync with clips in the primary storyline. See Add storylines.

Position tool and gap clips

If you want to temporarily suspend the magnetic behavior of the timeline so you can place clips exactly where you want them without moving other clips or affecting timing, you can use the Position tool. When you move a clip using the Position tool, the clip overwrites any clips at the new location and leaves a gap clip at the old location. A gap clip is an empty place in the timeline that you can use to preserve timing and save a spot for a clip you plan to add later. You can adjust gap clips to any duration. See Overwrite clips using the Position tool and Insert a gap or placeholder clip in the timeline.

The timeline showing the Position tool and a clip that’s been dragged to the right, creating a gap

By removing the technical overhead of track management, Final Cut Pro lets you focus on the rhythm and pacing of your story. With the Magnetic Timeline, Final Cut Pro transforms the timeline from a static grid into a dynamic environment that reacts to your creative decisions in real time, making it an exceptionally fast and intuitive tool for both beginner creators and professional editors.

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Final Cut Pro User Guide for Mac

Intro to the Magnetic Timeline in Final Cut Pro for Mac

Primary storyline

Connected clips and storylines

Position tool and gap clips