Intro to generators in Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro includes a number of video clips called generators that you can use to add the following elements to your project:

Placeholder content: If your project is missing content that hasn’t yet been shot or delivered, you can add a placeholder clip. The placeholder generator allows you to add a clip to the timeline with a suitable silhouette to represent the missing content. See Add placeholders in Final Cut Pro.
Timecode counter: You can add a generated timecode clip to your project to superimpose a timecode counter over part or all of the project. See Add timecode counters in Final Cut Pro.
Shape clip: You can choose from a wide variety of shapes for adding graphical elements to your project. See Add shapes in Final Cut Pro.
General-purpose background clip: Final Cut Pro includes a variety of still and animated backgrounds over which you can superimpose titles or keying effects. See Add backgrounds in Final Cut Pro.

All of the generators are added to the project as clips, using their default duration. You can change a generator’s duration and position the same way you would for any other video clip in the timeline. You use the Generator inspector to adjust a generator’s settings.

Note: Generator clips appear in the browser when you select a generators category in the Titles and Generators sidebar. (Generators don’t appear in the Effects browser.) If you don’t see the generator you’re looking for in the browser, you can use the Filter pop-up menu at the top of the browser to check for it in other locations. See Filter Motion content stored in a library.

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Final Cut Pro User Guide

Intro to generators in Final Cut Pro