Modify groups of keyframes in Final Cut Pro

There are many ways you can modify keyframes to create simple or complex animations. In addition to modifying individual keyframes, you can also modify keyframe groups, effect curves (the line segments between keyframes), or the entire set of keyframes for a given parameter. You can make all of these changes with great precision.

Select and modify multiple keyframes

You can select and modify multiple keyframes in the Video Animation or Audio Animation editor, or directly in the body of a clip (for audio level keyframes).

  1. In Final Cut Pro, do one of the following:

    • Shift-click more than one keyframe.

      All intermediate keyframes are selected. You can’t select nonadjacent keyframes.

    • Drag a selection rectangle around the keyframes you want to select.

      Tip: In the Video Animation or Audio Animation editor, you can select a range by dragging with the Select tool or the Range Selection tool. To select a range of keyframes displayed in the clip body (such as audio keyframes) you must use the Range Selection tool.

  2. To modify the selected keyframes, do any of the following:

    • Move the group to a different place in time: Drag any individual keyframe horizontally.

    • Change the value of all the keyframes: Drag any individual keyframe vertically.

      Keyframe values remain relative to one another while you drag; however, if you “flatten” the curve by dragging all the way to the top or bottom of the graph, the keyframe values remain in that flattened state, with all keyframes sharing the same value.

    • Increase the relative values by 1: Press Option-Up Arrow.

    • Decrease the relative values by 1: Press Option-Down Arrow.

    • Move the keyframes earlier in time by 1 frame: Press Comma (,).

    • Move the keyframes later in time by 1 frame: Press Period (.).

Tip: You can also modify any two keyframes simultaneously by selecting the line segment between them and then performing any of the steps above.

Adjust all keyframes on a curve

You can adjust all keyframes on a curve at once in the Video Animation or Audio Animation editor, or directly in the body of a clip (for audio level keyframes).

  • In Final Cut Pro, hold down the Command and Option keys, then drag either a keyframe or a curve up or down.

    All keyframes are adjusted by the same amount, preserving the original shape of the curve. However, if you “flatten” the curve by dragging all the way to the top or bottom of the graph, the keyframe values remain in that flattened state, with all keyframes sharing the same value.

    A keyframe curve in the Video Animation editor before adjustment
    A keyframe curve in the Video Animation editor after adjustment, with all keyframes adjusted by the same amount

You can also copy specific keyframes between different attributes or between different clips. See Copy and paste keyframes in Final Cut Pro.

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