When you are first starting out with Final Cut Pro, learning the interface is a good way to begin. The interface is made up of 5 windows: The Browser, the Viewer, the Canvas, the Timeline, the Tool Palette and the Audio Meters. There are other windows that come and go throughout the editing process, but these are the main five and the first thing you will see when you launch Final Cut Pro. So, let’s see what these are all about:
1. Browser
This is where your files are organized. It is similar to how files are organized in the Finder. You have bins (AKA folders), sequences, clips and other media files such as photoshop documents, music and sound fx.
2. Viewer
Used to preview media before it is placed into the timeline and assign precise in and out points. Also used for tweaking filters, effects, motion and more.
3. Canvas
This is the place to view your edited sequences. By dragging clips from the browser over this window you can also perform many different types of edits, such as inserts and overlays. The position of the playhead in the Timeline determines what you see in the Canvas.
4. Timeline
This is where your opened sequence is displayed and the majority of editing takes place. You can also control keyframes, add transitions and much more from this window.
5. Tool Palette
These are the tools that are used to manipulate the elements in your timeline. This includes cutting, sliding, selecting and more. You must familiarize yourself with the tools in order to become a Final Cut Pro.
6. Audio Meters
This is where you monitor your audio levels. This is an easy place to tell if your audio is too loud, too quiet, or if a clip does not have audio at all. You can also easily tell if your left and right audio channels are equal or if maybe you only recorded audio into one side.
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