If your cameras weren’t recording time code from a common time code generator, you can’t do much unless your cameras are aiming at a common sync event, like the clapping of a slate. If you don’t have something as official as a slate, you can use something simple like the clapping of someone’s hands or the flashing of a light. In each clip, mark an In Point at the same moment: where the slate claps shut, or when a light flashes.

Select the clips that contain the same performance, whether they are multiple angles from multiple cameras or multiple takes from one camera. Then, from the Modify menu, choose Make Multiclip.

In the Make Multiclip dialog box that appears, tell Final Cut Pro how it’s synchronizing the clips. If you shot with common time code, you can choose Time code from the Synchronize Using: menu. But if you marked in points in step 1, choose In Points. Final Cut Pro lines up the different angles or takes so they’re all in sync.

Edit your multiclip into your sequence. Then, in the Canvas, set the Playhead Sync menu to Open. This will set Final Cut Pro to play the various angles of the multiclip in the Viewer while the sequence plays, allowing you to cut from angle to angle “live.”

You will want to adjust your keyboard settings via Tools > Keyboard Layout > Customize so you can cut to your various video angles from the keyboard while the sequence plays. Watch the Viewer to see your camera options as they play, then cut to each angle in real time. Later you can trim and perfect each edit decision.

In Final Cut Pro, choose File > Export > Automatic Duck XML Export. This will export your sequence from FCP 5.0 and, later, as the proper version of XML. If you don’t have this plug-in installed you can download and install it free from www.automaticduck.com/xml/ or you can export from File > Export > XML; just be sure you choose XML 2.0 or later to get the Multiclip information into the file.

The easiest part of the entire process is the translation from Final Cut Pro to After Effects. Automatic Duck’s Pro Import AE lives in the After Effects’ Import submenu. To access it, choose File > Import > Automatic Duck Pro Import AE.

In the Pro Import AE interface, select the XML file created in step 6. You can change the settings of Pro Import AE by clicking the Modify Settings button. When you’re ready to continue, press the Open button.

Open the new composition in After Effects. Each clip from FCP has become a separate layer in After Effects, so you can apply effects and deal with each shot separately.

Now do your work in After Effects. As you can see, Pro Import AE makes it very easy to translate a sequence from Final Cut Pro.

Wes Plate
President
Automatic Duck, Inc.

During his early years as an Avid editor in Seattle, Wes was well known for his creative cutting and his editing speed. As the pressure grew for editors to add more effects, his desire to streamline his workflow led him to found Automatic Duck. Today, Automatic Duck creates popular timeline translation plug-ins for users of industry-standard NLE and compositing systems, including Avid, Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro.

Wes sasy Keep in Mind…
I like to use FCP to cut shots together and After Effects for compositing and effects. Using the proper tool for each step increases your efficiency, giving you more time to be creative, or better yet, to go home early! While multiclip editing is a good example of how Pro Import AE streamlines the process, any sequence in Final Cut Pro can be quickly translated.