My Friend F13
By S Simmons. Filed in Editing |
As crazily mapped as my Final Cut Pro keyboard is, there aren’t a whole lot of keys left in their original default positions as I have always found the FCP default keys not very efficient, I always leave the F13 key on my keyboard open for change. At any time that I am working and I see the need to use one particular function or command over and over again then I will jump up to the Tools > Keyboard Layout > Customize (or better yet option + H) and remap that F13 to the task of the moment. This morning it was marking a bunch of clips in sync through a 90 minute piece so I wasn’t staring at all the red sync alerts. Reaching up and pressing F13 a couple hundred times was WAY more efficient than grab mouse > pulldown Modify menu > drag down to Mark in Sync. Any time I can limit my trip to the mouse and menus then that is a good thing. Some day I’m gonna write that keyboard manifesto …..
UPDATE: I did finally write that keyboard manifesto.
Monday, March 31st 2008 at 11:55 am
Customizing the keyboard is so important! That is a great idea to have an “open key”. I’ll keep that in mind in the future.
Out of curiosity, how many people that change the keyboard layout still use JKL? I use ASD for “transport” because it leaves way more room for my more dexterous right hand to preform actions, and it keeps my arms in a more natural typing position.
Also, I use the number pad for my cutting actions: 1 (In), 3 (Out), 2 (select In to Out), 0 (ripple delete). Over the years I have added 4 (Clear In and Out) and 5 (Add Edit). That’s the basics. Plus, for the Timeline C (zoom out), and V (zoom in). I also moved Previous Edit and Next Edit from ;’ to GH. While cutting I almost never have to move my hands. It’s great!
~Luke
Monday, March 31st 2008 at 6:38 pm
Luke,
interesting setup. My scrubbing is still via JKL… Final Cut was not good at version 1 without that! It’s interesting to use the keypad for that as well. I’d die without timecode entry there but if it works for you then rock n roll.
Tuesday, April 1st 2008 at 7:55 pm
I’ve been editing professionally for some time but haven’t strayed too far from the defaults. I’ve just adapted, plus I have found that some of my remapping attempts FCP won’t allow. Though, I’m sure this is only so due to my lack of persistence. Can you map a key to do multiple functions like say a photoshop action?
Also, the remapping I have done in recent years has be a direct result of these communities so keep posting your favourite remaps!
Happy cutting!
Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 at 10:28 am
@Luke:
I still use JKL and I’ve been editing on FCP for almost ten years! I’ve remapped a lot of other keyboard shortcuts though.
Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 at 8:19 pm
Ikks, the remapping function in FCP is only for Final Cut, so your keys don’t apply to other programs (if I understood your query). This is horribly frustrating to me when I switch between Apple apps and try to zoom in on my Soundtrack timeline and nothing happens .
I realize that we all adjust our keyboards to what makes sense to us, but if you would like my layout, let me know and I’ll post it on my blog or something.
editblog (Scott), I have yet to figure out a use for the timecode entry. How do you utilize it in your editing? If there are better ways to do things, I want to know!
Thanks!
~Luke
Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 at 8:26 pm
Luke… there is very often when I want to move to a specific frame of video, either from timecode notes or something specific, just enter the code. I very very often just want to move forward like say …. 3 seconds so I just type + 3 . on the keypad and boom, forward 3 seconds. Or if i have something in the viewer and I only want 10 frames of it in my IN to OUT marks. + 1 0 on the keypad. I don’t see how one coudl edit without it!
If you want to make an IN to OUT mark of exactly 13 frames then how would you accomplish that?
Wednesday, April 9th 2008 at 12:52 pm
Interesting. I rarely want to move to a specific frame. Of course, I never have Timecode notes. Since I tend to shoot and edit everything on my own (being a small-fry), I know my footage pretty well, capture a full tape and then Media Manage away the parts I don’t want, and do my edits by cutting out the footage I don’t want from my timeline (where In, Out, Delete is awesome!).
If I need to move three seconds forward it’s “Shift+Right Right Right” for me. If I need to set up an In and Out a specific distance apart, I count my arrows (thirteen), or -4 from a Shift+Right for 26.
It is true that I often get frustrated if I can’t remember if I moved 13 or 14 frames. I should practice transporting around my timeline by entering particular values. May be time to change up the Keyboard Layout [smile].
Thanks!
~Luke