Exporting to Apple Final Cut Pro X
In PluralEyes 3.5, you can export a synchronized timeline as an XML file that can be imported into Final Cut Pro X. To access this feature, click the Export Timeline button, then choose the Final Cut Pro X tab.
What is XML? The XML file is a small text file that references your media files, and indicates the order and spacing of the media files relative to each other. When you import the XML file, Final Cut Pro X creates a new sequence in which the audio and video clips are synchronized.
How many XML files? Depending on the options you select, one or multiple XML files might be created. Each XML file is saved with the extension .fcpxml. When you import the XML file into FCP X, the application creates a new Event and/or project in which footage is synchronized.
Preserve metadata. If you created your PluralEyes project by importing a project from FCP X, then metadata from your original Event and project is generally preserved in the exported Event and/or project.
TIP: By the way, you always have the option of exporting the timeline as video/audio files, rather than exporting an XML file. To learn about this, see Export Timeline> Media Files.
Using the Final Cut Pro X tab
Here are the steps:
- (Optional) Save your project with a meaningful name. This will make it easier to locate and manage your exported files later.
- Click the Export Timeline button in the toolbar, OR choose File> Export.
- In the Final Cut Pro X tab, select the top checkbox, Final Cut Pro X XML.
- Choose from the options described below, then click Export.
- PluralEyes creates up to three .fcpxml files, depending on the export options you choose. They are all saved in the ~Documents/PluralEyes/Exports folder.
- “<project name>_FCPX.fcpxml”: This file is a project with synchronized clips that does not reflect any export options. In general, you should import this file into FCP X if it is the only .fcpxml file that was created. Otherwise, ignore this file.
- “<project name>_FCPX_replaced.fcpxml”: This file is created if the “Create a project with audio content replaced in video clips” option was selected.
- “<project name>_FCPX_multicam.fcpxml”: This file is created if the “Create multicam clips” option was selected.
- To import into FCP X, do one of the following:
- In the Export window, right-click a row and choose Import into Final Cut Pro. OR
- In FCP X, choose File> Import> XML, and browse for a file in the ~Documents/PluralEyes/Exports folder.
OPTION: Create multicam clips
This option tells PluralEyes to create a multicam clip, which lets you play footage from multiple cameras at once, in a multi-angle display. This option is useful only in multi-camera productions.
Here is how this option works:
- If you choose this option, PluralEyes will group the clips into one multicam clip.
- A file called "<project name>_FCPX_multicam.fcpxml" is created.
- When you import the file into Final Cut Pro X, an Event called “<project name> mc” is created, containing one or more multicam clips.
- You can then add the multicam clips into the project of your choice.
OPTION: Create an Event with audio content replaced in video clips
This option is useful if you have one or more audio-only tracks containing your “good” audio, and you no longer need the audio content that was recorded in your original video clips. The audio is conveniently replaced in the clips in the synced timeline, so no further effort is required to keep them in sync during the editing process.
If you choose this option, a file called "<project name>_FCPX_replaced.fcpxml" is created. When you import this file into Final Cut Pro, an Event is called "<project name>” is created. This Event contains compound clips in which the “good” audio content is synced with the video content.
Things to know about this option:
- None of the audio content from the original video clips is included.
- If there are two or more audio-only tracks in your PluralEyes project, only the uppermost audio clip that overlaps with a given video clip is included.
- Selecting this option does not require additional disk space. The original media files are not modified in any way, and no additional media files are generated.
OPTION: Open event/project automatically in Final Cut Pro X
If this option is selected, and Final Cut Pro X is running when you start the export, the XML files will automatically import into Final Cut Pro. If you selected other export options, more than one Event and project might be created in Final Cut Pro. Simply delete any Events and projects that you don’t need.
