Create and work with timelines in Final Cut Pro for iPad
When you create a project in Final Cut Pro, one timeline is created automatically. You can add other timelines to try out different editing choices, or to make something different from the same media in your project—a trailer for your channel, for example. You can also duplicate timelines, and change their settings.
Add a new timeline to a project
In Final Cut Pro for iPad, tap a project in the project list (on the left side of the Projects screen).
Below the preview image, tap
next to the timeline name, then tap Add.To rename the timeline, tap the default name, enter a new name, then tap
to close the onscreen keyboard.Do one of the following:
Use automatic timeline settings: Tap Create Timeline to have Final Cut Pro set the orientation, resolution, and frame rate to match the settings of the first clip you add to the new timeline.
Choose custom settings: Tap
to the right of Format, tap Custom, then choose the following settings and tap Create Timeline:Resolution: Choose the frame size for your project (4K, 1080 HD, or 720 HD), or create a custom frame size. The maximum frame size is 4096 pixels (in either dimension). The minimum frame size is 2 pixels (in either dimension).
Orientation: Choose Landscape (horizontal) or Portrait (vertical).
Color Space: Choose HDR (HLG) or SDR (Rec. 709). Choose HDR (HLG) only if your device has an HDR display (for example, the 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display). On devices without an HDR display, timeline clips won’t look accurate.
Frame Rate: Choose from a list of common video frame rates. You can’t change the frame rate of a timeline after you create it.
Duplicate a timeline
Duplicating timelines is a useful technique in your editing workflow. For example, you can duplicate a timeline to work on a new version of it. You can also duplicate a timeline and then change its settings—such as the resolution (frame size)—for a different client deliverable, for example.
In Final Cut Pro for iPad, tap a project in the project list (on the left side of the Projects screen).
Below the preview image, tap
next to the timeline name.Tap
next to the name of the timeline you want to duplicate.Tap Duplicate.
The new timeline appears in the Timelines list and is selected as the current timeline for the project.
Change a timeline’s settings
In Final Cut Pro for iPad, tap a project in the project list (on the left side of the Projects screen).
Below the preview image, tap
next to the timeline name.Tap
next to the name of the timeline whose settings you want to change.Tap Timeline Settings.
Make changes to any of the following:
Resolution: Choose the frame size for your timeline (4K, 1080 HD, or 720 HD), or create a custom frame size. The maximum frame size is 4096 pixels (in either dimension). The minimum frame size is 2 pixels (in either dimension).
Orientation: Choose Landscape (horizontal) or Portrait (vertical).
Color Space: Choose HDR (HLG) or SDR (Rec. 709). Choose HDR (HLG) only if your device has an HDR display (for example, the 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display). On devices without an HDR display, timeline clips won’t look accurate.
Note: You can’t change the frame rate of a timeline after you create it.
When you’re finished, tap
at the top, then tap Done.
Rename a timeline
In Final Cut Pro for iPad, tap a project in the project list (on the left side of the Projects screen).
Below the preview image, tap
next to the timeline name.Tap
next to the name of the timeline you want to rename.Tap the timeline name, enter a new name, then tap
to close the onscreen keyboard.Tap Done.
Switch to another timeline in the same project
In Final Cut Pro for iPad, tap a project in the project list (on the left side of the Projects screen).
Below the preview image, tap
next to the timeline name.In the list that appears, tap the name of the timeline you want to switch to, then tap Edit.
Delete a timeline
In Final Cut Pro for iPad, tap a project in the project list (on the left side of the Projects screen).
Below the preview image, tap
next to the timeline name.Tap
next to the name of the timeline you want to delete.Tap Delete, then tap Delete to confirm.
In projects with one timeline, you can’t delete the timeline (because projects must contain at least one timeline).
Deleting a timeline does not affect the imported project media (in the browser).