arrow_1_left_big Back

A New Project in Final Cut Pro: Keep the Panic to a Minimum

• 4 mins read

Creating a new project in Final Cut Pro sets up the official workspace for your entire edit. The moment you assign a name, choose an event, and maybe set a custom frame rate, you have effectively given your production a roadmap. Every cut, transition, and effect you apply from now on gets recorded in that project.

If you have ever stared at multiple events and libraries wondering where to even place your timeline, do not worry. Once you learn how to create and store a project, you can devote more time to editing and less time clicking around the interface of Final Cut Pro.

Summary

  1. Creating the New Project in Final Cut Pro
  2. Customizing Project Properties
  3. Automatic Settings
  4. Adding Clips to the New Project

Creating the New Project in Final Cut Pro

You can create a new project in Final Cut Pro by pressing Command-N, or by going to File > New > Project. In either case, Final Cut Pro will ask what you want to call it and which event will hold it. Giving your project a descriptive name is a good idea. If you return in a few weeks and see four timelines labeled “Edit,” you may struggle to remember which one is final.

Creating the New Project in Final Cut Pro

If you need the timecode to start at a particular number, type it into the Starting Timecode field. This is often used for broadcast standards or when you want to start at 01:00:00:00 instead of 00:00:00:00. After naming the project and choosing the event, Final Cut Pro either uses automatic or custom settings. The next step is to decide which route you prefer.

Using automatic settings to create a new project in Final Cut Pro

Customizing Project Properties

Sometimes, letting Final Cut Pro guess your settings is not enough. If you need a specific resolution, frame rate, or audio format when creating a new project in Final Cut Pro, click Use Custom Settings in the project creation window. You can also revise these settings later if you realize your timeline needs 4K rather than 1080p. Simply select your project in the Browser, open the Info inspector, and click Modify. This reveals your current resolution, codec, color space, and audio channels. Adjust what you need, then click OK to lock it in.

Using custom settings to create a new project in Final Cut Pro
  • Video: Choose HD, 4K, a vertical format, and many other options. If none of Apple’s presets match your plan, select Custom and type the exact width and height.
  • Rendering: Choose a ProRes codec for background renders. If you want large but pristine files, pick ProRes 4444. If you want smaller file sizes, ProRes LT is likely your best bet. For a more detailed overview, check out our guide.
  • Color Space: If you’re working in standard Rec. 709, you can leave it as is. If you’re dabbling in wide-gamut HDR, Final Cut Pro unlocks additional color space options. For more on managing color spaces and HDR workflows, see our Color Spaces in Final Cut Pro guide.
  • Audio: Decide if it should be stereo or surround. Set the sample rate if needed, although 48 kHz is a common choice.

One warning at this point: the frame rate cannot change once you have placed clips in the timeline, even if you duplicate the project. If you think you might want 60 fps or 120 fps, set it up beforehand. Otherwise, you are stuck with your original frame rate.

Automatic Settings

If you favor speed over fine-tuning, let Final Cut Pro adopt the video properties of the first clip you add to the timeline. That means your resolution, frame rate, and other specs match that clip. This saves time if you do not want to fiddle with custom preferences.

Alternatively, you can Control-click a clip in the Browser and choose New Project. Final Cut Pro then uses the clip’s resolution and frame rate. Keep in mind you can still override these settings later if your project goes in an unexpected direction. Just remember that the frame rate is off-limits if the timeline is no longer empty.

Control+click on a clip to create a new project in Final Cut Pro

Adding Clips to the New Project

So you’ve got a project open, and it’s sitting there all lonely in the timeline. If you’ve already imported footage into your library, just drag clips from the browser straight into your project. Final Cut Pro lines them up in the timeline, ready for cuts and transitions. If your media is still in a folder or memory card somewhere, do yourself a favor, import it first to keep everything organized. You can also cherry-pick clips from the Photos and Audio sidebar.

Adding clips to the new project in Final Cut Pro

If you decide to get fancy later and to, let’s say, change the clip order or overlap footage for a montage, Final Cut Pro is more than up for it. But for now, a simple drag from the browser to the timeline is enough to start shaping your edit. Once the clips are in place, you can trim them, add transitions, or revisit the project’s settings if something doesn’t look quite right.