Visual QuickStart Guide [Electronic resources] : Final Cut Express HD for Mac OS X نسخه متنی

Customizing Timeline Display Options

Customizing the Timeline Display" in Chapter 3.

To set clip display mode on video tracks for the current sequence:

To show or hide audio waveforms for the current sequence:

Figure 10.29 ); then select Show Audio Waveforms to toggle the display of waveforms in the Timeline (Figure 10.30 ).



Figure 10.29. The Track Layout menu speeds access to frequently used display options.










Figure 10.30. Check Show Audio Waveforms to toggle the display of waveforms in the Timeline.

Tip

The Timeline's audio waveform display is really useful for tweaking your audio edits, but Timeline display performance suffers when waveforms are visible. If you want to quickly look at the waveforms without taking a trip to the Track Layout pop-up menu, press Command-Option-W.

To set the track display size:

Do one of the following:

Figure 10.31 ).



Figure 10.31. Select from the four track display sizes by clicking one of the icons in the Track Height control.







• Press Shift-T to toggle through the four track display sizes.

• Select a track display size from the Track Layout pop-up menu.

To resize track height:

Do any of the following:

Figures 10.32 and

10.33 ).




Figure 10.32. Drag the lower boundary of an individual Timeline audio track.










Figure 10.33. The audio track resized. Stretching the height of the waveform display makes it much easier to cut dialogue tracks right in the Timeline.







• Hold down the Shift key while dragging to resize all video and all audio Timeline tracks.

• Hold down the Option key while dragging to resize all the video or all the audio Timeline tracks.

• Click a Track Height control to reset all the Timeline tracks to one of the four default display settings.

Tip

If you hold down the Option key while clicking a Track Height control, you can resize your variously sized Timeline tracks relative to one of the four default display settings.

Timeline scaling and scrolling

Final Cut Express has state-of-the-art zoom features and scroll bars. The time scale in the Timeline is continuously variable; you can transition smoothly from viewing several minutes of your sequence down to a single frame. The horizontal scroll barthe Zoom slideris a combination zoom and scroll control. The Zoom control is handyyou can jump to any time scale with a single mouse click.

The vertical scroll bar separating the video and audio tracks allows you to set a static area in the center of the Timeline window, so your base tracks are always in view.

To adjust the time scale of the Timeline display:

Do one of the following:

Figure 10.34 ). (The thumb controls are the ribbed-looking ends of the Zoom slider.)



Figure 10.34. Drag a thumb control of the Zoom slider to adjust the scale of your Timeline view.







• Shift-click and drag a thumb control to lock the position of the thumb control on the other end of the Zoom slider and to make the zoom adjustment only to the side you're dragging.

• Click the Zoom control to the left of the Zoom slider to jump to a different time scale (Figure 10.35 ). This Zoom control keeps the playhead or selected clip centered in view as you change zoom levels.
  
  

  Figure 10.35. Click the Zoom control to jump to a new time scale. This control keeps the playhead or selected clip centered in view as you change zoom levels.

  
  

  
  

To zoom the view of the Timeline:

Tips

When the Timeline is zoomed in or out to the maximum, the plus sign (+) or minus sign () disappears from the Zoom tool's pointer. Pressing Option while using the Zoom In tool toggles the tool to Zoom Out.

To scroll through your sequence:

1.	In the Timeline, click and hold the uppermost thumb tab near the center of the vertical scroll bar. Drag the thumb tab up the scroll bar to create a static area for as many video tracks as you want to keep in constant view (Figure 10.38 ). Figure 10.38. Drag the thumb tab up the scroll bar to create a static display area for a video track in the Timeline. You can use the upper scroll bar to scroll through higher video tracks in the upper portion of the Timeline.
2.	Click and hold the lowest thumb tab in the vertical scroll bar. Drag the thumb tab down the scroll bar, creating a static area for as many audio tracks as you want to keep in constant view (Figure 10.39 ). Figure 10.39. Drag the thumb tab down the scroll bar to create a static display area for an audio track in the Timeline. You can use the lower scroll bar to scroll through additional audio tracks in the lower portion of the Timeline window.
3.	Once you have set up your static view area, use the center tab on the scroll bar to move the static area up or down in the window (Figure 10.40 ). Figure 10.40. Use the center tab in the scroll bar to move the static display area up or down the Timeline display.