Apple Final Cut Express 4 - Manual (Page 426)

426 Part VI Rough Editing
Using the Add Edit Command to Cut Clips
The Add Edit command in the Sequence menu (Control-V) is similar to the Razor Blade
All tool, cutting all clip items in the Timeline at the current position of the playhead.
However, only clip items on tracks with Auto Select enabled are cut.
It can be very handy to use the keyboard shortcut for the Add Edit command during
playback of your sequence, so that you can make cuts as the playhead moves along the
Timeline. Each time you add an edit during playback, a red marker appears at the
position of the cut you just made. When playback stops, each of these markers is
replaced by a cut.
To cut all clip items at the playhead position:
m Choose Sequence > Add Edit (or press Control-V).
Note: Only clip items on tracks with Auto Select enabled are cut.
Joining Through Edits (Splicing Cut Clips Back Together)
Whenever you cut a clip item with the razor blade tool, the clip item is split into two
pieces separated by a through edit. You can’t see a through edit when you play back
your sequence in the Canvas because the frames on either side of the edit are from a
continuous section of a media file. However, you can enable through edit indicators—
two red triangles above and below through edits—to see them in the Timeline. You
can join through edits at any time, splicing the separated clip items back into a single
clip item.
Joining the two items of a through edit reduces the number of edits in your sequence.
When you join two items of a through edit that have different properties (such as
different filters, different opacity or audio levels, or different composite modes), the
newly joined clip uses the properties of the item on the left only.
To remove a through edit, do one of the following:
m Select a through edit in the Timeline, then press Delete.
m Control-click a through edit in the Timeline, then choose Join Through Edit from the
shortcut menu.
The clip items on either side of the through edit become a single clip item.