Apple Final Cut Express 4 - Manual (Page 518)

518 Part VII Fine-Tuning Your Edit
Precision Editing Using Timecode
Most of the editing and trimming tools in the Timeline can be used numerically instead
of manually. You can select one or more clip items or edit points and then enter a
positive or negative number of frames, seconds, or even minutes or hours to adjust the
position of the clip items or edit points. This allows you to make precise adjustments, or
to quickly move clip items and edit points by specific values.
Determining What Kind of Edit Occurs When Entering
Timecode Numbers
When you type a number in the Timeline, the current selections determine what kind
of edit occurs. For example, if both sides of an edit point are selected, typing +15 rolls
both sides of the edit 15 frames forward (to the right). In this case, it doesn’t matter
whether the Roll tool or Selection tool is currently selected in the Tool palette. If an
entire clip is selected and the Slide tool is selected in the Tool palette, typing +15 slides
the selected clip forward by 15 frames. If the Slip tool was selected instead, typing +15
would slip the selected clip by 15 frames.
Moving the Playhead in the Timeline Using Timecode
You can move the playhead in the Timeline using absolute timecode values (hours,
minutes, seconds, and frames) or relative timecode amounts (in which case you only
need to enter the relevant amount of information—just frames, or seconds and frames,
for example).
You can move the playhead by entering a new timecode number in the Current
Timecode field, or if no clips or edit points are currently selected, you can type a
timecode number directly in the Timeline and the playhead moves to the new position.
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Tip: To avoid typing zeroes when moving by larger amounts, you can type a period as
a substitute for double zeroes (00). For example:
 To move to timecode 00:00:03:00, type “3.” (3 and a period). The period is
automatically interpreted by Final Cut Express as 00 in the frames field.
 To move to 00:03:00:00, type “3..” (3 and two periods). These periods insert 00 into
both the seconds and frames fields.
 To move to 03:00:00:00, type “3... “ (3 and three periods).
Instead of moving the playhead to an absolute timecode number, you can move it
relative to its current position by pressing the + (plus) and – (minus) keys.
 To move the playhead 15 frames forward from the current position, type “+15”.
 To move the playhead 1 minute and 20 frames backward from the current position,
type “–01.20” (the period automatically adds 00 to the seconds field).