Apple Final Cut Express 4 - Manual (Page 948)

948 Part XI Project Management and Settings
To create a master clip from an affiliate clip in the Browser, do one of the following:
m Select an affiliate clip in the Browser, then choose Modify > Make Master Clip.
m Control-click an affiliate clip in the Browser, then choose Make Master Clip from the
shortcut menu.
The selected clip becomes a master clip.
To create a master clip from an affiliate or independent clip in the Timeline:
1 Press Option while dragging a clip from the Timeline into the Browser, then
press Command.
2 When you see a pointer with M+ next to it, a new master clip is being created; you can
release the Option and Command keys.
Creating Independent Clips
You can break the connection between an affiliate clip and its master clip to create an
independent clip. Not only are all of its properties independent, such as name, notes, and
so on, but the independent clip now refers to its media file directly, instead of by way of a
master clip. Changes to the original master clip no longer have any effect on the
independent clip, and copying an independent clip creates another independent clip.
Important: Because breaking the master-affiliate clip relationship can lead to more
complex media management, you should break the relationship only when
absolutely necessary.
To make a sequence clip independent:
m In the Timeline, Control-click an affiliate clip, then choose Make Independent Clip from
the shortcut menu.
The affiliate clip is now an independent clip. Any changes you make to this clip will not
affect the master clip, and the relationship to this clip’s media file is now managed
independently of other clips in the project.
To make all clips in a sequence independent:
m In the Browser, select a sequence, then choose Modify > Make Sequence Clips Independent.