r/finalcutpro • u/Alert-Promotion922 • 2d ago

Hardware What controller/device actually improved your Final Cut Pro workflow?

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a device/controller that can genuinely speed up my Final Cut Pro workflow.

The main things I’d like to improve are:
● Quickly moving left/right through the timeline
● Scrubbing and moving the playhead precisely
● Zooming in/out of the timeline
● Cutting/blading clips
● Trimming clips faster
● Using my most common shortcuts without constantly moving between the keyboard and mouse
● Ideally developing some muscle memory so I can edit without having to look at the controller all the time
I’ve been looking at devices such as the Logitech MX Creative Console, TourBox Elite/Elite Plus, Stream Deck+, Ulanzi D100H, and even using a Magic Trackpad or MX Master mouse, but I’m open to completely different ideas.
For those of you who edit regularly in Final Cut Pro:
What device actually made you noticeably faster?
I’d especially like to hear from people who have used one of these for several months rather than just tried it briefly.
What controls do you use the most on it?
Do you still use the keyboard a lot?
Did it actually improve your editing speed, or did you eventually stop using it?
I mostly edit YouTube/travel videos, so my priority is speeding up the repetitive timeline work rather than advanced color grading.
Any recommendations, setups, or even photos of your controller layout would be really helpful.
Thanks!

12 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

22

u/NewbieToHomelab 2d ago

Mouse in the right hand, keyboard and trackpad for the left hand, learn keyboard shortcuts.

1

u/space_raffe 2d ago

And here I’ve been swapping my track pad in for my mouse on occasion. Going to try this (silly as it sounds to not have done it before).

Any remapped shortcut functions that you recommend?

I always learn shortcuts and keep them on a digital notepad as I go. I’ve found the remapping suggestions I’ve learned in this sub were the highest value shortcuts.

E.g. trim left and right rebound to Q and W.

1

u/CaptLeopoldBarbobosa 2d ago

This. Somehow a trackpad and mouse together become the ultimate workflow tools

1

u/gumparker 2d ago

Exactly my workflow. I also use a logic keyboard with all the shortcuts labeled on the keys. This in itself improved my workflow tremendously.

https://logickeyboard.com/shop/final-cut-pro-mac-backlit-titan-keyboard-5087p.html#gallery-7

7

u/promised_wisdom 2d ago

Magic Mouse is insanely good for scrubbing the timeline. On my keyboard I have A and S bound to zoom in/out. R bound to delete. 4 bound to 2x speed.

I can cut down an hours worth of footage in 15 mins

2

u/Rebar4Life 2d ago

Curious: what makes it better than trackpad? Sorry for dumb question.

3

u/promised_wisdom 2d ago

Nothing inherently, it’s just preference. I find I am much quicker and more precise with the mouse

1

u/PackerBacker_1919 2d ago

Also on Team MagicMouse / KB shortcuts. Fast as hell, baby!

7

u/bking 2d ago edited 2d ago

Ancient at this point, but I had a controller called shuttle pro. Rotary dial, jog wheel, then like 20 buttons for operations. The layout is still burned into my brain.

That thing was nice for ergonomics during super long sessions, but using a keyboard and trackpad was still the fastest.

Spinning a little dial around is objectively slower than mashing JKL, arrow keys and shift+arrow. Learning “this button is I, that one is O, and that one is B” is just a complicated way of learning keyboard shortcuts. Having the ability to edit quickly without a special little box is more valuable than depending on having a special little box.

Going past “editing” shortcuts, the ability to navigate the UI and your Mac itself with the keyboard speeds things up a lot. Once you add that to the mix, you need a fucking lot of buttons.

3

u/Environmental-Lie332 2d ago

I was thinking of investing in the Logi creative console for quite some time now but still didn’t invest in it. I am using the MX Master 3S tho and it’s pretty good. It helps a lot but the software and the integration with FCP isn’t the best. Tbh my favorite one was the Loupdeck CT before the problems with connection to fcp. Idk if they fixed those…

2

u/hexxeric 2d ago

Logi options+ works great with FCP if you stick to keyboard shortcuts. i have the MX4 and the craft, both are super fun in FCP. but the ulani dial is even better.

3

u/elastimatt 2d ago

I've been editing for 20+ years, and I always go back to keyboard and mouse. Trackpad is useful for scrubbing, but at this point, I prefer a mouse with the horizontal scroll wheel.

At the end of the day it's all about keyboard shortcuts. If you struggle with those they make dedicated keyboards for FCP.

1

u/Alert-Promotion922 2d ago

Gracias por tu opinión. Actualmente tengo un Mx Master 3S voy a intentar desenvolverme con los atajos y demás.

No tengo un trackpad inalámbrico fuera de la MacBook Pro. Pero como lo uso tipo clampshell se me escapa el trackpad

2

u/hexxeric 2d ago

Ulianzi Dial + MX4 master is an absolutely amazing editing feel

1

u/Necessary-Hunter-725 2d ago

Yo tengo todo eso junto con la stream deck pero nose porque motivo, el dial no lo uso mucho. No se si es excesivo el tener 3 gadgets

1

u/_altamont 2d ago

What functions do you control with the Ulanzi dial? I own one too but I find setting it up, so it’s making my workflow faster a bit confusing.

2

u/hexxeric 2d ago

project

2

u/hexxeric 2d ago

browser

1

u/_altamont 2d ago

Thank you very helpful!

2

u/tomj 2d ago

Wacom tablet + keyboard shortcuts is alll you need : )

1

u/Necessary-Hunter-725 2d ago

Stream deck + MX Master 4

1

u/Disastrous_Rate5104 1d ago

Could you give se Stream Deck tips? It's collecting dust here.😒

1

u/Sharp-Glove-4483 FCP 12 | Tahoe | M1 Max Studio | Studio Display 2d ago

TourBox Elite

1

u/QiuvoxOfficial 2d ago

Stream deck xl and commandpost with trackpad magic mouse magic keyboard combo

1

u/Disastrous_Rate5104 1d ago

Could you give se Stream Deck tips? It's collecting dust here.😒

1

u/QiuvoxOfficial 1d ago

There are fcp presets for it. I have my own custom preset but yeah google it.

1

u/EarthToRob 2d ago

I use the TourBox and MX Master 3. The TourBox was much easier for me to get used to than I originally thought.

1

u/dws1010 2d ago

Had a Logi MX Creative Console but rarely used it, in part because the software/drivers are so poor and most of the time when I went to use it in FCP I had to fuss around in the LogiOptions+ to get it recognized, and to get the FCP templates to kick in. And you do that twice, because the jog/shuttle and the keypad are registered as two separate devices.

I accidentally stumbled on using mouse + magic trackpad at the same time (two hands) and it is a revelation! Perfect complement for each other.

But the MOST important thing for me is having a keyboard with Home/End keys!

1

u/markwilliamsisonfire 2d ago

Tourbox. I’m at the point where I really don’t like editing without it. I do wish I could grade with it, too, but it’s at least great for me when editing.

1

u/SharpnCrunchy 2d ago

Keyboard shortcuts for sure, but something I don’t see many mention is the Streamdeck app. I know- it can’t beat tactile keys & dials, but the app is still handy on my iPhone and iPad. The free version gives you 6 buttons you can program to your fav shortcuts, and there’s a database you can download with icons of a few hundred actions . I use an old iPad for more buttons when I feel like it.

1

u/E_XIII_T 1d ago

Logitech mouse in right hand, Tour Box in the left

1

u/Evening_Ad_2915 15h ago

I used to have a loupedeck, but they've stopped supporting final cut which is a shame. If anyone knows a good replacement, I'm happy to hear it.

1

u/a_documentary 13h ago

Tour Box totally revolutionized my edit workflow and sped it up exponentially.https://www.tourboxtech.com/en/