How to disconnect my video timeline from an audio track

Question

Level 1

17 points

How to disconnect my video timeline from an audio track

I've laid down a video timeline (stills) and it is locked to an audio effects track I've also laid down under it. But now I can't remove or shift the audio track without affecting the video. I also have an audio narration track and I wouldn't mind the video being locked to that - but how do I undo the lock, or reconfigure it? I'm sure this is a very easy task but I've either forgotten how to do it or never knew!? I'm using FCP 10.4.8 on an iMac running Catalina. Thanks for any help

Posted on Jul 27, 2025 5:10 AM

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Answer 1

terryb

Level 4

3,334 points

Jul 27, 2025 9:14 PM in response to johnnw

I'm a mostly recovered Media Composer editor and it took effort to learn the magnetic timeline -- mostly letting go of the "tracks" concept. I think what can throw new FCP editors is that the timeline *looks* like tracks and if you have only worked with tracks, that's the expectation and it can lead to frustration. But once you get it, there's no going back.

Here's a short tutorial to help you better understand the magnetic timeline. https://youtu.be/BuyxbR2KNo0

I would highly recommend spending an hour with this free tutorial from Mark at Ripple Training. It will save you many, many hours of hair pulling and confusion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqUP7Zgeuck

Also, learn these FCP terms and their Avid equivalents:

FCP Library -> Avid Project

FCP Project -> Avid Sequence

FCP Event -> Avid Bin

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Answer 2

BenB

Level 6

13,142 points

Jul 28, 2025 8:27 AM in response to johnnw

The Primary Storyline is what everything "connects" to. What ever the core of your video is should be in the Primary Storyline. Then everything connects to that.

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Answer 3

johnnw Author

Level 1

17 points

Jul 27, 2025 7:44 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks for this. But not got time to post now as have to go out. Later if I can. I managed to get around the first stage of the problem, by playing around with my audio effects track in relation to the video, and eventualyI was able to get rid of it. But the video is now locked to the narration track and I'm having the same problem. I used to work on Avid years ago, and you could actually tell the tracks to lock or unlock in relation to each other - ie you could choose to loose your sync.. can't see anyway of doing that on FCP. I used to be a professional editor once, but that's a long time ago! Plus I'm lazy and just want to be able to switch the sync off and do what I want with the tracks!

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Answer 4

johnnw Author

Level 1

17 points

Jul 30, 2025 12:08 PM in response to terryb

Thanks so much for this! The link re the magnetic timeline totally sorted me out, specially how to disconnect audio and video and move things around. I have just about got my head around Library, Project & Bin - not the simplest or clearest designations I have to say - but many thanks for the heads up on that too. All really helpful.

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,771 points

Jul 27, 2025 5:52 AM in response to johnnw

Could you post a screenshot that shows the items in the project to get a better idea of what you’re doing?

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Answer 6

terryb

Level 4

3,334 points

Jul 30, 2025 12:52 PM in response to johnnw

You're very welcome. Glad it was helpful. Please feel free to come back with the inevitable questions -- there are many very experienced FCP users here.

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