Copy/Paste using Range Selection tool not working - Final Cut Pro 10.6.5

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Level 1

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Copy/Paste using Range Selection tool not working - Final Cut Pro 10.6.5

I'm having the same problem discussed in this thread from 2020. This problem has been mentioned in a few other posts as well but they turn into cold cases and the thread gets locked. Here's the problem again: I have Project / Timeline A and I have Project / Timeline B. I want to copy some footage from A into B. I go to project A and use the range tool to select a chunk of video from a video clip. I then copy that using File -> Copy or Command C. Then I go to project B and I want to paste that using File -> Paste or Command V. No go.

The only work around I've found for this problem is this: while in Project A I use the range tool to select a chunk of video (set in and out points), I then hit Shift + F to find JUST that chunk of the clip and bring in up in the browser... doing that preserves my In and Out points from the range selection. In other words, now in the browser I still see the range In and Out points I selected in Project A's timeline (Tip: at this point hit F to save that range as a favorite so you don't lose it again.). I then copy it while still there in the browsers and I can paste it into Project B. You could, at that point, just insert it into Project B using other methods once you have it open in the browser...

But oddly enough I've noticed that the copy and paste feature works the way it should when going from the browser selection first and then into the project. But what we all need is for that process work when trying to copy and paste range selections between two different projects.

iMac Pro

Posted on Nov 29, 2022 08:24 AM

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Answer 1

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I'm Matt Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 30, 2022 11:38 AM in response to I'm Matt

Okay update... I took all the footage that was in the timeline I was trying copy from and I put it in a brand new, fresh timeline. I didn't duplicate it. I just created a new timeline and I put all the footage from the "corrupt" timeline into that new timeline.... and bingo. Copy and paste is working as you'd expect it to. Thanks guys.

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Answer 2

I'm Matt Author

Level 1

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Nov 30, 2022 10:24 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

For the interest of time.... Let's say I did that and it works. What would that indicate? Does that mean my admin / system settings are somehow not allowing the copy and paste to work in this particular instance? Is it possibly a permissions thing?

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Answer 3

terryb

Level 4

3,112 points

Nov 30, 2022 02:06 PM in response to I'm Matt

Sometimes a project timeline can become corrupt, showing odd behavior. I've had it happen once. A common fix is to do like you've done, select everything in the corrupt project and copy, create a new project and paste. This can sometimes clean up whatever the corruption is.

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Answer 4

I'm Matt Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 30, 2022 09:56 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I made a video to demonstrate.

https://youtu.be/urzAAjo09Sg

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Answer 5

Nov 29, 2022 09:01 AM in response to I'm Matt

I can't reproduce this. I select a range - either with the Range tool or by marking In and Out points - in a clip in a project timeline, and paste in another project, no problem...

Try deleting preferences. Any changes?

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Answer 6

I'm Matt Author

Level 1

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Nov 30, 2022 10:19 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks Tom but that unfortunately did not work. After holding down ⌥ ⌘ when restarting I did get the prompt to delete preferences which I did. But still getting that chirping audio error sound when trying to copy and paste between the two timelines as demonstrated in the YouTube posted above. Thanks for the suggestion though.

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Answer 7

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,763 points

Nov 30, 2022 10:27 AM in response to I'm Matt

That there’s a software conflict on the system. It’s only a first easy step to do. You could also post an EtreCheck report. That might help. The problem is that no one else here seems to be able to reproduce the problem in the same software.

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Answer 8

Nov 30, 2022 11:11 AM in response to I'm Matt

This may or not be causing the present issue, but in any case it is a serious problem for Final Cut Pro and other professional software: you have Chrome and its evil keystone helpers.

Uninstall them completely - see https://chromeisbad.com for why and how.

After that, you must delete FCP and download a new copy from the App Store.

See if and how that will help.

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Answer 9

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,763 points

Nov 30, 2022 11:12 AM in response to I'm Matt

The only thing that stands out is Chrome and the keystone daemons which shouldn't be on any system. They cause all sorts of problems, though I'd be surprised if they were doing this.

See https://chromeisbad.com for why this is, and how to remove them completely. After removing them you will need to delete and reinstall FCP.

Another thing we haven't considered is the details of the media and the projects. Can you give the specifics of both the media and project project properties in the original project and the project properties of the second project? Wondering if there are frame rate changes of the media in the project first and the second project that don't worked if they're carried from one to the other.

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Answer 10

I'm Matt Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 30, 2022 11:35 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

4k timeline. 4k footage shot on a Sony a7siii. I use XAVC S-I 4K video format setting.

I did the delete chrome stuff but I don't think that will probably be the thing once I restart and all that. But good to know about that for sure. No doubt.

I just opened up a different timeline that had less footage in that. The other one I was trying to copy and paste from was a longer timeline. 25 minutes. When I try and copy and paste from a SHORTER timeline. Like one that's less than 2 minutes in this case... the copy and paste worked. I also tried copy and pasting a piece of graphical material like a text or photo or logo, etc. That seems to copy and paste from one timeline to the other okay.

In other words... this timeline in particular is unhappy. Maybe if I just create a fresh timeline to try and debug it it will work.

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