How do I change the Projection Mode for Compound Clips in Final Cut Pro for Mac?

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Level 2

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How do I change the Projection Mode for Compound Clips in Final Cut Pro for Mac?

If I import 360 footage into a 2D standard rectangular timeline, set it to have a Equirectangular Projection Mode and apply some color grading to it and make it a Compound Clip (so if I change the color grade in the Compound Clip it'll affect all of the instances automatically), I loose the Orientation and 360 controls as soon as the Compound Clip is created - even though all assets inside of it are 360 Equirectangular.

This means that right now I'm forced to create Compound Clips in a 360 timeline and copy-paste them over to the 2D timeline for them to have a Equirectangular Projection Mode with the Orientation controls. Is it's obviously technically possible to have a 360 Equirectangular Projection Mode Compound Clip in a 2D rectangular timeline, but I think it's an unnecessary workaround, is there really no way to just set the Projection Mode directly like you can with regular footage?

With footage you can select the Projection Mode manually.

On Compound Clips there is no Projection Mode setting since it seems like the Compound Clip strictly inherits the properties/settings of the Project it was created in.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jul 3, 2025 7:37 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

72,720 points

Jul 3, 2025 9:29 AM in response to FilipOfficial

On Compound Clips there is no Projection Mode setting since it seems like the Compound Clip strictly inherits the properties/settings of the Project it was created in.

As far as I understanding, that is exactly what happens.

One thing you might try is to create the compound clip directly in the browser.

I don't have any 360 clips, so I can't test them, but, as opposed to what happens in a timeline, if you make the compound in the browser, there is a "Custom" button that lets you select the characteristics of the new compound - 360 being amongst the options.

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Answer 2

FilipOfficial Author

Level 2

196 points

Jul 3, 2025 11:50 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I've been using Final Cut Pro for 11 years and I didn't even know you could create Compound Clips directly in the Browser just by right-clicking. 😳 You learn something new every day! Thank you Luis, that speeds thing up a little bit at least.

This gave me the idea that I might just be able to select already created Compound Clips in the Browser and change the properties of it from the Inspector, but unfortunately there's no option there to switch between 2D and 360 once a Compound Clip has been created, you can only switch between different resolutions and frame rates.

So ultimately it seems like Apple (for some reason) has locked down Compound Clips so there's absolutely no way to change them to 360 or Equirectangular interpretation after they've been created. Which I don't really understand considering you can do that with both Projects and regular video/image files.

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