• $199 or 4 monthly payments of $49.75

Learn the entire video editing process!

  • 36 Lessons

Final Cut Pro is my favorite desktop video editing application and I'm excited to share my entire process and everything I know with you! This isn't necessarily the definitive "be-all-end-all" approach, but it's my way of using FCP after more than a decade with the program, using it to build my entire YouTube channel, and 10 years helping students learn it as a Digital Media teacher.

Sign up now level up your Final Cut Pro editing skills!
Rough Cut to Final Cut is continuously updated and includes lifetime access!

WHAT DOES THE COURSE COVER?

Everything is organized in chronological order, so you'll learn the entire video editing process from start to finish!

Once you're finished, there are also supplemental lessons and sample projects to help you explore some of Final Cut Pro's more advanced features and processes. Here's an outline of everything we'll cover:

WELCOME!

This is Rough Cut to Final Cut and I'm glad you're here! Now let's get started and edit a project!
This is Rough Cut to Final Cut!
  • 3 mins
  • 799 MB
Support & Exclusive Community Message Board
  • 3 mins
  • 155 MB

MODULE 1: GETTING STARTED WITH FINAL CUT PRO

This module covers everything you need to get started editing with Final Cut Pro, including equipment, layout, tools, settings, and more!
1.1 Final Cut Pro Basics
  • 17 mins
  • 712 MB
1.2 Equipment Basics
  • 6 mins
  • 1.93 GB
1.3 Managing Your Media & Understanding Libraries, Events, and Projects
  • 10 mins
  • 2.91 GB
1.4 Final Cut Pro Settings & Customization
  • 7 mins
  • 1.63 GB
Preview

MODULE 2: SETTING UP A PROJECT

It's time to dive into the editing process! These lessons cover how to manage your media files, customize Final Cut Pro for total optimization, and begin importing footage in preparation for the rough cut. 
2.1 Importing Footage, Basic Color Correction, and Creating Presets
  • 13 mins
  • 3.38 GB
2.2 Say Adios to Bad Audio
  • 7 mins
  • 2.07 GB
2.3 Syncing Clips & Matching Color Before Starting the Rough Cut
  • 9 mins
  • 2.29 GB
Bonus: My Audio Setup
  • 2 mins
  • 612 MB

MODULE 3: THE ROUGH CUT

This module takes you through my entire rough cut editing process. This is a critical step before we're ready to jump in and begin really bringing the video to life. 
3.1 The Unabridged Rough Cut Process
  • 47 mins
  • 3.93 GB
Bonus: Behind the Scenes of This Project
  • 6 mins
  • 1.9 GB
Bonus: How To Fix Missing Files
  • 2 mins
  • 449 MB

MODULE 4: THE FINAL CUT

Now that the project is finished, let's take a look at how to export it and share it with the world. We'll also cover some recommendations for managing and archiving your footage after you're finished a project.
4.1 Diving Into the Final Cut
  • 5 mins
  • 1.49 GB
Preview
4.2 Camera Angles, Audio Adjustments, and Keyframes for a Fantastic Intro
  • 13 mins
  • 3.38 GB
4.3 Advanced Editing: The Path to Creating a Final Cut
  • 31 mins
  • 4.78 GB
4.4 Adding Style
  • 11 mins
  • 2.12 GB
4.5 Finding Music for Videos
  • 4 mins
  • 1.25 GB
4.6 Adding Music & Mixing Audio
  • 24 mins
  • 3.18 GB
4.7 Finishing Touches
  • 13 mins
  • 3.57 GB
4.8 Exporting & Sharing
  • 15 mins
  • 4.89 GB
4.9 Cleanup: Archiving Footage & Optimizing FCP
  • 9 mins
  • 2.84 GB
Bonus: Uploading to YouTube
  • 13 mins
  • 3.79 GB

THAT'S A WRAP!

Congratulations!
  • 4 mins
  • 1.14 GB
Bonus: The Finished Product!

    MORE TO EXPLORE: AUDIO!

    These lessons cover important audio features and tools of Final Cut Pro that weren’t part of the main project we created.


    Fixing Audio with a Parametric Equalizer
    • 5 mins
    • 1.15 GB
    Fixing Audio With Adobe's AI Tools
    • 7 mins
    • 286 MB

    MORE TO EXPLORE: GRAPHICS!

    These lessons cover some nifty graphic techniques you can incorporate into your projects with Final Cut Pro that weren’t part of the main project we created.

    Titles & Transitions
    • 10 mins
    • 1.15 GB
    "Holographic" Screen Recording Overlay
    • 3 mins
    • 698 MB
    Downloadable Presets & Templates

      MORE TO EXPLORE: CAMERAS!

      These lessons cover things related to cameras and camera gear that weren’t part of the main project we created.

      Filming with Multiple Cameras
        Sony Camera Settings

          BONUS PROJECT

          Here is a separate complex project for you to explore within Final Cut.

          Finished Video
            XL1 Video Outline & Script
            • 123 KB
            How to Open & Use the FCP Project
            • 5 mins
            • 829 MB
            Project Files to Download

              Frequently Asked Questions

              When does the course start and finish?

              Rough Cut to Final Cut is a self-paced course. The lessons are designed to be worked through in chronological order, but you can begin the course as soon as you enroll and you decide how fast you want to go through the course.

              How long will I have access to the course?

              Your enrollment is valid for the entire lifetime of the course. This means that as long as Rough Cut to Final Cut exists, you'll have access to it (including any updates and new material added in the future). Since "lifetime of the course" is a pretty vague amount of time, at minimum you will have guaranteed access for at least one year from your date of enrollment. 

              What equipment do I need?

              Final Cut Pro is a Mac-only application, so that means you'll need an Apple computer of some kind. Fortunately the software works quite well on a wide range of Apple computers, both new and old. If you're looking for the best performance, I recommend any Apple computer with an "M Series" processor.

              Is there a community component?

              Your enrollment includes access to a private message board where you can connect with Final Cut Pro users from all over the world and communicate in realtime. It's a great place to get some extra support, share your insights, and just have fun with other enthusiastic editors.

              What about Final Cut Pro on iPad?

              The iPad version of Final Cut Pro is awesome and incredibly powerful, but the mobile workflow is significantly different from desktop and is currently beyond the scope of this course, which focuses on desktop video editing. 

              What is the refund policy?

              Since enrollment provides you with instant access to ALL of the course content immediately, your purchase is non-refundable. Rough Cut to Final Cut has been designed to walk you through every step of my personal workflow for editing videos, so I'm confident that if you put in the time to work through the project with me, you'll learn a lot (and hopefully have some fun along the way)!

              Who are you?

              My name is Tom and I'm a lifelong audio/video nerd. I've been making videos for most of my life, both personally and professionally. I was also a high school Digital Media teacher for 11 years and created my YouTube channel in 2017.

              There's a very long "About" section on my website if you'd like to learn a bit more and decide if I'm the right person to guide you through Final Cut Pro. 

              Can't I learn Final Cut for free online, what's the benefit of paying for a course?

              Yes! You can definitely find a ton of great free resources online to learn just about anything!

              The benefits of Rough Cut to Final Cut are guidance and curation. You have one instructor with years of experience guiding you through the entire process in a way that cuts through the noise and prevents frustration/discouragement.

              There are several free preview lessons above on this page, so check those out to see if my teaching style clicks with how you learn best!

              Do you offer group licensing for education and organizations?

              Please email tom@himynameistom.com for details and a quote on discounted group licensing of any course.

              Does the course cover every feature of Final Cut Pro or get updated with each new version?

              This course is designed to focus on my personal workflow and the processes I use in Final Cut Pro, rather than covering every feature or being updated with each new release. My goal is to help you understand how to edit effectively using Final Cut Pro by sharing practical, real-world techniques that I rely on in my own projects. While I do sometimes add new lessons for new features, the core principles and workflows taught here remain highly applicable and adaptable across versions.

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