Video Editor

Compound clips and presets

A compound clip packs several clips into one clip, with its own timeline you edit in a tab. A preset saves one clip to the workspace so every project can reuse it. Both keep complex pieces (an intro, a lower third with its animation, a branded end card) tidy and reusable.

Make a compound clip

Select the clips.
Press ⌥ G or choose Make Compound Clip from the menu.

The clips become one clip on the timeline, named Compound 1, and the compound joins the media bin under Compounds.

Edit a compound

Double-click the compound clip (or Open Compound): it opens as a tab above the timeline. Main timeline takes you back; Close tab closes it.
Every copy of a compound on the timeline plays the same compound, so an edit inside shows in all of them. A shorter compound shortens them too.
The Player plays the compound at its own size while its tab is open.

Break it apart

Select it and press ⇧ ⌥ G (Break Apart Compound): its clips come back onto the timeline.

Compounds in the media bin

Under Compounds in the Media panel: drag one onto the timeline to place another copy, Open it, Duplicate it (an independent copy, Compound 1 copy), Rename it or Delete compound (not while it's In use on the timeline). A compound can't go inside itself.

Presets

Right-click any clip but a compound or a caption and choose Save as Preset: Saved to your workspace's presets. The preset shows under Presets in every project's media bin; placing it copies the clip in, with its look, animation and timing. Delete preset removes it from every project's bin (clips already placed stay).

FAQ

What's the difference between a compound and a preset?

A compound belongs to one project and stays linked: change it once, and every copy changes. A preset belongs to the workspace and is copied in: each placement is independent.

Save its content as presets, or copy and paste its clips into the other project.