Detect and restore edits in Final Cut Pro for Mac

With Edit Detection, you can analyze any previously edited, rendered video clip to reveal its original edit points and automatically split it into separate clips in the timeline. For example, if someone sent you a completed video and you don’t have access to the project files, you can quickly detect the original cut points and create a separate clip for each scene.

Edit Detection is useful when:

Reediting or fine-tuning a previously finished and exported video—for example, after duplicating a project to reframe a video for other aspect ratios
Working from a client-delivered final video without access to the original project files
Color grading—for example, if a colorist receives a single exported file but needs individual shots to apply consistent grading

Note: Edit Detection splits a clip at hard cuts and may not detect fades.

In the Final Cut Pro timeline, select one or more previously rendered video clips.
Do one of the following:
- Choose Trim > Detect Edits (or press Shift-E).
- Control-click the selection, then choose Detect Edits.
Final Cut Pro analyzes the selection and automatically splits it into separate clips.
The dotted lines indicate through edits, in which the media content on either side of the edit point was previously continuous.
To remove a through edit, do one of the following:
- Select either or both sides of the through edit point, then choose Trim > Join Clips (or press Delete).
- Select the clips on both sides of the through edit, then choose Trim > Join Clips.

Note: Edit Detection is not supported with titles, graphics, generators, audio clips, still images, or gap clips.

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Final Cut Pro User Guide for Mac

Detect and restore edits in Final Cut Pro for Mac