Final Cut Pro Workflow

Use this skill for Final Cut Pro app operation, not AVFoundation or custom media-code work.

Source Check

Open Final Cut Pro Help or search the local Tips/Help Viewer catalog for Final Cut Pro. Confirm the guide matches the installed app/version before relying on an import, library, proxy, share, or relink path. Read references/library-and-delivery-contract.md before changing a library, event, project, media relationship, or delivery artifact.

Workflow

1. Classify the task: inspection, library/event organization, import, proxy or optimized-media decision, edit, captions/roles, missing-media repair, Motion handoff, share/export, Compressor delivery, or output verification.
2. Establish the artifact contract: library/project path, source-media policy, managed-versus-external media state, intended timeline/range, target platform, format, roles/captions, destination, overwrite rule, and deliverable owner.
3. Inspect before action: selected library/event/project, active timeline, media locations, missing-media/proxy state, render/share state, connected storage, selected ranges, and existing destination contents.
4. Preserve source state. Use a duplicate library/project or explicit backup before consolidation, relinking, deleting generated files, changing media location, or making wide timeline changes. Do not infer that a generated proxy, optimized copy, or render file is safe to remove.
5. Make the smallest correct edit. Keep project, event, library, media, and role boundaries clear; explain any tradeoff in proxy quality, optimized-media storage, color/HDR, captions, or sharing settings.
6. Confirm immediately before importing into a managed library, relinking, consolidating, deleting generated/original media, modifying a shared timeline, rendering, sharing, exporting, or replacing an existing delivery. State the exact source/range, destination, name, format, and overwrite behavior.
7. Verify the result: inspect library/project state after edits, or inspect the exported artifact for name, location, duration, dimensions, codec/container, audio, captions/roles, color/HDR, and target playback where required.

Guards