Focus field guide / 08

Find the shots. Edit the originals in place.

Your footage is already on a drive. Choose the useful ranges across several videos, then hand an editor a small timeline file. The handoff points back to the source paths. It does not render or copy a new movie.

Try it with your footageRead the steps
EXAMPLE · 4 SOURCE VIDEOS
01 / CHOOSEWhich moments should travel?
02 / OPEN IN
workshop-selects.fcpxml3 ranges

Choose the shots, then reveal the small file that references them.

0 video files copied in this example

Fictional workshop frames illustrate source clips. This interactive example does not read your files or create an actual FCPXML.

01Select across videos
02One small FCPXML
03Originals stay on their drive

In short

Export Video Selects to Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve Without Copying Media | Focus Guide

Updated · Focus

In Focus Pro, keep your storage drive mounted, collect the wanted results from several indexed videos and choose Save verified Selects. Open that list in Selects → Review, check its source paths, then choose Export ready → Edited sequence → Export FCPXML. The Focus export writes the editor file, not duplicate video media. Before importing the .fcpxml in Final Cut Pro, set Settings → Import → Leave files in place so Final Cut links to the originals. In DaVinci Resolve, use File → Import → Timeline and check the linked clips.

The real workflow

From several source files to one editable timeline.

These captures come from Focus with four short fictional source videos. Start with two files to check the handoff before you use a larger archive.

  1. 01

    Leave the source videos in place.

    Mount the storage drive and add its folder to Library. Choose Keep files where they are. Focus will create local search data, while the original video files keep their existing paths.

    Library / Add source / Keep files where they are
    Captured in Focus 1.20.1 with fictional sample videos
  2. 02

    Collect moments from different videos.

    Use Search to find the shots or files you need. Add the wanted results to the selection tray, then choose Save verified Selects. One Review list can include ranges from multiple source videos.

    Search / Select results / Save verified Selects
    Captured in Focus 1.20.1 with fictional sample videos
  3. 03

    Check the source links in Review.

    Open the saved list in Selects → Review. Check the filenames, ranges and Conform details. Fix blocked items before export. A timecode warning can still export, but verify it before depending on the edit.

    Selects / Review / Conform details
    Captured in Focus 1.20.1 with fictional sample videos
  4. 04

    Save the editor file, then import it.

    Choose Export ready → Edited sequence → Export FCPXML and save the .fcpxml file. Before importing it into Final Cut Pro, set Settings → Import → Leave files in place and turn off Create optimized media and Create proxy media. Then use File → Import → XML. DaVinci Resolve can import it with File → Import → Timeline. Relink to the original drive if an editor shows offline media.

    Export ready / Edited sequence / Export FCPXML
    Captured in Focus 1.20.1 with fictional sample videos

Questions before you hand it off

Do I need Focus Pro?

Yes. FCPXML and other NLE timeline exports require Focus Pro.

Edited sequence or Handoff package?

Choose Edited sequence for FCPXML, Premiere XML or EDL files that an editor can import. Handoff package is a JSON Selects manifest for another Focus workflow; it is not the Final Cut or Resolve project file.

Can the file include clips from several videos?

Yes. Save the desired moments into one Review list. The FCPXML includes each exportable range in list order and points to its source file. Blocked items and invalid ranges are skipped, so check the count shown before export.

Which file should I use for DaVinci Resolve?

Use FCPXML for this workflow. Resolve also accepts EDL, but EDL is more limited for source identification and editorial metadata. Import the FCPXML as a timeline, then check each linked clip.

Does Focus make copies or transcode the videos?

The editor-file export writes only the small interchange file. It does not render, copy, consolidate or transcode the source footage. Choose Keep files where they are when adding the source and avoid Movie files or bundle exports when you want only a reference file.

What should I choose in Final Cut Pro?

Before importing the FCPXML, open Final Cut Pro → Settings → Import and choose Leave files in place. Leave Create optimized media and Create proxy media off. This setting also applies to XML imports: Copy to library storage location makes Final Cut copy the source videos into its library. Use File → Import → XML; if Import stays unavailable in the picker, open the .fcpxml from Finder and choose a library. Keep the original drive online.

Apple: import XML in Final Cut ProApple: Final Cut Pro import settingsBlackmagic: import a timeline in Resolve

Focus

Take one source-backed list into your edit.

Start with two videos on the same mounted drive. Verify the clips in Final Cut Pro or Resolve before expanding the workflow to the whole archive.

Try it with your footage
Another field guideNeed to find a shot first?

Describe what is visible and save the right source range without tagging every file.

Find B-roll