A full-circle on-set editing workflow with Reeltime Pro and Final Cut Pro

From circled takes to edit previews: Reeltime Pro and Final Cut Pro now work hand in hand to bring seamless on-set editing into your video assist toolkit. In this article, we explore the powerful new Final Cut Pro integration introduced in Reeltime Pro v1.4. You’ll learn why we chose to deeply integrate with an industry-standard NLE software instead of building basic editing tools from scratch, and how that decision benefits your workflow.
We’ll also walk through using the integration step by step, including three short demo videos to highlight just how seamless and production-ready it really is.

Why on-set editing? And why Reeltime Pro integrates, not reinvents

Recording all camera signals for instant review is a firmly embedded standard in scripted production workflows. But more and more teams are taking things further by editing selected takes into sequences already on set. On-set editing helps evaluate pacing, timing, and whether performances and vision connect across shots. Early edits often reveal continuity issues that isolated viewing of takes can’t catch. When dealing with complex scenes on-set editing becomes the go-to double layer of safety for directors, script supervisors and other creative roles. 

But effective on-set editing demands more than just a basic one-track timeline. It requires a robust, professional editing environment, one that’s optimized for speed, supports rich metadata, and can integrate tightly with the realities of a live production environment. That’s why we chose an integration with Final Cut Pro, rather than reinventing editing tools from scratch within Reeltime Pro.

Final Cut Pro’s powerful multicam editing pairs seamlessly with Reeltime Pro’s group sync, enabling intuitive, angle-aware editing with no manual setup. Its XML import enables deep metadata transfer, including range-based keywords, circled takes, ratings, and annotations, so you can quickly find key moments using the timeline index or event browser. And because Final Cut Pro is a performant, editing-optimized tool, you’re not limited to rough cuts: high-quality retiming, transitions, and exports for quick sharing are all within reach. Despite its advanced capabilities, it’s easy to learn and budget-friendly.

To close the loop, Reeltime Pro also supports live A/V monitoring of the Final Cut Pro timeline via NDI, letting you preview edits directly within Reeltime Pro and distribute them throughout the video village.

If you haven’t heard of NDI yet, or just haven’t been using it, here’s a quick introduction: NDI (Network Device Interface) is a video-over-IP protocol that allows devices to transmit high-quality video, audio, and metadata over a local network in real time. For this integration, all you need is the free macOS version of NDI Tools, which enables Final Cut Pro to send its timeline output as a live stream and Reeltime Pro to receive and route it – no extra hardware needed!

Overall, the Final Cut Pro integration and NDI input support, released in Reeltime Pro v1.4 unlock:

• Metadata-rich exports of group-synced clips and annotated ranges
• Auto-generated timelines, both multicam and multi-track, built from the best-rated actions of the circled takes, giving you a pre-selected, purposeful starting point
• Real-time monitoring of the Final Cut Pro timeline in Reeltime Pro via NDI
• File export of edits and automatic reimport into Reeltime Pro for reference

In a nutshell: Everything you need for effective on-set editing to enhance decision making, or even experiment with different solutions on set.

1. How to set up for on-set editing

Getting ready for on-set editing takes just a few, simple steps. A detailed guide is available in the Pomfort Knowledge Base, but here’s a brief summary:

Install NDI Tools
Download and install the latest version of NDI Tools for Mac to enable Final Cut Pro’s A/V output to be received in Reeltime Pro. See Setting up NDI input in the Pomfort Knowledge Base for details.

Set up Final Cut Pro
Create a new library (e.g., “Reeltime Exports”) and set import preferences to “Leave files in place” to avoid duplicating media. In Playback settings, select the intended NDI output format under A/V Output (e.g., “NDI 1920 x 1080 @24”).

Configure Reeltime Pro
Create a dedicated input slot (e.g., “F”) and assign it to the NDI stream from Final Cut Pro (usually labeled with “macOS A/V Output”). Unarm the input slot to avoid recording it, and if desired, route it to one or more output slots for on-set signal distribution.

2. Export clips to Final Cut Pro

Choose the clips to be exported
You can export clips to Final Cut Pro in two ways: either all clips from the current library view (for example, a selected Smart Group) or just the clips you’ve selected.

Export to Final Cut Pro
The export options allow you to auto-generate multicam and multi-track timelines with all clips or only with the circled (best rated) takes and the best-rated in/out ranges. When you start the export, and Final Cut Pro is installed on your machine, it will open automatically and import your project. 

If you prefer to edit on another machine, or hand off to your editorial team, you can export the XML to disk and share it with others along with the appropriate media from your Reeltime Pro record folder.

Video: Exporting to Final Cut Pro
Watch how to generate a timeline from selected takes in Reeltime Pro and open it in Final Cut Pro for instant editing. Sound on for all details!

3. Editing with metadata in Final Cut Pro

Now, you’re all set to start editing in Final Cut Pro and benefit from all its options, like multicam angles, timeline index, and keyword ranges, to quickly build and adjust sequences.

Each export includes two auto-generated timelines:

• Multicam timeline: Reeltime group recordings are transferred into multicam clips, with each camera as a separate angle. This allows you to immediately use Final Cut Pro’s multicam editing without additional syncing required.
• Multi-track timeline: Reeltime group recordings are arranged as stacked tracks, with one track per camera angle. This gives you a more conventional editing layout.

When exporting to Final Cut Pro, Reeltime Pro’s extensive metadata is preserved and translated into the system of Final Cut Pro. The table below shows how specific Reeltime terms map to Final Cut Pro’s metadata structure.

Having all this metadata available in Final Cut Pro’s event bins and timelines allows you to quickly find annotated takes, evaluate performances, and assemble cuts that reflect the creative vision captured on set.

Plus, Final Cut Pro’s multicam feature makes working with group recordings incredibly efficient:

• Trimming or reordering multicam clips is quick and intuitive as all camera angles remain perfectly synced.
• With “Angles” enabled in the viewer, you can see all synced camera feeds at once and simply click to switch to your preferred angle during editing.

Video: Metadata-driven multicam editing in Final Cut Pro
Discover how auto-generated multicam or multi-track timelines, along with range-based metadata in the timeline index and event browser, streamline your editing process. Sound on for all details.

4. Monitoring and signal distribution

The integration comes full circle with real-time preview monitoring. By enabling NDI output from Final Cut Pro and configuring an input slot with the signal in Reeltime Pro, you can monitor the signal and distribute it to any configured output slot. 

After completing your editing preview and preparing to share it with other crew members, Reeltime Pro’s slot system and the “Slot Follows Selection” option enable you to temporarily route the timeline’s signal to the director, the script supervisor, or the entire video village with ease. This way, production teams can view the editing preview from anywhere on set, allowing for immediate feedback and better-informed decisions.

5. Export the final edit back into Reeltime Pro

Once you’re happy with your edit and want to keep it as a reference, there’s a fast and convenient way to render the sequence and have it automatically appear in Reeltime Pro; no manual importing required. This method is also a great alternative if you’d rather not use the live NDI connection for timeline monitoring.

Simply download the Final Cut Pro destination preset file, open Final Cut Pro on your machine, and drag the destination preset onto the Final Cut Pro app icon in the dock. Please note: Required version of Reeltime Pro: v1.4.1 or higher.

This destination will now appear in Final Cut Pro’s Share menu. Thanks to Final Cut Pro’s blazing-fast rendering, the clip will show up in your Reeltime Pro library within seconds, ready for playback from any library slot.

Video: Sharing the edit via NDI and file export to Reeltime Pro
Learn how to feed your Final Cut Pro timeline back into Reeltime Pro for seamless distribution and review. Sound on for all details.

Compatibility with other editing software

While Reeltime Pro’s direct integration with Final Cut Pro offers the most seamless and metadata-rich on-set editing workflow, you can also export Final Cut Pro XML files (.fcpxml) for use in other non-linear editing (NLE) systems. Support and feature compatibility vary by platform.

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve supports .fcpxml import natively, so you can directly open the auto-generated multi-track or multicam timelines from Reeltime Pro. However:

• Keywords, markers, and other metadata will not be imported.
• The timeline structure, including multicam edits, remains intact for immediate use.
• NDI output is not natively supported, but you have two viable options for monitoring the edit in Reeltime Pro:
  • Use third-party tools like FlowCaster or Nobe Display to enable NDI output from DaVinci Resolve via software.
  • Alternatively, use an SDI output device, such as the Blackmagic UltraStudio Monitor 3G, to feed the timeline signal into Reeltime Pro via a compatible video I/O device.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro does not natively support .fcpxml, but there’s a solid workaround:

• You can convert the Final Cut Pro XML using the third-party tool XtoCC (also known as X₂7) into a legacy Final Cut Pro XML format that is supported by Premiere Pro.
• After conversion, the project, including a meaningful bin structure with subclips and the multi-track timeline, can be imported into Premiere Pro.
• Multicam clips and the multicam timeline are not supported, but the good news is that other metadata, including range-based annotations and markers, translates well into Premiere Pro’s project structure.
• Premiere Pro also supports NDI output natively, making it easy to stream your editing preview back into Reeltime Pro for monitoring or distribution.

Avid Media Composer

Avid does not support .fcpxml import directly. There’s still a way, if you accept a few extra steps:

• First, import the XML into DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro using the steps above.
• Then export an AAF file to bring the project into Media Composer.
• NDI output is supported natively, so once in Avid, the timeline can be monitored in Reeltime Pro via NDI.

Conclusion

Let’s wrap up with this article: Sometimes smart integration beats reinvention. The seamless blend of Reeltime Pro’s live multi-camera recording and rich metadata capture with Final Cut Pro’s evolved editing environment empowers efficient, metadata-driven on-set editing. By closing the loop through NDI monitoring, it creates a straightforward workflow that offers extra peace of mind – especially in complex and mission-critical productions.

Reeltime Pro’s open export philosophy recognizes that no two teams work the same way. It also supports working with other standard editing systems, ensuring flexibility when needed. The integration with Final Cut Pro, however, delivers the most seamless and feature-rich experience.