Import Final Cut Pro X projects into iMovie using hidden workaround

Editor and plugin maker Andy Mees has discovered that you can import Final Cut Pro X exported XML into the new version of iMovie. Here you can see the source timeline in Final Cut. It was exported as an .fcpxml file and imported into iMovie.

The reason why the timelines don’t match up is because iMovie timelines have variable scale. Although the faint grey vertical lines are equally spaced, the times they mark aren’t equally spaced (in this case some are marked as denoting 9.4, 10.9, 15.8, 20.3, 24.4, 27.2 and 32.1 seconds).

iMovie doesn’t implement all Final Cut Pro X features such as multiple connected video clips at the same time or auditions. Despite this, you can see iMovie displays an audition icon on one of the audio clips in Andy’s timeline. If you attempt to edit the audition in iMovie, you’ll see an imcomplete UI:

iMovie doesn’t have an ‘Import Final Cut Pro X XML…’ command. Andy discovered a simple workaround.

1. Control- or Right-click the iMovie icon and choose ‘Show Package Contents’ from the shortcut menu

2. Open another window that shows the iMovie icon and drop your .fcpxml file onto the icon.

3. In iMovie you’ll see a dialogue box that asks which iMovie library you would like to import your XML file into:

As well as reading his blog, keep up with Andy by following him on Twitter.