Apple Final Cut Pro FCPXML format reference. Covers project structure, timeline creation, clip references, effects, and transitions. Use when generating FCP projects or understanding FCPXML structure.
Apple Final Cut Pro FCPXML format reference. Covers project structure, timeline creation, clip references, effects, and transitions. Use when generating FCP projects or understanding FCPXML structure.
user-invocable
false
plugin: video-editing
updated: 2026-01-20
Apple Final Cut Pro XML (FCPXML)
Production-ready patterns for generating FCPXML projects compatible with Final Cut Pro 10.4+.
FCPXML Version Compatibility
FCP Version
FCPXML Version
Key Features
10.4+
1.8+
Compound clips, roles
10.5+
1.9
Enhanced color
10.6+
1.10
HDR support
10.7+
1.11
Object tracking
Recommendation: Use version 1.9 for broad compatibility.
Basic Project Structure
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE fcpxml><fcpxmlversion="1.9"><resources><!-- Media references -->
<spine><!-- First clip: starts at 0, uses full duration --><asset-clipname="Interview Opening"ref="a1"offset="0s"start="0s"duration="30s"/><!-- Second clip: starts after first (offset=30s) --><asset-clipname="B-Roll"ref="a2"offset="30s"start="10s"duration="15s"/><!-- Third clip: starts at 45s --><asset-clipname="Interview Conclusion"ref="a1"offset="45s"start="120s"duration="20s"/></spine>
Key timing attributes:
offset - Position on timeline (where clip starts in sequence)
start - In-point within source media
duration - How long the clip plays
Gap (Empty Space)
<spine><asset-clipref="a1"offset="0s"duration="30s"/><!-- 5 second gap --><gapname="Gap"offset="30s"duration="5s"/><asset-clipref="a2"offset="35s"duration="30s"/></spine>
Transitions
<spine><asset-clipref="a1"offset="0s"duration="30s"/><!-- Cross dissolve between clips --><transitionname="Cross Dissolve"offset="29s"duration="2s"><filter-videoref="r10"name="Cross Dissolve"/></transition><asset-clipref="a2"offset="29s"duration="30s"/></spine>
Video Layers (Connected Clips)
<spine><!-- Main video (layer 0) --><asset-clipref="a1"offset="0s"duration="60s"><!-- Picture-in-picture on layer 1 --><asset-clipref="a2"offset="10s"duration="15s"lane="1"><adjust-transformposition="200 150"scale="0.3 0.3"/></asset-clip></asset-clip></spine>
Titles and Text
<titlename="Chapter Title"offset="0s"duration="5s"ref="r5"><text><text-styleref="ts1">Welcome to the Video</text-style></text></title>