Text-based video editing for Final Cut Pro interview work

Text-based video editing means building an edit from the words people said instead of scrubbing through footage on a timeline. This guide explains what that looks like for interview-driven projects in Final Cut Pro, and where RoughCut fits in.

What text-based editing means

In a conventional workflow you find a usable line by playing clips, listening, and setting markers. In a text-based workflow you read and search the transcript, select the phrases you want, and arrange them into a story. The video follows the words: every selected phrase still points back to its source clip with in and out points.

For interviews, documentaries and talking-head content, the story usually lives in the dialogue. Working from text lets you compare answers across many clips, spot the strongest version of a thought, and test the order of beats before you commit anything to a timeline.

How the workflow looks with RoughCut

1. Start from transcriptions you already have

RoughCut uses the existing transcriptions in your Final Cut Pro libraries. It reads them on your Mac — processing is local, and your footage is not uploaded. Clips that have never been transcribed won't show transcript text.

2. Search across every library

Type a word or phrase and RoughCut searches transcripts across your Final Cut Pro libraries at once, showing each match in the context of its full transcript with timecodes.

3. Collect and reorder interview selects

Move the phrases that matter into a Rough Cut — one ordered assembly of selects from different clips. Reorder beats, trim in and out points, read the assembly as cards or as continuous script, and save it as a .roughcut document.

4. Create an editable Final Cut Pro project

When the structure works, RoughCut can create an editable Final Cut Pro project from the Rough Cut: your clips in your order with real in and out points, ready to keep editing. Your original media is not moved or changed.

RoughCut complements Final Cut Pro — it doesn't replace it

RoughCut is a companion for the story-finding stage. Trimming, grading, sound, titles and finishing still happen in Final Cut Pro. RoughCut reads libraries Final Cut Pro created and hands the assembly back as a Final Cut Pro project.

What's free and what's paid

Browsing libraries, searching transcripts and building Rough Cuts are free. Creating a Final Cut Pro project is unlocked by a one-time in-app purchase, Create Final Cut Projects. A 7-day trial starts the first time you successfully create a Final Cut Pro project. One-time in-app purchase. No subscription. See pricing for details.

Requirements

macOS 15.6 or later
Final Cut Pro required for project creation and the Workflow Extension.