A scene selection for your videos can be created most efficiently using the Add Scenes feature in the presentation editor. This allows you to auto-generate a scene selection which links to chapters within your video. This method can save you up to an hour or more per project depending on how many scenes you will be creating.
Alternatively, you can manually create a scene selection through the Add Video method if you are on the Starter or Free plan.
Add Scenes Method
The Add Scenes feature is only available to Pro plans and above. If you are on the Starter or Free Plan, you must upgrade to Pro or use the manual Add Video method.
Start by clicking the "Scenes" button at the top. Then, select the video from which you want to create the scenes and click 'Next'.
On the next screen you can either manually specify the starting time of the scenes or import the scenes from a chapter file.
If you embedded chapters with your video file, they will automatically be imported on this screen. Learn how to embed chapters in your videos.
To manually create the scenes, scrub through the video and click the 'Add Scene' button at the desired point.
To import the scenes from a chapter file instead, click the 'Import Chapters' button. For instructions on exporting the chapter file from your editing program or creating your own text file, read this article.
You can edit the chapter timecode and title in the chapter list. You can also remove chapters by clicking the trash icon to the right of the chapter. Imported chapters that reside outside the timecode of the video will be shown in red.
Choose the destination of the generated scenes: either the current menu, a new menu, or a specific menu.
When you are ready to generate scenes from the specified chapters, click 'Generate Scenes'. It can take a few seconds for the scenes to be generated and added to the desired menu. Thumbnails will also be generated for each scene, captured 1 second after the start of the scene, or the thumbnail specified in your imported chapter file (only supported by Final Cut Pro chapter file).
Add Video Method
You can manually create a scene selection menu using the Add Video method as well. Although this process is more time-consuming compared to the Add Scenes method, it is available to all plans.
Start by adding the video to the presentation menu using the 'Video' button at the top of the editor, then selecting it on the screen that pops up.
Next, navigate to the video button's settings either by hovering over the button and clicking the settings icon, or by clicking the button in the navigation panel on the left.
Then, click the 'Make a Copy' button at the top of the settings window.
You will automatically switch to the viewing the settings of the copy. Edit the button text for the new scene, then scrub through the video and click the stopwatch to set the start time to the current time. You can also set the button's thumbnail if you have them enabled.
You can now make a copy of the scene and repeat the process for the next scene. When you are finished with the last scene, click 'Done' at the bottom of the settings window.
Changing the Start Time of a Scene
You can update the start time of a scene at any time from the button's settings. Access the settings either by hovering over the button and clicking the settings icon, or by clicking the button in the navigation panel on the left.
The start time can automatically be set to the current time using the stopwatch to the right of the timecode, or you can manually enter it in hh:mm:ss:ff format (hours:minutes:seconds:frames).
Once the start time and button title has been set, click 'Done' to close the settings window.