Latest Update | A Full Guide for Final Cut Pro Motion Tracking

If you're into video editing and you like an application that can help you do that professionally, you've probably heard about Final Cut Pro. Though it can only be used on the Mac operating system, this app, owned by Apple Inc., is known for producing high-quality content and having all the possible features you would need for decent video editing.

Since we're here to talk about motion tracking in Final Cut Pro, let's jump into a quick overview of Final Cut Pro's object-tracking capabilities.

Overviewing Motion Tracking Capabilities of Final Cut Pro

Now, when it comes to the motion tracking in Final Cut Pro, here's what's up. As you probably know, motion tracking is recording the movement of an object or a person in a video and attaching a video effect, image, logo, or text to it, and what you get as a result is the item you "attached" following the object.

You can use this powerful feature on many occasions, but here are only some of them:

• Hide someone's face to preserve their anonymity. When making a video in public, you often capture random people walking around or just standing. Therefore, you want to blur them or put, let's say, an emoji over their faces and protect their identity.
• Add a glow effect to the jet engines of an airplane streaking through the sky.
• Record a video of a basketball team in the Olympic games and make a cool edit by introducing the players and displaying their names by tracking their moving bodies.

How Do You Do Motion Tracking in Final Cut Pro?

Now, let's jump into a quick and easy guide on how to use the object tracking feature in Final Cut Pro :

1. Go to Final Cut Pro. You can either drag and drop the video you want to edit or import it, in which case you should click File, then Import, and finally Media.

   

2. The next important thing is to place a playhead where the object you want to track is in focus. After you've done that, go to Titles and Generators in the top left corner and choose the one you like.

   

3. Click on the title and Drag it to the object you want to track.

   

4. After the title has appeared, click the Analyze button in the top left corner.

   

5. After you've clicked Done in the top right corner, you can reposition your title if you wish.

   

6. Finally, you can change the name and the appearance of the title in the menu on the right.

   

Now, if you want to track someone's face and blur it, follow the next steps:

1. Import the video as previously shown.
2. Place the playhead where the person's face is in focus. After you've done that, click on the Effects menu located on the right.

   

3. Click on the Blur option. Then click on the Gaussian blur.

   

4. Drag the effect to the face you want to blur and Final Cut Pro will automatically recognize the face and adjust the shape.

   

5. After you've released your mouse button, click Analyze as before.
6. If you want to adjust the shape yourself, click on the Chain button first to unlink it from the tracker and then you can start adjusting the shape. After that, you click Done and you're all set!

   

Best Plug-ins For Motion Tracking in Final Cut Pro

To save yourself some time and simplify the whole process, you can use a variety of Final Cut Pro plug-ins. Here are some of them:

1. FCPX Face Tracker

   With this amazing face-tracker plug-in for Final Cut Pro, you can edit faces, apply makeup, smooth out skin, do eye whitening, and so many other things. Even though it's not a free plug-in, it would be a really good investment, costing $29.95. Also, all future updates are free.

   

2. FCPX Auto Tracker 2.2

   With only one click, you can apply text, logos, videos, or anything else you want to the subject you wish to track. Tracking can be the easiest thing ever now! This plug-in is also not free, it costs from $39.95.

   

3. FCPX Shape Tracker

   If you want to highlight and track certain sections of your video, this plug-in is definitely for you. And the price starts from $49.95.

   

Final Cut Pro Motion Tracking Alternative - Wondershare Filmora

If you're having a hard time using motion tracking in Final Cut Pro, or if you're just looking for an alternative that will make your experience much smoother, or if you also want to apply motion tracking to an object on your Windows computer, you should try Wondershare Filmora.

This tool not only makes it much easier for you to use motion tracking, but you can also use it to do many things, among which are edit videos, screen record, use greenscreen, voice changer, and even AI, which can do many things for you, such as remove objects in your videos and translate your videos into multiple languages.

These are, of course, only some of the things that are available in Filmora. There are so many other features to use. You should definitely try it yourself!

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Why Use Wondershare Filmora for Motion Tracking?

If you're wondering if Wondershare Filmora is really the perfect match, here are some key features that will ensure you:

• Filmora detects and follows the motion of the tracked object, automatically tracing its movement path.
• AI motion tracker tool helps make your text move and follow the object smoothly.
• Filmora's mosaic effects help you blur or censor anything in every frame, so you don't have to add it frame by frame.
• Use Filmora to turn images, emojis, or symbols into visual effects and spice up your videos

Motion Tracking Workflow in Filmora

Now, let's learn how to do motion tracking in Filmora:

1. Go to Filmora and click on New Project.

   

2. Click on Import and choose the video you want to edit.

   

3. Drag your video to the timeline below and ensure your object is in the frame the whole time. Cut the frame your object isn't in.

   

4. Your playhead should be at the very beginning of the video.

   

5. Select the Motion Tracking option.

   

6. Adjust the Box to your object.

   

7. Click on Click to start Motion Track, and Filmora will automatically analyze the footage.

   

8. After your video has finished analyzing, click on the Titles option in the menu on the top left.

   

9. After you've chosen the title you want to use, drag it in the timeline above your video and rename it however you desire, as well as adjust it so it's the same duration as your video.

   

10. Move and place the text in the video wherever you want. Double-click the footage and go back to the Motion tracking menu. In a drop-down menu, select the title you've previously chosen. Play back your video to check.

    

You're all set!

Conclusion

So, this is how you apply motion tracking in both Final Cut Pro and Wondershare Filmora. Both of these are really good programs. However, if you're not a MacOS user or you're having a hard time using Final Cut Pro, then Wondershare Filmora is a great match for you. Not only is it easy to use, but it also has so many features for any occasion. You can even use AI features, and the program itself has a simple and clean look.

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