Handles? We don't need no stinkin' handles!

That's what a compound clip in Final Cut Pro X might say when you try to ripple, roll, or extend an edit point or add a transition between a compound clip and another clip. You'll find there is no extra media available to do so, even though the clips inside the compound clip may well have plenty of extra media beyond the In and Out points in the Timeline.

This week on MacBreak Studio, Steve Martin from Ripple Training explains what is going on, and how to deal with it.

When you create a compound clip out of one or more clips in a project, the compound clip ignores media not currently appearing in the timeline. If you try to move the In or Out point to make the compound clip longer, you'll see the red highlight color on the edit point, indicating that you are at the media limit.

If the clip(s) inside the compound clip have handles, the solution is to open the compound clip in its own timeline by double-clicking it, then extending the media beyond the compound clip's In and Out points. You can do so by dragging an edit point, selecting the clip, pressing Control-D and entering a new duration, or by selecting an edit point, moving the playhead to the desired location, and pressing Shift-X to perform an extend edit.

Once you've done this for all the clips inside the compound clip, return to the main project by using the timeline history button at the top left corner of the timeline (or press Command-[) and you are now free to trim the edit point or add a transition to the full length of the handle you've created.

I agree with Steve that this extra step really shouldn't be necessary but if you find yourself befuddled when working on your compound clips, this is the solution. Watch Steve do it above.