How to Set Up Final Cut Pro for Playback Streaming
Learn how to efficiently set up Final Cut Pro for Playback streaming.
Written by Sara Griffith
Updated at February 7th, 2025
Table of Contents
This article explains how to set up Final Cut Pro as a streaming source for Playback.
Final Cut Pro can be used as an application streaming source for both audio and video with Playback. It is a very basic application routing-wise. It’s audio output will always follow your system output.
Final Cut pro does not have the ability to generate and transmit a sync signal, so it is not possible to use Playback’s Timecoded Markers function.
NOTE: There is an alternate workflow not listed here that is helpful if you use both Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro. We have not documented this alternative, but it may be explored here: https://add.app/workflows-daw-bridge. This program allows you to use Final Cut for video playback and Logic Pro for audio playback and links the two together.
Final Cut Pro must be opened and ready BEFORE Playback is opened.
This article contains the following chapters:
- How to Capture Video Using Screen Capture
- How to Capture Audio using a Virtual Audio Device
How to Capture Video Using Screen Capture
Final Cut Pro Set Up
It is not possible to detach Final Cut’s video window unless a secondary display is detected. The most convenient way to capture Final Cut Pro’s video is to place it in an available display or part of your screen in preparation to use screen capture.
Playback Set Up
Video Settings
In Playback’s Video Session Settings, select "Screen Capture" as the Video Input type. Then select the area of the screen (or second display) that contains Final Cut Pro’s video playback window.
While Final Cut Pro appears as an option if "Application" is configured as the input, selecting it would stream the entire Final Cut Pro window rather than the desired video area. Selecting screen capture resolves this issue.
How to Capture Audio using a Virtual Audio Device
This article covers one use case for capturing audio through a virtual audio device, and creating an aggregate device to split Final Cut Pro’s signal:
Final Cut Pro will only follow your chosen System Output (System Preferences->Sound->Output). There is no option for more granular routing.
Our suggested approach utilizes an Aggregate IO in mac’s Audio Midi Setup to route to your normal system output and also route to a third party virtual audio device called BlackHole Audio that will feed Playback.
Final Cut Pro Set Up
Step 1: Make sure BlackHole audio is downloaded.
Step 2: Open mac’s Audio Midi Setup. Make sure Audio Devices are displayed. If they are not visible (they are hidden), go to Window > Show Audio Devices.
Step 3: Press the “+” in the bottom left to create a new Aggregate Device. Give it a name, and choose all the devices you would like to use with Final Cut Pro. This would include the device you are currently using with Final Cut Pro as your monitoring system (say, onboard speakers), and in our case, BlackHole audio. Enabling drift correction is encouraged. Take note as to what channels correspond to what device.
Step 4: In your mac audio output settings, and choose “My Aggregate Device” (or, whatever you named the Aggregate Device you previously selected).
All of your Final Cut Pro Audio will now be outputting through this aggregate audio device. It will be feeding your speakers as well as BlackHole audio.
Playback Set Up
When configuring the audio source for the stream in Playback’s Session Settings, select Audio Input Type: Virtual Audio Device, and then select “BlackHole Audio 16ch.” You will notice that the Aggregate Device you created in Audio Midi Setup will be available as an option to choose, but a reminder that this also includes the send to your monitoring setup and so the channels being received by Playback will not line up.
