Choose a small set of clips
Start with one wide shot, one closer detail, and one shot with movement. Put the originals in a stable folder on a connected drive. Importing is different from collecting a portable project: keep the original files available after import.
Import and check
- Choose File → Import Media (
⌘I). - Select the clips and confirm the file picker.
- Watch Background Tasks for progress. If a file is rejected, read its individual error; other files in the batch may have imported successfully.
- Switch to Media and use the browser’s Video, Images, or Audio filter to narrow the view.
- Click a clip to inspect it. Use the Source viewer to review the original, and play a short section to check picture and sound.
Use recognizable file names or library metadata so the clips are easy to find. ⌘F searches the media browser.
Select the useful moment
With the source editing surface focused, move to the beginning of the useful action and press I. Move past the end of the action and press O. Read the range label before inserting: source movie Out is an exclusive boundary, while sequence Out is the last included frame.
If a clip will not import
Check that the drive is connected and the file opens in a compatible player. An extension alone does not establish codec support. Keep the original and read the reported format error before making a converted working copy.
You now have a small library ready to assemble.