Support
Set up RoughCut, connect it to Final Cut Pro, solve common problems, and understand exactly what happens to your media.
Every step, in detail /
This page covers the essentials. The documentation covers everything else — 43 articles on setup, cutting, review, export, transcription, privacy, purchases, and evaluation, each verified against the shipping app.
Before your first cut /
- Watch first: the four-minute getting-started video shows the AI key setup, the first cut and the export to Final Cut Pro.
- Compatibility: RoughCut requires Apple Silicon (M1 or later) and macOS 26.5 or later.
- Choose transcription: on-device transcription is private, free and the default. Its one-time speech-model download is about 1.6 GB.
- Add an AI key if you want bad-take removal: OpenAI (the default) or Gemini keys are stored in the macOS Keychain. Without a key, silence-only cutting still works.
- Make a cut: drop in a voice-driven video or audio file, choose the recording environment, process, review the proposals, then export FCPXML.
Send clips straight to RoughCut /
- Open Final Cut Pro → Settings → Destinations.
- Choose Add Destination → Export File.
- Name it “RoughCut” and set Action / Open with to RoughCut.
- Use Share → RoughCut whenever a clip is ready for transcription or a first cut.
Full walkthrough: Set up the Final Cut Pro share destination. For transcription-only work, set the destination format to Audio Only. Export SRT from RoughCut, then use Final Cut Pro → File → Import → Captions. With RoughCut Pro you can also export an annotated review timeline and review every cut as a colour-coded clip inside Final Cut Pro.
Common questions /
What does the AI editing pass cost?
Your provider bills your own key directly, with no RoughCut markup. Provider prices vary by model and usage, so check the current Gemini or OpenAI pricing before processing. RoughCut does not charge per cut: the core unlock is a one-time purchase after five free cuts that include every Pro feature, while Pro is optional.
Is my footage uploaded anywhere?
Local transcription is the default. If you explicitly choose Pro Cloud Transcription, that job's audio is sent directly to OpenAI using your key. The optional editing pass sends transcript text directly to Gemini or OpenAI. Nothing is routed through RoughCut servers. Read what leaves your Mac or the privacy policy.
Which editors and languages work?
RoughCut is built for Final Cut Pro; its FCPXML also imports into DaVinci Resolve. Premiere Pro requires XML conversion first. English and Arabic are tuned and tested with automatic language detection.
Does Transcribe Only use a free cut?
No. Transcribe Only is free forever, needs no AI key in on-device mode, and exports SRT or plain text without consuming the five-cut trial.
Troubleshooting /
- Read the job error: RoughCut names missing models, keys and media access directly instead of silently falling back. Every message is listed in the error reference.
- Media is offline after FCPXML import: keep the original source file in the same location, or use Final Cut Pro's Relink Files command.
- Local transcription cannot start: open Settings → Models & Data and confirm the speech model finished downloading.
- A job needs deeper investigation: if RoughCut opens, use the job's Export menu to create a Debug Bundle. Review it before sharing because diagnostics can describe your job.
- The app will not open: confirm macOS 26.5+, restart the Mac, then remove and re-download RoughCut from the Mac App Store. Purchases can be restored inside the app.
Contact and purchases /
Feature guidance lives in RoughCut's Help & FAQ window, including the complete Final Cut Pro setup. For questions, bugs, or feature requests, email samer@thaka2.ai and we'll get back to you. For billing, cancellation or refund help, use Apple's purchase support.