FCPX may be my main editor soon, a first for FCP

[olof]

I have tried and used FCP since v1, but I never adapted it. I bought every update and I have used it every once in a while. But never as my main editor. To me it is to slow and clumsy and tries to do to much. All that slow rendering.

I currently have 3 seats of M100 with the Adobe CS 5 prod suite and FCP Studio3 on each machine. M100 is what I prefer to use, but I also use AE and Color as well as Logic Pro. I use FCP7 these days mostly because it will let me edit XDcam codecs from EXcams and NanoFlash w/o transcoding. M100 will not do this yet.
So I do my rough edits in FCP and then Export all the clips as ProRes422 and then finish the project in M100. Mostly because M100 is super fast and never needs to render it just plays and the interface is much simpler and cleaner than FCP7.

Well like I said every new release of FCP is interesting to me, I would love to be able to use just FCP. So like always I bought FCPX (really cheap) to try out and I got Larry Jordan's training :
http://www.larryjordan.biz/app_bin/S...roducts_id=226
a good investment.

My take so far is very positive with a few hopes for updates that will make FCPX a great solution for me.

FCPX is the fastest and easiest to use version so far. I like the DB approach to media, it does take getting used to, but it has great potential. The sound and CC is the best I have seen in a single program so far.

I have both AJA Kona and Matrox MX02 interfaces in my suites with Production monitors and scopes and more decks than I care to think about. I am sure in the next year we will have these working perfectly in FCPX. As well as others, I am excited about thunderbolt. I have already gone through 3 generations of video cards, the first one was $30,000.00 (M100 in the mid 90's), I replaced that after about 4 years and then again in another 5 or so, so if I have to update the cards/external boxes one more time it is not a big deal, and we are now talking about around a thousand instead of multiple thousands.

My cameras are now all solid state, a couple EXcams and the AF100. I love this work flow, and it saves tons of money not maintaining tape drives. Even though I still deliver a lot on tape, this is decreasing monthly.

So I think Apple is on the right track here. Like I said I am actually really contemplating using FCP as my main solution for the first time.

To me editing is really just telling a story and 99% of what you do is straight cuts with possible a few dissolves and FCPX does this very well and fast with a lot of new efficient ways of organizing clips. Yes it does take some getting used to, but I think basically it is very efficient. To me simple is better.

I also like the new CC, yes it is very different from Color, but I can do about everything I did in Color in FCPX. And the audio filters are easy to use and pretty good from what I have seen so far, M100 always had FCP beat here.

The titles work very well and though they are not real time like in M100 with the new BG rendering on a fast machine with fast drives they are very workable for me at least.

Yes it is different, and there is a learning curve but there is a lot there when you get used to it.

So I may actually start using FCPX instead of M100 in the near future. The only parts I really want is the hardware for external monitoring working and XML in/out. Possible EDL support as well.

Lets not be afraid of change. Embrace it and move on. Remember Betacam and Umatic, I am glad to be using the modern cameras. And I like advances in editing interfaces as well. The $300.00 price tag is so revolutionary that I could not wait to see how FCPX works, and I am impressed.

My latest 2 cents.

[dtzfilms]

Hi Olof,
Off topic question. I have a hybrid project - feature length web series to be shot on an AF100 to some external recorder. I'm trying to budget for an editor. How much do you think I should budget for it. My entire budget is $60K

[olof]

Hi Olof,
Off topic question. I have a hybrid project - feature length web series to be shot on an AF100 to some external recorder. I'm trying to budget for an editor. How much do you think I should budget for it. My entire budget is $60K

Do you mean an editor person or an NLE solution? I am assuming the hardware/software, not the wetware is what we are talking about.

With more info, like what platform etc. I might be able to help. But this is to vague.

A turnkey suite with everything I want RAIDS pro monitor scopes is still $30,000.00 or so.

But you may not need all that. you may be able to get away with a MBP or similar, and software and a bunch of drives, $3,000.00-$7,000.00.

I know it is a big range but w/o more info I cant help any more. Contact me if you like. I will be happy to discuss your needs.

[dtzfilms]

No a person.

[dtzfilms]

The project I wrote originally as a short grew into a feature when I found great actors and just developed their one-liners into fully blown characters. So now instead of a calling card short to help draw financing to my original Sci-Fi feature - I now have a feature length web series to shoot and I don't resent the project but I don't want to edit it, I'm not good enough and not quick enough and frankly hate editing. So I'm looking for someone good. How much do I get someone good for? To edit and color correct and sound edit? In other words, what's the going rate for a post house and a non-post house editor who's just as good?

[Searcher]

I have tried and used FCP since v1, but I never adapted it. I bought every update and I have used it every once in a while. But never as my main editor. To me it is to slow and clumsy and tries to do to much. All that slow rendering.

I currently have 3 seats of M100 with the Adobe CS 5 prod suite and FCP Studio3 on each machine. M100 is what I prefer to use, but I also use AE and Color as well as Logic Pro. I use FCP7 these days mostly because it will let me edit XDcam codecs from EXcams and NanoFlash w/o transcoding. M100 will not do this yet.
So I do my rough edits in FCP and then Export all the clips as ProRes422 and then finish the project in M100. Mostly because M100 is super fast and never needs to render it just plays and the interface is much simpler and cleaner than FCP7.

Well like I said every new release of FCP is interesting to me, I would love to be able to use just FCP. So like always I bought FCPX (really cheap) to try out and I got Larry Jordan's training :
http://www.larryjordan.biz/app_bin/S...roducts_id=226
a good investment.

My take so far is very positive with a few hopes for updates that will make FCPX a great solution for me.

FCPX is the fastest and easiest to use version so far. I like the DB approach to media, it does take getting used to, but it has great potential. The sound and CC is the best I have seen in a single program so far.

I have both AJA Kona and Matrox MX02 interfaces in my suites with Production monitors and scopes and more decks than I care to think about. I am sure in the next year we will have these working perfectly in FCPX. As well as others, I am excited about thunderbolt. I have already gone through 3 generations of video cards, the first one was $30,000.00 (M100 in the mid 90's), I replaced that after about 4 years and then again in another 5 or so, so if I have to update the cards/external boxes one more time it is not a big deal, and we are now talking about around a thousand instead of multiple thousands.

My cameras are now all solid state, a couple EXcams and the AF100. I love this work flow, and it saves tons of money not maintaining tape drives. Even though I still deliver a lot on tape, this is decreasing monthly.

So I think Apple is on the right track here. Like I said I am actually really contemplating using FCP as my main solution for the first time.

To me editing is really just telling a story and 99% of what you do is straight cuts with possible a few dissolves and FCPX does this very well and fast with a lot of new efficient ways of organizing clips. Yes it does take some getting used to, but I think basically it is very efficient. To me simple is better.

I also like the new CC, yes it is very different from Color, but I can do about everything I did in Color in FCPX. And the audio filters are easy to use and pretty good from what I have seen so far, M100 always had FCP beat here.

The titles work very well and though they are not real time like in M100 with the new BG rendering on a fast machine with fast drives they are very workable for me at least.

Yes it is different, and there is a learning curve but there is a lot there when you get used to it.

So I may actually start using FCPX instead of M100 in the near future. The only parts I really want is the hardware for external monitoring working and XML in/out. Possible EDL support as well.

Lets not be afraid of change. Embrace it and move on. Remember Betacam and Umatic, I am glad to be using the modern cameras. And I like advances in editing interfaces as well. The $300.00 price tag is so revolutionary that I could not wait to see how FCPX works, and I am impressed.

My latest 2 cents.

Great post.

I understand why some people are hating on FCPX. I'm not a professional editor so I cannot talk from that perspective. But so much of the hate for FCPX seems a little over the top. The question "has Apple screwed professionals over by discontinuing FCP?" should be separated from the question "is FCPX good?".

[EditingFX]

The question "has Apple screwed professionals over by discontinuing FCP?" should be separated from the question "is FCPX good?".

You said it yourself. You're not a pro editor. And I mean no disrespect by that - I mean that you don't understand all the ramifications of what Apple has done. For an education, read the many hundreds/thousands of posts in the FCPX forum over on creativecow.net. Forgive me for not trying to wrap it up in a small bite sized quote, because there are many aspects to this issue.

But if you had invested the past 10 years basing your professional workflow, whether it's a one man shop, or Turner Networks, the BBC, Nat Geo Television, on FCP.... to have Apple suddenly discontinue your primary editing application (you cannot buy it anymore if you want to add edit seats), give you zero indication of product life, and replace it with something that FAILS on so many counts for professional work, any discussion MUST take into account the impact on pro editors, people who earn their living with this software.

The vitriol is well justified.

Perhaps Apple will fix what they just broke. But they better announce they're going to fix it. They better announce it soon. And give a fair roadmap of the what/when. I really hope all those things happen. I do NOT want to switch from FCP. But I also cannot wait very long guessing if Apple has decided to forgo the Pro market to reap the benefits from catering to the masses.

[joot]

All the people embracing Final Cut Pro X seems to be the beginner, novice, etc. Seasoned pros don't like it because it looks too much like the consumer version of iMovie...very lacking in lots of features....

[echo9]

All the people embracing Final Cut Pro X seems to be the beginner, novice, etc. Seasoned pros don't like it because it looks too much like the consumer version of iMovie...very lacking in lots of features....

Did you even read the original post?

[Searcher]

You said it yourself. You're not a pro editor. And I mean no disrespect by that - I mean that you don't understand all the ramifications of what Apple has done. For an education, read the many hundreds/thousands of posts in the FCPX forum over on creativecow.net. Forgive me for not trying to wrap it up in a small bite sized quote, because there are many aspects to this issue.

But if you had invested the past 10 years basing your professional workflow, whether it's a one man shop, or Turner Networks, the BBC, Nat Geo Television, on FCP.... to have Apple suddenly discontinue your primary editing application (you cannot buy it anymore if you want to add edit seats), give you zero indication of product life, and replace it with something that FAILS on so many counts for professional work, any discussion MUST take into account the impact on pro editors, people who earn their living with this software.

The vitriol is well justified.

Perhaps Apple will fix what they just broke. But they better announce they're going to fix it. They better announce it soon. And give a fair roadmap of the what/when. I really hope all those things happen. I do NOT want to switch from FCP. But I also cannot wait very long guessing if Apple has decided to forgo the Pro market to reap the benefits from catering to the masses.

All that you say makes sense. I feel for the pros.

One person was saying that the demise of FCP might be a blessing in disguise because they have tried using Premiere and prefer it to FCP7. Would it be much of a hassle to switch to Premiere? Does it need different software/workflows to FCP that would mean many hidden extra costs in switching? Or is most of the hardware compatible between programs and the main cost is in buying new software and retraining (which from what I can tell shouldn't be too big a leap)?