FCP vs Avid

T

tshark

Active member
I dont hear much about people using Avid editing workstations on this board. I know in the business FCP and Avid are at a stand still now, even though more people are starting to use FCP more than Avid for editing. Just wondering what other people's opinions are on this matter. Thanks!
 
Mind as well ask which is better, PC or Mac. Most people are so entrenched into believing the one they are using is the best choice they have to demonize the other one. They both have the advantages and disadvantages. I would suggest trying both out and seeing which one is more comfortable for you to use.

(FYI: we use Avid here and FCP sucks :) ).

Cheers
 
As I post this I'm sitting here at mhptv.com digitizing HDV footage to SD for the editors on a Avid Xpress Pro system. I think they have some FCP systems here for people who log the footage. FCP is a user friendly system you could teach your mom how to use. But do you want to run a system your monther could use? Avid is less user friendly (such as directory structure requirements), but it can do more things, and once you learn one system you can always move up the avid family chain. But the larger question is, who your clients are and what do they use. I'd say it's good to know both. Small boutiques use FCP. Large companies use Avid.
 
Well I personally have a g5 2.3ghz using FCP 5.1 and love it. At my school, they have huge rooms filled with Avid workstations, but I havnt gotten around to checking it all out yet. Im planning on taking an intro course into Avid when school starts just to get a basic idea of the setup.
 
I was an Avid editor that loved working with it. Working for a different company now, and they wanted to stay in the MAC/FCP workflow. LOVE this set up as well. It really depends on your workflow....they will do the same things, but in a different way. Some take longer to do than others, and visa versa. Right now I am liking MAC's drive and desire to be the best and only NLE to edit HD with, and will through in a bunch of goodies that the more expensive systems use to have. But they still have a ways to go, but I am on board. Being a RED #108 ticket holder, and hearing that MAC is working with close with them, puts me at ease knowing I am in a right place.
 
i prefer Avid, but can ultimately cut and deliver the same content on either platform. might take me a little longer on FCP, but not much.
 
It's all about the Avid for me too. 9 years in and going strong.

Macs are for special kids that can't cope with two mouse buttons and instead just mash the mouse with their palms to hit that one button.:nads:

Although to be fair it seems that the simple things are more simple in FCP. But who wants to do simple things?

Ben
 
Um, actually you can get a mouse for Mac that has two buttons and even a scroll wheel, just like the big kids use on a PC.

From my standpoint, and granted this is with not a huge amount of experience with Avid, one of the huge differences is that FCP is specifically made to work on a Mac, so there aren't the considerable conflicts that I've witnessed Avid having with various PCs.

In terms of just being able to sit down and get to work, I've personally had a much better experience with FCP.
 
Avid? FCP? You missed something here...

Avid? FCP? You missed something here...

I have been editing video for over 14 years. From Deck to Deck, Avid, Media 100, Vegas 6.0.

For the price, stability and versatility, Vegas 6.0 is the only way to go for me!
I custom built my computer with all the big guns, and installed Vegas 6.0 along with may other programs needed for production.
I have cut four 3 hour shows, 4 minute graphics heavy shorts, had over 14 layers with Alpha, Chroma Key, Shadows, Video, and 4 layers of Audio all with no problem...EVER! It renders fast as heck and is clean and crisp.
Sure you could have purchased 10 of my systems for the price of one avid, but why? Oh ya. Money...and...overhead....and...Bottom dollar. Yep, my clients are happy and love my work. If I land a BIG, picky client who wants the BIG STUFF, I rent the gear and sub out..KACHING! $$$ Producers FEE! $$$

So, in the end I make out pretty darn good, and as for Avid, and FCP? Why spend all that money when you can do the same thing with a $2,000 Dollar NLE system?

I guess it's like saying you DRIVE A BMW. Sure the name sounds impressive to some, and all though the locks don't work, the gauges flicker out, the windows don't work on that BMW, you can still say, I DRIVE A BMW.

I guess if you are some one who likes to spend money for the sake of "Image" go ahead.

But I will be eating your Clients up like french fries and sunning it in Hawaii! :nads:

Enjoy your AVID! And I will enjoy the smell of fresh, crisp dollar bills! :thumbsup:
 
I love FCP as I was originally a Media 100 editor and they are similar, but once I made the move to AVID (which was a hard learning curve) I don't think I can go back...as many of the people at Avid say, Editing LIKE IT SHOULD BE.
 
Bus No. 8 said:
Um, actually you can get a mouse for Mac that has two buttons and even a scroll wheel, just like the big kids use on a PC.
Click to expand...

Sorry, it's my standard anti-mac joke. Worked a lot better before USB mice meant you could plug any old thing in there! The last place I worked ran FCP HD but I managed to get an Avid Xpress Pro HD system together so I didn't have to waste time learning a new system.

For the most part, a Mac is a Mac - like an Xbox is an Xbox - so compatibility problems are very rare. If you bought a 'qualified' Avid system you should have no problems along those lines. That said, I built my 'frankenstein' PC myself from what I could afford, about a third of the price of the qualified systems, and it's been perfect from day one.

A lot of the post houses I've spoken to recently say more and more clients are offlining in Avid and finishing in Final Cut, which is a new one to me.

FCP seems like a great tool but I've never really seen people do really complex sequences with it like I've seen done (or done myself) with Avid, although that may well just be because the only people I've seen use it are less experienced editors, regardless of their platform of choice .

Ben

Ben
 
Don't know nuffink about Vegas. I've never even seen it running. Glad it's working out for you.

9 years in though and I think I'm Avid through and through and way too lazy to learn another system.
 
Been editing on Avid since 1991.

I have a Media Composer/Mojo as well as 2 FCPro systems.

I prefer Avid's interface and media management, mainly because I've been using it so long.

FCPro is my main tool for vutting HVX HD material, and its blending modes right on the timeline is fantastic.

If Apple ever gets the "media mangler" fixed it will get REAL interesting!
 
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