FCP X and hoping for Motion 5

N

Nicholas Natteau

Veteran
Praying that FCP X still features the dual viewer / canvas screens. After watching the FCP X preview event online, I decided to try iMovie but I can never get used to those tiny film strips, which is why desperately hope there's an option in FCP X to keep the traditional viewer/canvas window setup. Has anyone heard anything about this? I don't think I can ever get used to that iMovie film strip thing. That's just me.

Regarding Motion, I desperately hope Apple doesn't do away with this program. I've been using it to make animated maps and I love the ease with which I can make animated arrows by just turning on "bevel" or "arrow head" in the Shape tab.

But Motion 4 often crashes which is why I'm praying that Apple will give us a Motion 5 that uses all the computer's processing power and RAM like FCP X.

June can't come fast enough.
 
I'm pretty sure viewer/canvas workflow is dead in FCP X, it would seem that they've opted to use a single window workflow. That being said, I think there will still have to be some modular windows for dual screen users, such as being able to mirror the canvas on another screen for full res view, and the usual scopes, frame viewer etc. I would be disappointed if they remove this ability as it definitely helps me to work more efficiently.

I too like Motion and I do like the workflow it enables in FCP, I hope they don't do away with it. I think it would be rather silly for them to try and roll a complete graphics package like Motion into FCP. I can understand FCP absorbing a few of Motion's more frequently used utilities such as stabilising footage and retiming, but I would rather not see "bloat" in the form of more graphics options directly inside FCP.

It is my opinion that FCP will be absorbing a lot of the existing suites more commonly used functions, meaning that the other applications will become even more specialised. I also believe that because of this the user will be able to buy the component parts separately, via the app store, and also in the current disc form for the entire suite, including content. I also believe that Compressor will be going away, the current "export to..." functions will be improved, and in time compressor will be reintroduced in a 'FCP X Server' product, however it will probably be used more to interface distributed processing and batch jobs. My own personal experience with Compressor has been fraught with headaches and heartache, and I'd be glad to be rid of it!
 
Judging by the fact that they said they were "doing away" all the different versions, including specifically mentioning "final cut studio" I would assume that they aren't updating motion. However you'll probably be able to pull off lots of this stuff directly inside FCP.
 
What I've heard speculated over and over again is a combo of Shake and Motion. Maybe all the power of Shake in a Motion GUI. That would be nice. I don't think they'll get rid of Motion. My guess is that the'll package the new Motion X the same way they're doing FCX, as a separate application you can download from the App Store.

My big worry is that they're dropping support for DVD Studio Pro and Compressor. We use DVDSP a lot in our office and we think it needs an update.
 
Several posts from people that have seen actual demo say viewer / canvas screens are an on/off option. Maybe I have been editing wrong for 11 years but the viewer always got in my way. Everything about the new FCP is how I have tried to use it for years but the interface that was designed in the last century always gets in my way. I have had other editors look at my timelines and shake their heads. When I start a new project I add 2 or 3 new video tracks just because I know I'm gonna need that space to move and shake. Please, Please, Please people don't ruin this awesome new development by complaining to Apple that it is not like Premiere from 1997 or Final Cut from last 12 years.

...and Motion is awesome I will join the chorus if they make the awful decision to eliminate the full suite. Make it one App or make it twenty but do not take it away.

Personal plea to Apple: Please help keep me from using Adobe for my video work. I pay for Apple and prefer Apple. Yeah Apple!
 
Canvas/Viewer is still there according to a few reports from Beta testers.

Apple stated that the preview was just FCP X and there was "more to come." They made no indication of cutting other studio apps.

Logical speculation would say that Color & Soundtrack Pro have been fully rolled into FCP X, though it's possible they may still have a dedicated app for color or sound specialists. It is also a logical assumption that DVD Studio Pro is dead in the water and there will be no update with Blu Ray support. I highly doubt they will get rid of Compressor. Perhaps it will be included in FCP X as a sort of module that can be launched separate, sort of like media encoder in Premiere CS5.

As for Motion, rumors have said Apple was still working on Shake, codenamed Phenomenon. My guess is that either they have given up in the face of After Effects or will be announcing a knock-out release of "Motion meets Shake." We'll see.

Very old rumor on Phenom:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/06/06/22/apples_phenomenon_due_out_in_2008.html

But there are also rumors this old of a new rewrite of FCP on a new codebase, so perhaps the timing is now. It seems clear that FCP 7/FCS 3 was an interim release while the core team was working on the new FCP X and hopefully new Motion/Shake.
 
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kgimedia said:
Maybe I have been editing wrong for 11 years but the viewer always got in my way...
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There's no wrong way to edit. There are more or less common ways however. I personally don't see how any large projects can be accomplished without relying heavily on the viewer.


kgimedia said:
...Please, Please, Please people don't ruin this awesome new development by complaining to Apple that it is not like Premiere from 1997 or Final Cut from last 12 years.
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I don't think anyone is asking for that. People do like what they are accustomed to and what allows them to get from point A to point B the most efficient way possible. For many, that is using the "typical" NLE interface that we've known for years. Obviously it's not your thing, but that doesn't mean those who like the current workflow are somehow hindering advancement. People don't want to have that option completely ripped away from them. I say bring on any new way of getting that work done, but not at the expense of the methods we rely on today. Fortunately it does look like we will have that option.
 
As a former 100% Avid editor, I am liking FCP and I hope they don't take all the features of FCP7 (in FCS3) away, but in fact improve the multicam features because FCP features and keyboard shortcuts were in part my reasons for switching from Avid although I liked Avid's multicam much better. Otherwise, I love how FCP works on my two Mac's :-) Give me better but don't take anything away PLEASE !!!
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but when has any new version of FCP actually taken away functionality? I attended the demo at NAB, and this is only my opinion of course, but I got the impression that we were only seeing the new features and functions. There was no talk of removing the old features and functions. What would they gain from that? Absolutely nothing.

Regarding Soundtrack Pro - while it seems that many things have been rolled into FCPX, I would be surprised if Soundtrack Pro was dead as a separate app, because the ability to record audio and mix in a dedicated UI is very important to anyone who is very serious about the audio on their projects. Same with Color - there is a lot of functionality built in to FCPX, but they can't put EVERYTHING from Color into it, and a lot of people use and love Color. The reality for them is that some post-production professionals will have to purchase Pro Tools and Resolve or the corresponding Adobe products if Color and Soundtrack Pro get cut, and I 100% guarantee you that Apple is only looking at that potential market loss as the driving factor behind keeping or eliminating those applications.

But as far as FCPX not having the previous functionality, no way. In any case, these speculative threads tend to go nowhere, as we have no hard data until June!
 
Will Clegg said:
Correct me if I'm wrong....But as far as FCPX not having the previous functionality, no way. In any case, these speculative threads tend to go nowhere, as we have no hard data until June!
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There is a thing that I've always said with regard to rumors and speculations . . . they are inherently rumorous and speculative in nature and therefore nothing factual. :)
 
To further contributions to this thread, for those of you who wouldn't install Motion, would you mind indicating what the issues are and how it might be improved?
 
^ In the great 1998 film 'Dirty Work', Jack Warden tells a male nurse, "Get out and don't come back until you're a broad."

To Motion, I say, "Come back when you're After Effects". I've invested too much time in AE to bother learning Motion. Motion does a few nifty things, but for the work I do, it's AE all the way, FTW. I can't stand the interface, cuz I just want it to be something it's not.
 
Deepfocus88 said:
^ In the great 1998 film 'Dirty Work', Jack Warden tells a male nurse, "Get out and don't come back until you're a broad."

To Motion, I say, "Come back when you're After Effects". I've invested too much time in AE to bother learning Motion. Motion does a few nifty things, but for the work I do, it's AE all the way, FTW. I can't stand the interface, cuz I just want it to be something it's not.
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I'm with you on the AE stuff. Motion has never given me a reason to stray from AE and I'd certainly welcome a revamped package, especially the likes of the shake/motion "phenomenon" rumors from a while back. However I do know a fair share of those who broke into the business with Final Cut and went with Motion from the start. It certainly suits them well and they haven't had a need to use AE for anything. AE is still the more robust, especially for what I do, but I'm not going to decry its existence because I have another option.

Even though I'm sure your comment was in jest, I don't see the harm in including Motion if you can freely choose to not install or use it. I certainly wouldn't pay extra to exclude it.
 
Motion ain't AE, and doesn't pretend to be IMO.

That doesn't make it useless.

I use it for what it provides, and it's fine. Love to see it updated, etc.
 
I'd like to see Motion updated as well. I don't do enough high end work to warrant learning AE, so Motion works great for my needs.
 
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