Should I learn FCP7 or FCPX?

U

Unicorn Power

Member
Hey Guys,

So I decided to invest in an editing course. I want to learn the most useful and practical, as well as industry recognized editing software program. I think that I've decided on FCP, but I don't know if I should learn 7 or X...

Basically, my goal is to be able to edit my own stuff and do on set editing when needed. I'm interested in becoming a DIT eventually, so I know editing is a useful if not necessary skill, along with color grading and camera tech.

So my question is whether I should get FCP7 or FCPX?

I hear great things about FCP7, but horrible things about FCPX. I don't want to learn FCP7 because I know that eventually it will be obsolete and I can't even buy it anywhere anyway. I mean, people can't continue to use it indefinitely, right?

However, from what I've read, Apple claims that FCPX will restore all the missing features from FCP7 within a couple months...Do you think Apple will come through on this one?

What are your opinions on FCPX in general? Will it eventually replace FCP7? Or will the industry move to another platform?

Or should I jump ship to Avid or Premier?
 
Between those 2, you should learn X. Its a completely different approach than 7. FCP 7 is a dead editor, and will disappear in a couple of years in the editing world. However, would seriously consider other options like Avid MC 6 and Adobe Premiere CS 5.5

Ultimately, if you want industry standard right now, you should go MC6. If you're working with Red, however, go Premiere.
 
What he said.

FCPX is the way forward. People that have actually got to grips with the new workflows prefer it to FCP7, it makes more sense but it does require you to forget about old FCP workflows (which can be difficult for some).

Yes, it is missing some features that make it lacking in certain scenarios at this moment; that is true. If you plan to work in a broadcast environment where you need to roundtrip to certain other programs or print to an obsolete tape in the very short future, then you might have a problem. If you are woking with DVDs, BluRay, or any kind of digital delivery including the web then it is one of the best options out there. That said there are people using FCPX in broadcast scenarios (there was a large thread on these forums concerning a cycling doc that had been done in FCPX for broadcast).

I would recommend you get the free trial, and then purchase the Apple Pro Video Series from Ripple Training - this course will get you up to speed with the workflows using easy to follow videos - when followed step by step you will have all the fundamentals in place in a day or two.

Apple is bringing back features slowly and surely, and they finally released the information required by 3rd party developers that will allow integration with I/O hardware, plug ins etc.
 
Better go for FCP X, it is very good application for file based media format. buy larry Jordan complete training on FCP X
 
I would say X as well, BUT put some effort into Premiere CS5 as well cause it supports tape formats. the next couple of years will be interesting in the editing landscape. I was always able to bounce between Premiere and FC7 without issues, but if/when FCX feature set gets up to par it may be a viable editor again. (IMO) but any feature that FCX doesn't have CS5 Likely does. and ya can't beat After Effects integration.
I work in Closed Captioning, so we still use FC7 for Prints. FCX has no CC options.
 
DIT? For what formats? FCP 7 is End of Life...no point in learning that (well, except a few post places that have it already will continue to use it for a couple more years)...FCX doesn't do RED. FCX won't be used in most broadcast TV work...that just isn't the arena it was designed for.

It all depends on what area of post/production you will be getting into. Corporate/wedding/event/internet video...FCX might be the way to go. But Premiere Pro is good there too. Broadcast TV? Avid Media Composer is the main NLE there. And if Adobe gets CS6 right...Premiere Pro might make some inroads. Currently FCP 7 and Avid MC are the main broadcast TV NLEs. But with FCP 7 DOA...many are switching back to Avid.

OH, and Avid does Red natively...so PPro isn't the only game in town for that format.
 
Forget FP, I went to GrassValley Edius 6, and the new 3D software. Everything is realtime with native codecs, as I just mentioned in another thread. For news broadcasts, ABC has a couple of hundred boxes of Edius, because it works flawlessly with their P2 cameras, and is very fast. I can edit right off the cards from my HPX500 via USB on my laptop. Edit the VNR (Video News Release) and upload to the FTP news streamer. I've been editing for 25 years, and used every NLE, but nothing is as fast as Edius.
 
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