To FCP or not to FCP?

Aneurysm

Aneurysm

Active member
That is the question I have facing me, as I'm trying to decide which NLE package to go for. The plan thus far has been to get Premiere 2.0 (as the controls and feel of the program are very much like FCP) and upgrade my PC so I can run it.

However, the Apple hordes seem to be out in force today trying to get me to go over to the MAC side of the force. I'm told that in general MACs these days are much more stable than their counterparts from yesteryear (esp. in the case of a G5 running OSX, or so I'm told), and that FCP is pretty much the industry standard for editing. Although, aside from some schnazzy added effects tools, I'm not seeing a whole lot of difference between FCP and Premiere, and I don't see how a properly equipped PC would be any less reliable than a G5.

In addition, if I did decide to go for FCP, I would have to invest at least $2,000 in a G5, whereas with my current PC, all I would need are some specific upgrades (ie. I'm updating all the innards but my drives and monitor are staying) which would run me about $720.

So my questions to all you FCP users out there are: How does FCP compare to Premiere? And is it really worth sinking $2K into a MAC just for the sake of being able to run FCP?

--Aneurysm
(lifelong PC user, and MACphobic :eek:)
 
Have you tried the Premiere Pro demo?

http://www.adobe.com/products/tryadobe/main.jsp

If you like the "feel" of it, then go for it. I think Vegas is very good and FCP is very good. I didn't think Premiere was that great when I used it. It was "ok". I haven't tried the latest version, though.

It also depends if you're talking about getting editing jobs in the industry. Then it's Avid and FCP you want. Is it worth going Mac for FCP? I don't know. I went Mac because of Shake, and holy crap is it worth it.
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http://www.apple.com/shake/
 
I don't think you are asking the correct question. I think the question is: Do I get a Mac to get FCP, or do I upgrade my PC and get Vegas?
Premiere shouldn't be part of the equation.

Also, as PJC stated - it's between Avid and FCP if you are looking for industry jobs.

Good luck.
 
I have heard some good things about Vegas (although for some reason the demo won't install on my comp), but after doing a little reading on the board here I discovered that it can't output footage as a TIFF sequence, which is a feature I'm going to need if I'm going uprez my footage. So Vegas is out.

I have tried the Premiere demo and for the most part I liked it (mainly because it seemed so much like FCP).

I want to use my NLE not only for my own video projects, but also for landing local gigs (Seattle has a blossoming film scene). However, almost every ad I see wants an FCP editor...hmm, guess I answered my own question there.

Another one does spring to mind though: how does Shake compare to After Effects?
 
Well, you don't want to use Shake for motion graphics and titling. You would leave that to AE or Motion. It also depends if you like working with layers or 'nodes'.

For me, Shake feels like "Photoshop in motion", and AE never did.

Here's an old article that compares the two. You have to register, though.

I actually find it much easier to "think" in Shake than any other application I've used at this point. You have the power to do just about anything and it has an odd simplicity that actually makes it easier to think through once you get used to it.


That said, Shake can be challenging to jump into: Some settings are done with little text files hidden in the application bundle, the interface is unlike what most of us have ever seen before, and you have to think a little harder at first because it doesn't think for you the way other applications do.


But, based on my experience, the water isn't as deep as it first looks. Once you get the hang of Shake, it's really quite fun.
Click to expand...

http://www.dv.com/reviews/reviews_i...Id=47102026&_requestid=1465&_requestid=423691

http://www.theembassyvfx.com/citroen.html
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The only thing I got out of Avid is a headache. Integration with video editing programs is incredible with FCP. Also FCP stays on top of integration with Apples fastest machines with litterally an update every week.
 
If you're hell bent on going Apple, then indeed go FCP.

If you're sticking with the PC, there are many great options. I personally DON'T like Avid or Premiere-- Premiere has been too buggy in the past for me to touch it & Avid is clunky as hell, even when you have the right hardware. One of our producers swears by Liquid Edition, which is now owned by Avid.

At work I'm on Macs & use FCP. At home I'm on a PC and use Vegas. I think both have their strengths (FCP is more inuitive; Vegas has far better audio functionality out of the box), but in the end, neither will make you a better editor.

David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
 
Aneurysm said:
(lifelong PC user, and MACphobic :eek:)
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No need to be MACphobic. It's just a computer. It's probably a little bit accessible than a PC but I guess it all comes down to how you want to use it. I've used Macs for years and love them. I have also used PCs (at work) and they have things going for them, too. For me, it would all come down to software. What do I need and is it available for my platform. As of now, I have been able to do everything I need to on my Mac.

FCP is a tool, albeit a good one. But there are many find NLE for PCs. Don't get caught up in a Mac v PC battle. Look at what you want to do with it and see what best meets your needs.
 
I was diehard PC all the way. Vegas is the best for PC but I am going Mac and FCP so I can integrate my HVX into a known workflow.
 
I for one really can't stand avid.. but that of course is imho. I use FCP with great results on many national broadcast projects, and it holds up. Our company has 35 avids, smoke, and 5 FCP suites.. the FCP suites do the highest end work surprisingly. If you know and love the mac workflow and interface (or even if you're intrigued by it), fcp will be a nice fit for you. DV to HD right out of the box.
 
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