Using both FCP and Vegas

J

Jimw

New member
I recently switched to an Intel Mac and run Parallels so that I have both XP and OSX and run both Vegas and FCP Studio in this environment. Though Parallels currently lacks fire-wire support, I can share directories between the 2 within Parallels. I just can't capture directly from Vegas yet in this setup. I still have my XP computer networkable to my Mac though.

I like a lot of the features of Soundtrack, but find it's integration with FCP stifling, compared to Vegas. Without going to much into the which is better discussions (Vegas), I am trying to work out what I would use each for, (eg. FCP for capture and logging) and how I should move/export between the 2 platforms/applications.

I have yet to pick a dedicated audio editor for either platform and am trying find the best work-flow that uses the best of both worlds, with an eye for remaining connected to existing outside work-flows. I understand FCP is a dominating force and thats why I have included it in my tool kit, my question is, how would I best use both platforms for the creation of videos (not necessarily intended for broadcast or HD).

I'm thinking of after effects for stabilization, flv export, and likely future flv enhancements that will come. Just not sure which platform it should go on though, which formats work better for going back and forth (avi/mov), and whatever other issues.

Any work-flow suggestions?
Thanks
Jim
 
Well, if you capture with FCP, your files will be Quicktime, and you don't want that if you're working in Vegas.

As for audio editors, Vegas is an audio editor all by itself.

Overall, though, what are you trying to accomplish? I don't think I get what your goal here is.
 
I've basically got both now and have invested a great deal of time learning FCP and have used and enjoyed Vegas for many years now. I'm just wondering if any work-flows exist between the two platforms/applications. This can help me focus on particular apps on particular platforms and on whatever format issues I need to (AAF,OMF, mov, avi, etc).

OK, so you are saying don't import mov into Vegas because it will not work. Why?
I'm just looking for an understanding of the issues, via any work-flows that people have that do work.

My biggest gripe with FCP-Soundtrack is that once i export my project's audio in FCP to Soundtrack, the clips in FCP cannot change, without scrapping the entire project that was exported to Soundtrack. There is no real integration between FCP and Soundtrack.
Soundtrack does have some nice features by itself though, beyond Vegas (zero crossing adjustments, etc).
 
I'm not saying Quicktimes won't work in Vegas -- they do -- but AVI is just a nimbler format.

I guess my "objections," if you can call them that, are two:

1) You don't need two NLEs. I can think of few, if any at all, situations where it makes any sense to switch between the two in the middle of a project. I suppose if you wanted to cut in FCP and then do 5.1 surround in Vegas, you could do that, but anything FCP can do on the video side, Vegas can do, so why bother with the switch?

2) I've seen little in your posts but griping about FCP, and you say you've enjoyed Vegas. Isn't Soundtrack also stand-alone? If you wanted to use it, do you even need to bother with FCP?

So, in general, I don't think any real workflows have been devised, because there isn't really a need for them. Pick an NLE and stay in it.

People DO work in Vegas and then export to Motion, for example, but that's not the same as switching between NLEs.
 
I never really realized that I was "griping" and I never once spoke of swiching NLEs. I've got both. If people export/import between Motion (which is part of FCP Studio) and Vegas, all I am asking is how and when might that be done.

I chose to post in these forums because I thought it was interesting that the FCP/Vegas users seem pretty equally split here. I'm just looking for any work-flows between the 2 systems. I'm not looking for the typical which is better discussions that everyone likes to see things as. I thought I made that clear. Typically, I find if someone asks a question that can't or isn't ever done (which isn't yet understood by the person asking the question), it can quickly gets defensive and change the tone of a thread, especially with words like "gripe".

I'm just looking for solutions from people that have done it and want to share. If I get no answers, then that is my answer. I assumed projects have flowed across the great divide and imagine that some could even flow my way. I would just like to be prepared.

Jim
 
Jim, I'm not attacking you at all, and I could well be having a clumsy word day and things aren't coming out quite the way I intended, but you did say:

Jimw said:
My biggest gripe with FCP-Soundtrack is that once i export my project's audio in FCP to Soundtrack, the clips in FCP cannot change, without scrapping the entire project that was exported to Soundtrack. There is no real integration between FCP and Soundtrack.
Click to expand...
What I'm saying is that you seem to be asking for a workflow for switching NLEs mid-project between Vegas and FCP or vice-versa? As in, doing some work in one and then transferring to the other for different functions? Did I misunderstand that?

If that's the case, I'm saying that no one does it because there's no reason to do it. When you get down to it, they all have the same tools.

If you want to use Soundtrack, you can use it as a stand-alone app, right?

Now, if you're looking to export to, say, Motion, you'd be best exporting a high-quality file like an uncompressed AVI or Quicktime and import it into Motion, though DV would work, too. You say you can share directories between OSes, so it should work as long as both OSes can recognize the file types -- and can work with the file sizes.
 
You're right the "gripe" I used myself. So I guess I was griping. Sounded different when I read it from you though, "I've seen little in your posts but griping". Sounded like my mom. Sorry. Blame it one the medium.

To understand where I'm coming from and why I want this:

I'm a web/software/documentary developer interested in making and evolving online documentaries and so, am interested in video over the internet, but mainly in its collaborative uses. The types of collaborative applications that I imagine and have seen starting to arise outside of the expensive production suites, will be hooking into existing work-flows and technologies and may hopefully be cross platform. This is a good: http://www.syncvue.com/

I'm just trying to understand the interchange formats and work-flows and under what conditions they are being used and what technicalities are getting in the way. I also just like to use the right tool for the right job.

I suppose I should do some more research on OMF and AAF and some more acronyms.

You're answer is a practical one and I should have been more clear and direct in my question. Hopefully its better now.

Thanks for taking time to answer.
Jim
 
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