Working between FCP 6 and 7

[djkarn105]

I have an editor I work with that's on a PPC editing system with Final Cut Studio 2. Usually, we'll both get a drive with all the raw footage copied from P2 cards and one of us will log it and mail the other the project file. I know you can't revert a project file but I'm wondering if there could be any problems for me trying to log and transfer footage in a FCP 6 project that's been updated to 7.

 

[NoahK]

Well there's really zero interoperability- once a project is opened and saved in FCP 7 it's impossible to open in FCP 6. The only way to access it partially is via EDL or XML, not impossible but far from seamless. If multiple editors are working on the same project, the most efficient workflow is that they all use the same version of FCP.

Noah

 

[Ted Spencer]

A little confusing here - I see your collaborator is not on FCP7, but are you? If all you need to do is open a v6 file in v7, no problem. But if you need to send a file you've worked on to your friend who only has v6, and you've only got v7, he won't be able to open it.

I wish FCP could enable a "down rev'd" save like we can do in DAWs like Pro Tools and Digital Performer. Maybe it's not so simple with video, but it sure would make collaborating a lot friendlier. One step up from FCP6/PPC requires a complete hardware/software replacement...

I've got a G5/FCP6, PBG4/FCP6, an MBP/FCP7 and an MP/FCP7, and even for *my* computer-loaded ass it would be very handy...