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Should I convert from FCP????
I am an Apple FCP user but I need to upgrade my home system. I am looking at spending $3000-$3500 for an iMac 2.8 GHZ Core 2 Intel machine with FCP Studio 2.
My question is can I get an Avid system with similar power for less? If I could get my budget under $2500 I would get an Avid. I have experience using Avid and liked my time with it. Or should I go with Adobe Premier? Help me PC users I have never bought a PC.
Thanks,
cja
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10 Replies
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If you can, you should spend some time on a PC Avid and a Premiere system before making a decision. I would personally steer you away from Premiere Pro because of horrid personal experiences cutting long-form projects. I understand others may have had better luck, so I’m not trying to start a flame war here.
$2500 will only buy the Avid Media Composer software. You will still need an approved computer to run it on. One thing you should focus on is what resolutions you need to support. Will you cut DV only? Or are you thinking about SD, HDV, or HD resolutions. FCP and Premiere have a more open hardware architecture for moving SD/HD video in and out of the system. If you want to post anything besides DV in the Avid, you’ll need Avid hardware to enable/accelerate realtime effects, and to output to any monitor other than your computer’s LCD panel. Also consider whether you’ll need to crossgrade any existing creative software from Apple to Windows.
Finally, you say you’ve cut with and enjoy Avid. But you also seem to be heavily swayed by price. I don’t foresee any more major Avid price swings (although I’ve no inside knowledge one way or the other). But be aware this seems to be a “fluid” time for Avid as far as pricing gos. I wouldn’t necessarily commit to any purchase before NAB is over.
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scratchin’ my head, I can’t think of a reason to move from fcp at that price point. It simply offers the most bang for the buck at that level.
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For a single or independent editor, even Avid officials admit (though reluctantly) that Avid MC is not the best solution as it is targeted to the expert editor working in a medium to large studio.
Avid offers Liquid for editors working by themselves at home. I would go with FCP if I were you. It can do anything you want it to do and has room to grow as it is making inroads in the pro community.
You could also buy an AJA board later on if you can afford it to get more juice out of your Mac. Avid will have such a board available at June but the pricing is not clear at this time. -
The iMac’s these days are really amazing…
BUT
You will be seriously limiting yourself by getting one instead of a Mac Pro. I know Mac Pro’s cost A LOT more, however you can put Kona cards in them, more hard drives, easily put more ram, fibre cars… anything. If you get the iMac and later decide to expand, you have to get a whole new system.
However, if you are just going with a basic setup, sticking to firewire and firewire outputs, then the iMac has it’s definite benefits. And as already said FCP is a lot more viable within your price range. I personally find Avid MC to be a more solid system, but you have to put a lot more money in to get that kind of setup.
RB
Rory Brennan
Editor
New York City“Have a nice day!”
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And incidentally, that glowing (and accurate) review was written before Avid slashed its price in half (to $2500), and the upgrade from Xpress Pro to $500 from $3000. They’re amazing deals.
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I guess all these responses we gave are good and well except none are really based on your budget requirements.
In my opinion, with that money, you can get a great iMac, and Final Cut Pro studio, which will not only give you a good edit program, but a full suite of usable software. It is quite viable to earn income using a setup such as this.Best of Luck!
RBRory Brennan
Editor
New York City“Have a nice day!”
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does that come with the extended warranty, Mr salesman?
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Hey, I’m an Avid man, but Chris doesn’t have the budget for it.
But if you call in the next 15 mins I can set you up with a great system and 15 free kitchen knives.
Rory Brennan
Editor
New York City“Have a nice day!”
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and if you order now, we’ll throw in this tennisball, this shoe and a Joe Fogerty greatest hits LP!
rofl
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