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Why all the hate?
I’ve stood back, quietly using this forum and website as a source of great information. The level of knowledge on here astounds me, and I’ve found it to be an infinitely useful resource.
Today, Final Cut Pro X came out. I see this as a revolutionary product, yet there seems to be a lot – A LOT of hate directed at this. I ask why…why? It has made me finally register as a user to say this:
There is a lot of fear running through the pro ranks right now, and I finally see why.
I’m a Public Access cable employee. We teach Final Cut Pro at our facility, and use it frequently, almost exclusively on staff. The changes made to this software are an absolute revelation to someone like me.
This software (FCPx) has a pro-level list of features, but it’s interface is obviously easier to use. Some of you have said it is “dumbed-down” or “iMovie Pro” that’s just silly. If you really feel that way, it seems to me you are really just afraid that the average joe-schmoe is going to be able to create fantastic videos. Is that it? It is, isn’t it?
Sure, I’ll miss multi-cam, but I have a hunch it will reappear. Besides, I’m not erasing FCP from my hard drive. It will still get occasional use. There may, in fact be a few other legit beefs, but the bottom line is this; a pro-level product just became a better overall product for 1/3 the price.
Creativity can’t be taught, it can only be encouraged and allowed to flourish. If those tools to allow this encouragement just became more accessible because of price and ease of use, then why not be happy?
Love Avid. Love Premier. Love Sony Vegas. Love Pinnacle if you want, they are great tools, with different sets of users in mind…but just leave the hatred alone, it isn’t cool, and it makes you look silly.
– Adam
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31 Replies
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Specifically, people hate change and they hate learning. They just found out they have to do both today. Nobody remembers that FCP7 didn’t get AJA drivers for 2 weeks after it launched. Heck, Zaxwerks Invig just last month started working with CS5 – right around the time 5.5 came out! If your whole business is based off FCPX OMF exports on day one, please go buy Automatic Duck. It’s available today.
I have been playing with the new FCPX for 2 hours without a crash or even a restart after install. Whatever that’s worth…
John Davidson | President / Creative Director | Magic Feather Inc.
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This release is creating a lot of uncertainty. Features that many workflows rely on are missing from FCPX, with no release schedule and no workarounds.
FCPX has a great foundation for future development, and if it works well in your specific workflow, then good for you! There’s a lot of power under the hood, and with any luck, it will make your work easier.
However, for those workflows which rely on features like tape, or OMF/EDL/XML interchange with other applications, this current release is simply unworkable. No one is used to software development going backwards, and for many, that’s what this feels like.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
FCP-X is perfect for you!
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“Hate” seems a little strong. Disappointment and frustration? Yes.
The frustration with the release of an app with a “Pro” label that doesn’t meet many basic needs and requests of the “Pro” market. It suggests that Apple doesn’t understand what features are important, and that they don’t care to hear it. It confirms fears and rumors, and seeds doubt about future releases. It brings back echoes of similar past cycles with Avid, Adobe, Media 100, Discreet, etc. If they really have pulled FCS on top of this release, then they are going all in.
No one had to have FCP X today. Apple could have polished it a little further or tested, and I’m guessing they would have if these updates were mere weeks away.
I don’t really care one way or the other. FCS meets 90% of my needs today, and if I have some free time and money, maybe I’ll try FCP X. More likely, I’ll wait for a release that is more polished out of the box.
Apple just burned through some of trust and goodwill it had built over FC 1-7, for no apparent reason.
Chris Walsh
http://www.musicfog.com
Silver Spring, MD
Final Cut & AVID MC5
Former Windows User and edit* lover -
All of that is legit, and based in a factual, well-founded fear…I just don’t understand how some are going from that to disavowing Apple all together. We all need to calm down. I’m sure the later releases will take care of many of the issues, like opening in the timeline…In the end, I think (see also: hope) we will all be better off.
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[Adam McCune] “just leave the hatred alone, it isn’t cool, and it makes you look silly.”
Exactly. And FCP 7 still works, so what’s the big deal?
Jason Jenkins
Flowmotion Media
Video production… with style! -
[Adam McCune] “If you really feel that way, it seems to me you are really just afraid that the average joe-schmoe is going to be able to create fantastic videos. Is that it? It is, isn’t it? “
BS. Average joe-schmoe has been working in FCP without external monitor since version one. FCPX lack of external monitor support doesn’t give him anything he didn’t have before. But it takes a lot from me.
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[Chris Walsh] “It brings back echoes of similar past cycles with Avid, Adobe, Media 100, Discreet, etc… Apple just burned through some of trust and goodwill it had built over FC 1-7, for no apparent reason.”
Very, very well said!
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
[Jason Jenkins] “And FCP 7 still works, so what’s the big deal?”
Running a business based on discontinued software puts the owner in a bit of a tenuous position.
Other applications will require OS or hardware updates. Sooner or later, one of these updates will break compatibility with FCP7.
Relying on FCP7 for the long term will require keeping lots of duct tape and baling wire on hand, or giving up the benefits of multiple applications on a single desk, or building convoluted workarounds for new workflows which are natively supported on newer platforms. Ask an Avid Meridien owner.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
Personally, I like change and I love lerning. What I don’t like is not being able to get my projects done because of major, glaring lack of features. Specifically, no multiclip, no XML support, and not output to tape. How, exactly, do you propose I send my project to Logic for surround mastering? How do I output to Betacam for the broadcast houses that need it? (yes, it is still the standard in m any places). How do you propose I edit a 2 hour+ show with three cameras without multiclip?
It’s precisely because I like some of the new features in FCP X that I am pissed. 64 bit support, color synching, magnetic timelines, sample-accurate audio handling, the new file management…all awesome features that would dramatically improve my editing workflow. All useless for 95% of what I do because basic things are missing.
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