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Will FCPX debacle hasten open-source editing proliferation?
For those of us who’ve been editing for a while, this latest disappointment is nothing new. I’m sure many of us remember feeling a bit abandoned by Avid years ago, and now it feels that Apple is doing the same. Is it possible that this latest disappointment will lead to many of us more seriously considering open-surce options in the future?
It seems that we have been constantly putting ourselves into a vulnerable position when it comes to the whims of the corporations producing our software. We put our faith into companies because they have done right by us in the past. But we are continually reminded that corporate philosophies can change rapidly. In the case of FCPX, the result is an editing community that feels confused at best, and lost and abandoned at worst, and certainly concerned about the future of our investments, both financial and emotional.
If our biggest gripe is that Apple is not listening to its user base (or simply doesn’t care because it is trying to build a new and larger user base) then perhaps open-source is the future of video editing. Despite its pitfalls, one thing that can be said about open-source software, is that the needs and wishes of the users are always a high priority.
Taken to an idealogical extreme, wouldn’t it be great to have a sophisticated multi-platform editing application that evolves to the ever-changing needs of its users and their industry? I don’t know how realistic this is, but I have to think that it is at least a possibility.
I’d love to hear the opinions of other editors on this topic, whether you’re a 20 year veteran, a student, or a beginner. What does your crystal ball tell you?
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
15 Replies
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If a bunch of the original FCP7 team (or anyone else with
serious credibility) were to branch out and start a new
open source 64 bit Editing system, I would gladly help fund
their development.We should look into finding a way to offer a crowd-funded prize
for a team that can do this – ala XPrize… -
Open source editing would be like making an open source airplane.
Might be interesting, but I wouldn’t want to fly in one.
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Temporarily completely off-topic, Chris, but are you the same Chris Jacek formerly of the infamous Casa Del Macho?
Back on-topic: I will say that I am intrigued by the possibilities associated with the open-source move made by LightWorks. The concern I have on that front is one of upgrade speed. Is the “new” open-source LightWorks ready for prime time? I’ve never tried it, but I suspect it will run like a demon on my high-power gaming PC at home. Blender is a very impressive 3D modeling and animation tool (reminds me a lot of when I was noodling around in LightWave), but takes a while to get upgraded.
Can there be a reasonable business model for plug-ins and associated programs to work with something like LightWorks (i.e. say Boris Continuum for LightWorks), or do we as a community have to wait for a code angel who happens to also be a competent editor to come up with the right klud… I mean, open-source tool for a job? Would we ever see something like DVD Studio Pro (which I will definitely still need at my day job, no matter what Steve Jobs says, if perhaps not so much when doing my own thing) that would work with LightWorks? How ’bout Color? Motion / AE ? Does a broadcast-level facility owner like Walter Biscardi have any motivation whatsoever to even think about going that route when simply switching to Adobe’s beverage vs. Apple’s solves his problem in a week or less?
CAN something like LightWorks explode in popularity? Sure. WILL something like LightWorks tear off the starting line? Not until there’s money to be made at it. Pure and simple. Whether directly through plugins and ads and such, or indirectly through the payment made by clients to production and post facilities.
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Well, Lightworks is being open-sourced. EditShare may have a huge opportunity here, if they can move fast enough.
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 -
If apple is deserting pro end of the market would they sell/licence the FCP7 platform to a third party, like the FCP 7 development team to develop for the pro Market?
Errrrr…. Of course they wouldnt! LOL!
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Larry Jordan mentioned a 12 M$ cost for developing FCP X
I wonder where he got that figure ?
Documentary Director & Editor
Paris /France -
[Walter Soyka] “Well, Lightworks is being open-sourced. EditShare may have a huge opportunity here, if they can move fast enough.”
Open source desktop software tends to turn out best when it’s in a product category that has a built-in revenue model (browsers, via ad sales) or that someone with money has a significant strategic interest in because (various parties with OpenOffice, so cause trouble for Microsoft).
Open source desktop software that doesn’t match these characteristics is often not very impressive (GIMP vs. Photoshop, Scribus vs. InDesign, etc.), because projects just can’t get the resources necessary to really match commercial offerings.
Lightworks looks promising, but it’s not clear to me yet that it avoids this problem. Perhaps if they can make money selling support for extra codecs, etc. as they seem to be planning. But that kind of thing is always tricky. Leave too much out of the base product, and nobody uses it. Leave too little out, and the vast majority of your users will never bother to pay you any money.
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Digital Workflow/Colorist, Nice Dissolve.You should follow me on Twitter here. Or read our blog.
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Need a little history lesson, why did editors feel betrayed by Avid? Because they switched to PC development?
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So I can spend 20 years building a career, and it’s my house from college that gives me cred on the Cow! Yes, what’s up Brian?
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee -
I think former Avid editors may have felt a little jilted when Avid not only added NT systems to their line, but also started neglecting the Apple side of things. I’m not sure everyone felt that way, but I certainly did.
Professor, Producer, Editor
and former Apple Employee
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