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FCPX: A Lesson in Language
FCPX re-invented the wheel in a number of ways. Whether that wheel is as effective as previous wheels is still up for debate, however you can’t deny Apple’s courage and determination to change the NLE game and explore new solutions to classic problems. One of their most daring feats in my opinion is changing the English language and the underlying principle that makes a language effective: the meaning of words.
PRIOR TO APRIL 2011:
Project: noun – an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim.
Event: noun – a thing that happens, especially one of importance – a planned public or social occasion.
Timeline: noun – a graphic representation of the passage of time as a line.
Sequence: noun – a set of related events, movements, or things that follow each other in a particular order.
Some may argue they’re “bold”, others may say “confused”, but I think we all know that Apple would say, “What does ‘confused’ even REALLY mean?”
As much as I love FCPX and use it daily, there are some things, like the fundamentals of language, that don’t need re-inventing.
Philip. Bowser
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26 Replies
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FWIW – some of this was already there in iPhoto and Aperture. The use of the term Project to equal sequence was already started by Sony Vegas Pro. I’m in the camp that believes they shouldn’t have changed accepted terminology, but that’s the choice they made. I’m now forever struggling with what to call a project (as in a production or session), which now equates to the Library. 😉
Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
I don’t think you’ll find much disagreement that the terminology of FCP X sucks. But it’s not much of a barrier to getting things done.
At the beginning of the FCP X release, they thought they were going to change the structure of file management for video editing. Dividing footage storage from timeline editing. So I think that’s why they came up with the Project/Event structure.
Now as it turns out that was a miserable failure for a lot of good reasons. But they sort of had to keep the nomenclature. I agree that “Project” is a terrible term. It really should be “Timeline” or “Sequence”. “Event” I’m less opinionated about. Often my usage actually is an “event” per “Event.” But sometimes not. “Bin” would probably be better.
I still think “Projects” should be able to be stored outside of the events within the library. It sort of mucks up the division between sequences and footage. But whatever.
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Three years in and I don’t think about it much anymore. Except when talking to my Avid editor colleague and I have to translate. 🙂
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It took me sometime to figure out what Apple meant when first jumping into the reinvented wheel. Prior to this change and coming from an Avid background getting started with prior versions of Final Cut Pro was easy. Then came changing the terminology, for whatever reason, followed by confusion. To me a library should be a project, the timeline a sequence. I am neutral on events, though slightly leaning to bins.
Apple took a bold, different direction with X, mainly good.
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[Gerry Fraiberg] “Three years in and I don’t think about it much anymore.”
Exactly. You just deal with it and move on.
Scott Witthaus
Senior Editor/Post Production Supervisor
1708 Inc./Editorial
Professor, VCU Brandcenter -
Yes, because words should never CHANGE or adapt, dammit.
We should still totally reserve “AWEFUL” to indicate full of wonder NOT “really bad”
We should still totally reserve “GAY” to mean what it does today, NOT how Cole Porter used it.
We should still totally reserve “BROADCAST” to mean the sowing of seeds by hand – NOT, uh, TV and stuff.
We should still totally reserve “BULLY” to mean “exceptional” ala Teddy Roosevelt, NOT “that kid.”And we should definitely all remain NICE about all this – which i’m informed originally meant ignorant or silly.
That’s my storyline and I’m sticking with it.
; )
Know someone who teaches video editing in elementary school, high school or college? Tell them to check out http://www.StartEditingNow.com – video editing curriculum complete with licensed practice content.
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Meh. Annoyed me at first but not worthwhile to get worked up about, IMO. I also find them calling applications just “Color” or “Photo” annoying but, hey, that’s Apple.
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One of my favorite bits of script writing lately…from the show SLEEPY HOLLOW:
Ichabod: Do you know that in my day, the word “awful” meant awe inspiring And the the term “intercourse” meant conversation?
Abbie: So if I went out with a guy and we had ‘awful intercourse,’ we’d be going on a second date?
Ichabod: Disconcerting…but yes.
Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
[Oliver Peters] “The use of the term Project to equal sequence was already started by Sony Vegas Pro.”
If my middle-aged memory serves me correctly, I believe that Vegas used the term project in the usual sense (a container for everything you might put on the timeline). I don’t believe Vegas even had sequences or multiple timelines. The workaround was that the user could import another project as an asset and use it like any other media file. 🙂
Shawn
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THIS is why we should give money to qualified scriptwriters.
They’re better at this stuff than everyone else.
Know someone who teaches video editing in elementary school, high school or college? Tell them to check out http://www.StartEditingNow.com – video editing curriculum complete with licensed practice content.
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