-
Which “Final Effects Complete” is which?
Does anyone know the difference, if any, between Cycore’s “Cycore FX HD” and Artel Software’s “Boris Final Effects Complete”? My understanding was that Cycore FX HD updated and replaced the original “ICE Final Effects Complete”, but if that’s true, what is Boris Final Effects Complete for?
Is it just a legal thing in that Cycore couldn’t use the “Final Effects Complete” name and Artel can, but the plugins are the same?
I just want to make sure I’m using the most current version of the plugins and figured the answers I’d get from the individual companies would be more along the lines of why their version is better even if they’re really the same.
-
5 Replies
-
My pea-sized brain recalls that the Cycore guys developed the original FEC. Next it was sold to Metacreations, ICE then Media 100. As Media 100 let the plugs die (basically), maybe the original license reverted to allowing the Cycore guys to take over the plugs again. So we have CC effects in AE and the Cycore HD stuff. On the other hand, it also seems that Boris bought FEC from Media 100, so we have two similar (if not mostly identical) sets of plugs around.
Bear in mind, this comes from my generally faulty memory, and not from recent research. I’d write Cycore and Boris anyway, to see what they have to say. Also, have you searched the COW on this?
Steve
-
My understanding of the FEC lifespan is exactly as you described and two consistent faulty memories are better than one.
I have searched the COW and even read Artel’s press release about “Boris Final Effects Complete”, but they only talk about “repackaging” and additional host support with no definitive statements about whether the plugins themselves are different in any way.
The little research I’ve done only adds to the confusion…
The Cycore site lists some improvements to the Particle plugins in their “HD” version and there’s no mention of improvements on Boris’ site, but Boris isn’t selling 2 separate versions either. Similarly, Cycore’s HD version is 16-bit, but there is no mention of bit-depth from Boris. Cycore also lists 3 new plugins, but I can’t tell if they’re in the Boris version since both companies have renamed some of the individual plugins.I guess I will just write both companies and hope for a reasonably objective answer…though I’ve already spent more time on it than I think anyone should have to.
-
Cycore created the original Final Effects. Metacreations licensed the software, with a clause in the agreement reverting ownership of the code back to Cycore after 7 years. ICE then bought them from Metacreations, Media 100 bought ICE (and promptly did absolutely nothing to support or develop the product), then Boris purchased them from Media 100.
In the meantime, the 7 years elapsed and Cycore were allowed to use the code again. They licensed an updated version of Final Effects, now relabelled as Cycore Effects, to Adobe for use in full versions of AE 6.5.
-
If you read the background information in my review on Cycore FX HD, you’ll get the general picture.
https://www.creativecow.net/show.php?page=/articles/onneweer_barend/cycorefx_hd_review/index.htm
Both plugin sets are based on the same original code, but Cycore Effects is much more up-to-date.
Bar3nd
Forum COWmunity leader for:
ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS
MAGIC BULLET SUITE
INDIE FILM & DOCUMENTARY -
Thanks much Barend. Don’t know how I missed your article when I searched for FEC posts, but it goes a long way to clear up the FEC fog. I’ve also pasted below the response I got from BorisFX in case anyone else finds it useful. It should be interesting to see who can/will do more with the FEC code…the guys who wrote it or their formidable opponent BorisFX.
No response yet from Cycore, but this is from BorisFX support:
Boris FX, Inc. purchased FEC from Media 100 several months ago. As you may be aware the M100 version of FEC was sitting stagnant and undeveloped for several years. Our intentions are to modernize the filter set and take it to the next level. Our initial release of FEC was focused on updating host support (new FCP, AE and so on) and to fix some legacy issues that were outstanding. There were several filters that were not being installed in the M100 release (broken), behavior problems (i.e crashes) and output problems. FEC 4.0.2 addressed all of these issues. You can download the release notes that details the changes here:
https://www.borisfx.com/download/#fec
Currently, FEC 4.0.2 is 8-bit only. The next planned release will include 16-bit support, and additional features taken from our existing BCC (Continuum Complete) package. In terms of functionality and speed they are almost identical, but with that said, it’s also host dependant. Rendering speeds differ based on what host the filters are being used in. Cycore FX is only able to run within After Effects, while Boris FEC can run inside AE, Combustion, Final Cut Pro, and all Boris products. I would suggest downloading the free 14-day fully functional demo version of the software and taking it for a test drive.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up