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plug-in set – if you could choose only one…
I’d appreciate some informed opinions before I buy another plug-in for my FCS2. I’m experienced with plugs for After Effects on the Windows side, but would like to be able to make some magic happen quickly, inside FCP.
Toolfarm is currently advertising a sale on Noise Industries FX Factory Pro ($199). I could also upgrade my Boris Continuum Complete version 4 to version 5/FX Plug ($295). Then there’s Nattress’s Big Box of Tricks ($100), and I’m sure many others.
If you could only buy (and learn) one great set of plug-ins for FCP, which would it be?
(fwiw, I’m mainly producing corporate video, promotional pieces for non-profits, and museum videos, with the occasional local spot. I still use After Effects on my old PC, and have a ton of plug-ins for that, including Tinderbox. My focus for FCP is to be able to add visual interest quickly, for shows that don’t have the time budget for me to use After Effects.)
Thanks for any insights.
Bob C
MacPro 2 x 3GHz dualcore; 2 GB 667MHz
Kona LHe
Sony HDV Z1
Sony HDV M25U
HD-Connect MI
Betacam UVW1800
DVCPro AJ-D650 -
9 Replies
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You gotta look at what they all offer and make that choice yourself. Only YOU know what looks you are after, and all offer different things, with a few things in common.
And MOST of them offer demo versions. Nattress, FX Factory, Lyric, CHV, Joe’s Filters, Eureka…tons.
I use the Nattress Big Box most often myself, but that doesn’t mean you will.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net -
Hey Bob,
Shane is right, but it’s still a fun question, Sophie’s Choice in the plugin world. I have so many of these darn things, but I’d have to say the ones I use most would be Big Box of Tricks, Joe’s Filters and BCC.
I don’t really like the Noise Industries packages, but then I’m happy with the others so I haven’t really tried them that much.Have a wonderful day.
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I forgot about one thing, BCC is now split into two filter sets, so if you’re spoiled and been using the same ones in both FCP and AE, surprise, surprise, it’s gonna cost you another 500 big ones to get v5. If you started with v3 like I did, that’s as much or more than the cost of Sapphire forchrissake, More than the cost of FCP!
Have a wonderful day.
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[Shane Ross] “You gotta look at what they all offer and make that choice yourself.”
I knew I was going to get that answer, because in an ideal world you’re absolutely correct. But there are lots of people here, including you, whose advice is worth listening to. If you find yourself using one set more and more, it’s probably for good reason. I’ve bought so many AE plugs that still sound great — but they just didn’t make it, not because they were bad, but because another plug was just a little faster/easier to use.
Chris, I noticed that BCC AE + BCC for FCP is “special” at $495. The BCC 5 FCP upgrade is $295. You’re right about the cost of these things. It’s great that people are writing them, but I can’t pass on the expense to my clients. I buy them because I think they’re necessary to keep up stylistically, and still be fast. And it isn’t just the money — it takes time to learn how to use them too.
My personal favorite is still the Tinderbox set for AE.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. So far it’s Nattress in the lead. (& I already have BCC 4, so 5 is a very questionable buy.)
Bob
MacPro 2 x 3GHz dualcore; 2 GB 667MHz
Kona LHe
Sony HDV Z1
Sony HDV M25U
HD-Connect MI
Betacam UVW1800
DVCPro AJ-D650 -
I use BCC 4 the most in FCP as well as the Nattress film fx set. Trapcode is now available inside FCP and Motion. the trapcode plugins are great if you dont already have them in AE.
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Boris Continuum Complete. It has a little bit of everything. It’s the only plug-in set that’s on all of our systems. We have others, but that’s the only one I make sure is on all of them.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comStop Staring Start Grading with Apple Color The new Color Training DVD now available!
https://store.creativecow.net/p/66/stop_staring_and_start_grading_with_apple_colorRead my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
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[walter biscardi] “Boris Continuum Complete. It has a little bit of everything.”
What do you think of the upgrade from 4 to 5?
MacPro 2 x 3GHz dualcore; 2 GB 667MHz
Kona LHe
Sony HDV Z1
Sony HDV M25U
HD-Connect MI
Betacam UVW1800
DVCPro AJ-D650 -
Very stable with FCS 2. Many improvements. Not a day goes by without using at least one filter.
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Director-At-Large
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group -
in FCP i use Genarts Sapphire plugs most, and in AE i find myself reaching for Trapcode most often.
adam
Editor/Mixer
Character Options Ltd
Oldham, UK
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