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Any opinions on switching to FCP from Media 100?
I have been editing with Media 100 XR 8.2 on a Mac G-4 1.44 OS 10.3 for 4 years, I also use DVD Studio Pro. I am thinking of upgarding to the G-5 and am considering a switch to Final Cut Pro at the same time. Has anybody made the switch? Is there a steep learning curve for FCP from Media 100? Are there any significant pitfalls in making the transition? Is FCP as good, better or worse than Media 100?
Thanks for any input,
Jerome -
7 Replies
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I’ve done the switch and it’s ALL worth it. I found Media100 limiting and slow on new innovation. Now that Boris owns them I’m unsure what will happen. I switched because I needed some of the Compositing features that I had in After Effects. It was a work flow thing. I found a great deal more work flow improvements once I got rid of my limited mind set from Media100. Good luck!
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Had the same hesitations you have…but once you jump in with both feet you’ll never look back. I suggest going with an AJA io too. It’s the closest you’ll come to the stability of a M100 system. Good luck!
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Jerome…
You’ll find FCP to be a lot more flexible than Media 100.
For example, on one show I help assemble, the producer wanted some common graphic elements used in the show for lower thirds, etc. When I worked with a Media 100 system, each of these elements meant exporting a section of video and then compositing the graphics with Commotion or After Effects.
However, with FCP I can pre-render these same graphics with alpha channels and layer them directly into the FCP sequence without having to use an additional compositor. No need to export video clips. It’s a real time saver. Also allows for more flexibility.
Dean Sensui — http://www.HawaiiGoesFishing.com
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As a M100 editor who also does some work on FCP, the thing that bothers me with FCP is that you can’t see a simple dissolve without rendering in FCP. You can’t create a nice lower third title in FCP without rendering. Often, my titles in M100 with Boris Graffiti do not need rendering when outputting to tape. Also, can you preview a dissolve or title before rendering in FCP? All of this rendering and re-rendering is very frustrating. Am I wrong about this ttuff??
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[Greg] “the thing that bothers me with FCP is that you can’t see a simple dissolve without rendering in FCP.”
Dissolves don’t need to be rendered to play back. If you’re experiencing this, then your FCP setup needs to be reviewed.
As for lower thirds, if it’s text-only and there’s not drop shadows or effects, then it’s direcly viewable.
However, any graphics featuring alpha channels will require rendering before being able to see it in real time.
It’s also possible to set up FCP to allow you a preview of certain effects w/o rendering but it will automatically go to lower frame rates.
Dean Sensui — http://www.HawaiiGoesFishing.com
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Jerome, welcome to the family, soon.
There are many of us here, I don’t think anyone ever looked back. However, you must realize FCP is a completely different animal, built to please a broad base of users but built to satisfy no one. You are going to miss the mature elegance of Media 100’s interface but you will rapidly appreciate FCP’s tremendous flexibility. Capable and cool, FCP is full of holes and stupid glitches, bad design decisions and lame features no one wants or can make work like AutoSelect and Media Manager.The learning curve is long and shallow because you must unlearn so many keyboard shortcuts and logical workflow pathways, replacing them with new habits and trying to figure out why those bozos at Apple did stuff the way they did instead of the way Media 100 did it. You get over it but you will never forget what it’s like to have dedicated hardware.
bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
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