Avid vs FCP

[Tom Wolsky]

Thanks Jeff.

All the best,

Tom

Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” DVD

[Shane Ross]

Since I saw the Mac interface at the top of the Avid segments, I can assume that both these applications were run from the same machine, correct? So the same processor, RAM, video card, etc…? What are those system specs?

I will have you know that I have never worked on an Avid that was that slow. I mean, that is SLOW. I have run Avid Media Composer on OS9 on 833Mhz machines that are faster than this. What version of Avid is that? I have no doubt that the same version would be faster on a PC.

But all the other features…I agree with. ALSO…you didn’t show that to move a clip in FCP all you do is grab it and it moves. In Avid, you have to click on the RED arrow and then you can grab it and move it.

This is why I prefer FCP.

Shane

Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net

[Erlend]

Very nice work… Seems you use Adrenaline hardware as well… Makes you wonder how the software only version will play

Erlend

[Rich Rubasch]

I don’t know..haven’t been on an Avid in a while, but it never behaved like yours is behaving. Is your Avid an adrenaline? It also seems that if everyone was having this sluggish behavior there would be more chatter about it…yours seems to have some serious problems.

If you are looking for a solution to your problem, you should post it on the Avid forum. (I see you did).

Looks like your Avid software could stand to be reinstalled, and a good look at the system configuration.

Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media

[Bret Williams]

I’ve heard the arrow tool analogy before, but it’s kind of silly since you do have to have the correct tool also selected in FCP. True, generally I do, but I might also be in slip tool, or the pen tool, which can’t move clips. When I used to do Avid, I simply had a hot key for the segment tool. So not different really than pressing the A for arrow tool. In other words, it didn’t really hamper me in any way.

But it does bring me to one thought. People are always saying “that Avid guy is so fast” about avid editors. I think that’s because everything takes more clicks or button presses that it looks and sounds like they’re working fast. And the best Avid guys are all keyboard practically. Well, 10 or 20 keystrokes to achieve what a couple click and drags will do sure sounds like you’re working hard and fast!

[Bret Williams]

I’ll just reiterate what everyone else is saying. Your Avid is screwed up badly. There is no wait any different than FCP. There is something definitely wrong with the system you’re showing. And I’m not an Avid guy anymore. 95% FCP these days.

Also, the reason your bins aren’t being saved, is becuase nothing has changed. A little silly, but when you first create a bin in Avid it let’s you put it where you want and all and then it saves it. Bins are separate files (which is quite beneficial compared to FCP’s “one huge file” concept, especially for large projects, and so if nothing has changed, there is nothing to save. I guess it doesn’t consider reshaping the size of an empty bin a change. Move the bin, wait a little longer or add a clip to it and save it. Then it’ll stay.

[Dom Silverio]

You where just selective in the comparison. You obviously highlighted some of the weakness of the Avid (although I agree you have somethign wrong with your Avid). There is no highlighting of the FCP weakness like media management, the unusual speed FX, project vs bin file, no Core Video, more RT in Avid, preview lower layers without losing render, etc.

Also, FCP is much more laggy once you have big projects. Switching between sequence grinds FCP in to a halt – especially on large timelines (horizontal or vertical)

[Rene Hazekamp]

Well Jeff

I’ve been an avid editor for 12 years and an FCP editor since version 1.25, but I actually like the way an avid forces you to choose an existing tape number when you insert a tape or enable your deck. It’s handy for onlining, and for keeping your project organized . Getting waveforms in FCP takes just as long as in your average Avid,. Manipulating sound in FCP is easier, but making a useful omf file is still problematic.
How long it takes to open a new bin, doesn’t interest me (I sometimes still have to rewind 35 mm reels). But good media management in FCP would be a real time saver.

For a lot of reasons I like FCP better than an avid, but still it’s not an ideal program

Ren

[Shane Ross]

True about the Arrow tool needing to be selected (A). Since I always have it selected as my default I never think about it.

Previewing layers below others…Yeah…that is HUGE. Been a while since I was on an Avid that forgot that wonderful feature. Basically you can set a “monitor” to look at whatever layer you choose. If you have 5 layers and it is at the top, then it sees all five. But if you put it on V1, then all you see is what is on V1. No turning off of the other 4 layers and losing renders and having to UNDO to get them back. Yeah…that I really would like to have.

And I too agree that it is a GREAT feature to have the tape number window pop up. Avid knows how careless people can be, and forces them (think of it as a reminder…annoying, but necessary) to chose a tape number. FCP doesn’t do this, and this can lead to mighty trouble down the road. I’ve seen projects where the tape numbers are messed up and not tracked properly. Not pretty. This and the strong media management is due to the fact that Avid was designed as an offline machine…meant to track all this data. Since most people use FCP for the first and final output…and it appears it was designed that way…they don’t pay attention to that stuff as much as they should.

That being said, I still prefer my workflow in FCP. I find I edit much faster than on an Avid. And I have been cutting on an Avid for over 8 years. FCP, about 3.

Shane

Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net

[John Pale]

I own an FCP suite and love it, but I also do a very large amount of freelance work on Avid (mostly Adrenaline). I can say with no doubt, that the delays this guy is seeing are abnormal. He did highlight some of the deficiencies in the Avid interface, but FCP has a few too. He was also not entirely accurate about some of the Avid stuff…You can, in fact turn off Avid’s tape request dialog in preferences. I often do when onlining, after a decompose, as the tape names are already determined and visible in a bin. He is correct that you cannot adjust volume in the mix tool while the sequence plays, but Avid does have an audio automation tool which allows you to adjust volume with a configured control surface during play.

[Shane Ross] “Basically you can set a “monitor” to look at whatever layer you choose. If you have 5 layers and it is at the top, then it sees all five. But if you put it on V1, then all you see is what is on V1. No turning off of the other 4 layers and losing renders and having to UNDO to get them back. Yeah…that I really would like to have.”

Funny, I have always hated how this worked in Avid, as it constantly changes the monitor selection to look at the video track you edit a clip to (which is often not the top layer). This means I constantly have to select to monitor the top layer after making an edit…I would rather have it default to show the top layer, as in FCP. I do agree with Shane, that its nice not to temporarily lose your renders when you turn off a track….but I usually toggle clip visibility rather than turn of tracks in FCP.