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Blade
updated 5 years, 10 months ago
23 Members
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79 Posts
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If Apple is looking only to the future, and wanting to dump the old, ancient ways of the past…including the terminology used, like “bin,” why is the “blade” tool still called BLADE? And why does it look like a razor? That all harkens back to film days. You don’t use a blade on digital video, that would be silly. You’ll cut your monitor or something.
Sorry, just found this to be an interesting hold out of terminology. What might the modern name for this action be called? What do you all think it should be called? And what should the icon be?
OH…BTW…I was dragged kicking and screaming into cutting on FCX today…emergency situation…so…
Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
[Shane Ross] “hat might the modern name for this action be called? “
In Media Composer it’s called “Add Edit” and has been since time immemorial.
And a much better name it is too.
And it’s not a freakin’ mode! Why do developers think that’s a good idea? It’s a terrible, terrible idea.
Simon Ubsdell
tokyo productions
hawaiki -
Yeah, see? Even Avid, which was DESIGNED around film and to make film editors comfortable with computer editing didn’t call it BLADE. FCP Legacy did…
Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
[Shane Ross] “Even Avid, which was DESIGNED around film and to make film editors comfortable with computer editing didn’t call it BLADE.”
Indeed.
They also understood that it’s an action you want to perform on the fly, which is why making Blade a mode is an imbecilic idea.
Not sure who started it but someone needs to stop it!
Simon Ubsdell
tokyo productions
hawaiki -
FCP X does not use the terminology of bins because keyword collections and smart collections are functionally very different than bins, which are merely containers that you put media in. I have no insight into why Apple chose to hold to the “blade” terminology for cutting clips except to say that the fundamental act of doing so has not changed, you’re splicing a clip no matter what you call it. Also: how is selecting the Blade Tool in FCP X considered a “mode”?
Gabriel Spaulding
Creator & Director of ACE Enterprizes
Videographer | Video Editor | Motion DesignerHow Can We Help You Tell Your Story?
http://www.aceenterprizes.com -
[Shane Ross] “What do you all think it should be called? And what should the icon be?
““Magic Edit Maker”? with a icon of a lightsaber?
Seriously, they could call it “Dave” as long as the function works who cares what it’s called?
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Call it what you want…if BLADE works…it works. I’m just finding it odd that for an app that’s so forward looking (or claims to be) it still has terminology and icons that refer to film.
Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
What’s wrong with the “Blade Tool”? You’re cutting a clip in virtually the same way you’d splice a piece of film. There is no functional difference, no reason to divorce the terminology from its analog counterpart in this case. Blade tool, scissors tool, Samurai sword tool… you’re just cutting a clip. I agree with Steve, who cares what it’s called?
Gabriel Spaulding
Creator & Director of ACE Enterprizes
Videographer | Video Editor | Motion DesignerHow Can We Help You Tell Your Story?
http://www.aceenterprizes.com -
” I’m just finding it odd that for an app that’s so forward looking (or claims to be) it still has terminology and icons that refer to film.”
I see where you’re coming from but slicing a clip is a fundamental editing requirement. If Apple reinvents this operation, adds some functionality to it, then I’d agree that it ought to have an updated name. Until then, it seems like a silly argument.
Gabriel Spaulding
Creator & Director of ACE Enterprizes
Videographer | Video Editor | Motion DesignerHow Can We Help You Tell Your Story?
http://www.aceenterprizes.com -
Shane,
It is kind of funny that pretty much all modern NLEs have a strange collection of film editing references mixed in with modern, digital concepts. FCPX still uses the visual artifice of sprocket holes on the edges of the frame in certain cases. I think there are still many vestiges of the old “skeumorphism vs not” battle that raged at Apple for a number of years.
On the other hand, remember the fire that rained down from the heavens when Avid replaced the weightlifter icon on the “lift” edit button? And to this day, Avid can’t decide whether it’s emulating a flatbed film editor or a two machine videotape editor. Not that it really matters.
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