CHALLENGED! Making transition from FCP7 to FCPX

[Craig Seeman]

Final Cut Pro X for Final Cut Pro 7 Editors

[Kevin Rag]

Hi Jerry,
I went through a similar kind of switch a while back. I had used MC and FCP 7 for over 21 years. No looking back now:)
A few things to remember
-Unlearn whatever you know about NLEs (track based NLEs like PrPro, FCP 7 or MC)
-DO NOT try to make FCP X work like FCP 7/PrPro etc. It is a completely different way of editing on a NLE.
-Stop hitting command S to save every few minutes (you don’t have to:)
-This is one NLE for which you NEED a tutorial.
It is going to be frustrating for a while and then you’ll get it. And then you’ll wonder why you waited this long to make the switch:)
I bought Ripple Training’s tutorials. There is a popular free one. I think it’s called Izzy’s. But I am super happy with Ripple:)
I’ve completely stopped using FCP 7 and MC foe over 2 years now. I still use PrPro CC for a particular client where I need tracks. For everything else, FCPX:) It’s a super fast and fun NLE to use.
And there are some really cool plugins for X.
Stick with it, you’ll love it.

Kannan Raghavan
The Big Toad Films Pte. Ltd.

[Jerry Jones]

Thanks, Kannan. Very kind of you. And encouraging. As you already know, it is a little like letting go of one acrobatic rope before grasping the other! ☺ I have been putting this off for some time – just too comfortable and happy with FCP 7 for most of my projects. But growth never stops – and neither can I.

I am going through some of the Ripple video right now. I agree – very helpful. I will also check out Izzy’s.

As you allude to, the biggest challenge is letting go of all my habits and learning new ones. So wish me luck. (Part of the challenge is that I am just starting a couple of new projects, so feeling that pressure. But it is also a motivating force.)

Thanks again, Jerry

J. David Jones
V I D E O P R O D U C E R
Unleashing the Power of Stories
to Impact the World….
Follow me on Twitter: jdavid17
https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=jdavid17

[Kevin Rag]

I get you Jerry:)
Just yesterday, went to a client’s place. They’re still using FCP 7. Had my MBP with me. Opted to work on my laptop with FCPX instead of FCP 7. Whipped out the promo really fast. Clients were super impressed by X. They’e upgrading all their 4 suites to PrPro soon. Now, they’re getting X too:)
Have fun mate. People are here to help you out:)

Kannan Raghavan
The Big Toad Films Pte. Ltd.

[Kevin Rag]

Couldn’t edit my earlier post.
I forgot to mention that I use a ton of plugins. I go crazy whenever a sale is on. Am waiting for the NAB sales/specials:)

Kannan Raghavan
The Big Toad Films Pte. Ltd.

[Mark Smith]

The transition will be a bit of a haul I suspect, but get the tutorials and go thru that. There are a few get out of jail keystrokes, like the P key followed by the grave key that you should know. FCPX does not work like 7 and so forget your 7 work methods and learn some new ones. X is actually pretty liberating in a way because for me it lets me concentrate on the ‘editing’ part – trying things out quickly, auditioning clips, moving things around easily , with less distraction from what I call the fiddly little parts of editing that 7 encompasses.
The browser organization and search tools are first rate and I suggest spending a serious amount of time there learning what can be done. Doing this will pay forward many benefits once you start cutting.

[Mike Fitzsimmons]

MacBreak Studio/Ripple Training tutorials. LOTS of good info (and Steve and Mark seem like good guys). Be careful going back to the earliest videos as FCPX has been updated MANY times since they were produced. Good for concepts, but many have been improved since first introduced.

As mentioned earlier, don’t force it to be FCP7, else you’ll get frustrated and completely defeat the advantages built in to FCPX. Many of the features that people seem to get hung up on in FCPX (e.g.: magnetic timeline) can be learned very quickly and/or overridden using key commands. (And IMHO, don’t underestimate the power of the INSERT GAP command.)

All the best!

Mike
\’Burbs of Detroit

[Mark Smith]

As I informed my wife who is a fearsome editor in her own right – ‘insert gap’ is not to be ignored. She liked to work in 7 – throw a bunch of clips on the timeline and park some clips she had plans for way off to the right. Transitioning to X was hard for her because of magnetic TL , but once I showed her insert gap, she was cool.

[Jerry Jones]

Thanks, Mike. Very kind of you. Yes, I am quickly learning that I have to let go – divorce myself – from 7. It is history. A great ride while it lasted. Just another reminder that learning never ends. ☺

Appreciate your advise and encouragement.

J. David Jones
V I D E O P R O D U C E R
Unleashing the Power of Stories
to Impact the World….
Follow me on Twitter: jdavid17
https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=jdavid17

[Mark Suszko]

My two cents includes this:

X really seems built around an emphasis on the pre-edit workflow: on detailed logging and careful organization and cataloging of assets. For people used to just hopping on the horse and galloping thru a cut as soon as some clips are imported, this can be frustrating, but I can assure you if you put in the organizational work at the front of the process, it pays off later in a smoother, faster edit if you first saddle the horse:-)