Deal-Breaking FCPX Issues. Is My Info Inaccurate?

[Bill Davis]

Lillian,

If I might, I’d like to insert a note into the discussion.

One truth about X is that it requires each editor that comes to it to change. Not in minor ways, but in pretty major ones. Many of us here have written about having to “un-learn” years of conditioned thinking about what it means to edit video. I don’t want to overstate this, because like any other NLE, in X you still have to do the actual editing with your brain – a human being deciding where to cut and why will never change. But the toolset in X and how it interrelates to the three primary parts of editing workflows – preparation – assembly operations – and media export – have all been shifted into a new model. And understanding that model takes more time than many editors expect.

X may or may not work for you. But it will be a larger struggle the more you push back against any perceived “loss” of your prior expertise. That’s going to happen. In in return you’re going to build NEW expertise that may have more resonance in the new file-based world of the future. At least that’s how many of us who’ve made the journey feel.

Good luck.

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[Scott Witthaus]

[Lillian Young] “Me? Short-form packages, sizzle reels, narratives here and there.”

I would suggest to hang in there with X. These are perfect for the software.

Scott Witthaus
Senior Editor/Post Production Supervisor
1708 Inc./Editorial
Professor, VCU Brandcenter

[Craig Seeman]

X is my primary but there are areas that Apple (including legacy) hasn’t been able to touch Avid.
Avid has great trim tools.

I understand Apple has always been pushing timeline trimming but sans a good trim window (and the FCP legacy trim window wasn’t as good as Avid’s) there has to be a good large view Two Up. Currently that only happens with the mouse (ugh!). I want a big two up with keyboard trimming and I want to see the number of frames trimmed on both sides.

The other is Dynamic trimming. Looping a section and being able to trim video and/or attached audio as it loops… and see a two up at the same time of course.

Of course Avid wins on collaborative workflow but, as time goes on, I think Apple (and Adobe) may catch up there. My hunch is this is where Lightworks (with EditShare) may be focusing. I haven’t used Lightworks but it might end up being my “track based” alternative if I were to need that.

So far, the only downside I have with trackless is that Roles really needs more improvements. While I was never a fan of the need to change track patches and the “track Tetris” need to shift things up (or down), I’d really do think targeting while one edits can help in some workflow rather than having to pre assign (or post assign after the edit). I’d like to be able to target “John VO” or “Jane VO” or “room tone” while editing with a keystroke.

[Richard Herd]

[Nikolas Bäurle] “especially when doing fast turnaround projects”

“fast turnaround projects” is a loaded term. Really, are there any projects that you can complete slowly (besides the screenplay I never seem to finish)?

Sure there are particular workflows more suited to a particular deliverable, but I’m unconvinced the term “fast turnaround projects” is the best way to describe it. They are all get it down fast and now.

For me, FCPX is best for projects where there are a lot of footage with sync sound, and where there is very little mograph.

For me, CS6 is best for :30s with lots of mograph, and a VO/music bed audio.

Moreover, when the client sends a bunch of CMYK graphic design and I have to unpack it into AE, then the NLE does not matter at all, and Premiere is a hub for aggregating assets from AE and Audition.

If everything, for me, was cutting, X wins hands down over Premiere. (I haven’t touched Avid since 2004, except for a trial version in 2010, and it was not for me at that time.) But it isn’t cutting only, for me, I need the full range of stuff. Turn around town is always, ASAP!

Currently, as the need crops up, I xml FCP7 into CS6, and it’s so far flawless.

[Richard Herd]

Slight disagreement, here. For me, I use quite a bit of AE in a sizzle reel. I’m not sure the best workflow (currently) for X into AE; it’d be nice if there was a dynamic link between X and AE.

The power of X, for me, is how the audio is embedded into the video. For sizzles this is basically unimportant since the audio is almost always a music track. There would be no need to play track tetris, which is for me the main thing X fixed.

[Lillian Young]

Thanks, Bill 🙂

[Bret Williams]

Regarding transitions, in 10.1 you can apply a transition to the edit point where two connected clips touch and X will go ahead and put them in a secondary and apply the transition. Seems like it used to just do nothing or give an error.

[Lillian Young]

Yes, I have used AE professionally for 6 years and love 3D and animation. Editing…let’s say, FCPX adds excitement back into it. That’s why I want it to work for me.

I think my best solution is to cut a project in Premiere Pro CC, then Avid and I’ll know. I will have tried all three popular alternatives.

[Lillian Young]

That’s good to know. I may play around with 10.1 on my laptop.

Yeah, in 10.0.9, you have to select the clips and create a Storyline to secondary clips to create a transition.

[Lillian Young]

I just thought of something, Craig. A lot of the tutorials I have watched are dated by year or version.

That may explain why I am aloof on some features despite all of the tutorials I’ve watched.