Do I use X for a 1/2 hour broadcast doc. ?

[T. Payton]

This is a difficult call to make, the media management is superior and the editing is much faster. However, I would admit that FCP X just isn’t there yet as a reliable tool.

For example I am working on a short product demo, 5 minutes or so. Shot on DSLR. Delivery will be for the web and DVDs. Everything is going great, but while I was editing yesterday suddenly the audio will stutter, and then the viewer might stop working, or when I zoom the playhead it will go to a seemingly random spot on the timeline, or the keyboard shortcuts just stop working.

In my opinion this is going to drive you crazy and might give you the urge to toss your Mac out the window. Plus it gets a little awkward when you are sitting with a client and you have to explain what the little spinning beach ball is, and why you just had to force quit FCP X, again.

Believe it or not I actually love FCP X, it is just buggy. My shop is not only fully committed to it, but we have switched all our new projects to be FCP X. However, we are a small advertising agency and we can afford some learning curve.

Regarding getting your project out of FCP X. I agree I haven’t been able to get automatic duck to create a valid file, even for a tiny project. I just wouldn’t count on it. FoolCut or x27 seem to be the real deal, and can be counted on.

However, if you have an understanding director and not a crazy short deadline, I would consider it. But if you just gotta get it done to put food on the table, go with a proven tool in FCP 7.

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[Simon Ubsdell]

[Timothy Payton] ” I haven’t been able to get automatic duck to create a valid file, even for a tiny project.”

Hi Timothy

I’m trying to get to grips with Automatic Duck right now and having problems of my own, but I would really like to hear what you have tried with it and how it’s come unstuck.

Any details of your workflow much appreciated.

Thanks.

Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com

[Jonathan White]

Started on X today… not bad, very fast for logging by using favourites and notes… just wish the disclosure triangles didn’t need to be re-opened everytime I switch bin (or keyword collection or whatever it’s called)… also would like to be able to read notes when the clip is in the timeline but don’t think I can… stable enough so far.. touch wood!!
j.

Seanchas Productions, Galway, Ireland

[T. Payton]

Jonahtan – you are a brave man!

You can view notes when in the timeline. Just open up the timeline index. They are searchable too.

Besides favorites, I also combine all multiple takes in auditions. This really helps cut down on the amount of footage I am working with.

Another thing that has been very helpful for organization is to use Titles as markers to delineate different areas of my project. They are much better than regular markers because you can read the titles, and you can select them to get the duration of that section. I create a role called “Section Markers” and then turn that tole off so they turn grey. I then am able to easily navigate and keep track of sections for a larger timeline.

Here is a shot of a project I am doing today that has these kind of markers:

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[Steve Connor]

Keep an eye on “undo” if you suddenly can’t undo then you have the autosave bug, haven’t seen it myself but it has been reported.

Also restart the app every couple of hours or so, it does seem to help keep the speed up, especially when you have more edits in the project.

“My Name is Steve and I’m an FCPX user”

[T. Payton]

Simon – regarding Automatic Duck it does export files, but I couldn’t get anything to work at first when going AAF or OMF to Soundtrack Pro. However, I found if I changed the settings to created external files, it would work. Perhaps that is in the documentation, but I don’t have it.

It is not prefect, so I would still have the option of roles as individual files to bring into STP or ProTools.

I’m sure someone is working on some kind universal FCPXML to whatever tool. I would write one myself if I had the time.

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[Oliver Peters]

[Timothy Payton] “but I couldn’t get anything to work at first when going AAF or OMF to Soundtrack Pro”

That’s an STP problem. I’ve never had those work correctly in STP.

[Timothy Payton] “I’m sure someone is working on some kind universal FCPXML to whatever tool.”

Sure. X27 plus FCS3. 😉

– Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com

[Jonathan White]

I’ve been checking undo every 10 mins or so.. I think of it as my save!! lost some work last week due to this bug which I assumed would be fixed in 10.01 🙁 did notice that my drive was very full which hopefully was a contributing factor..thanks Timothy for the screen shots…
Seems people are very nice to you when you’re doing something crazy 🙂
j.

Seanchas Productions, Galway, Ireland

[Steve Connor]

[Jonathan White] “Seems people are very nice to you when you’re doing something crazy :-)”

You think you’re crazy, I’ve just started cutting a feature on it!

“My Name is Steve and I’m an FCPX user”

[Jonathan White]

Thanks for the notes tip.. but it seems when I split a clip into favourites (which is how I log) and put notes on the favourites they don’t show up in timeline 🙁
j.

Seanchas Productions, Galway, Ireland