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Does FCS hold a candle to Adobe anymore?
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Far from writing it off, I just want info about how it handles all workflow including grading and also integration with I/O cards. Just how good is the import from FCP, particularly translating FX, text, speed ramps etc.
Can it import say a project with ProRes codec and continue to work in that format? Has Apple licensed ProRes to them as an edit codec?
I will do some homework but any insights into these questions would be appreciated.
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Premier Pro CS5 or rather the CS5 production bundle holds a few very interesting features compared to FCS.
Modern foundation of 64-bit. How much this affects an editor I can’t say, After Effects will be a joy giving all that RAM too and I could imagine certain areas an editor really can enjoy this as well. No more limitations!
Modern play-back with the Mercury Engine. This is something Apple should have “cooked together” with the advent of MacOSX 10.6 in my opinion but Adobe was way a head of them on the ball here.
Format-support is something FCP has been king in to some degree but at some point Apple decided “no native formats, all should be re-wrapped to Quicktime” (more or less). This and the native route has it’s ups and downs but seeing some tech-videos of the performance Premier as with for instance RED-footage. Yes, it does make me look to that.
Integration between apps. We edit in FCP, Grade in Color and do most of our FX / Compositing in After Effects. With this in mind CS5 could be our choice of online.
I tested Premier CS4 and for me by no means was it for me a viable replacement for FCP but CS5 does sound intriguing IF they’ve sorted all the oddness out of the previous app (ridiculous slow time-line refreshing and what not). What is clear is that Premier is the underdog of main-stream editors. They are backed up by a giant (Adobe) but are competing with more or less two standards out there: AVID and FINAL CUT PRO. It’s impressive to see the technical “highs” each sub-sequent version gets and it’s quite clear that Apple in some areas need to get their thumb of of somewhere and get up to date.
My future workflow? If PPCS5 holds the water I’d either be going:
FCP > Color > Premier / AE > Output
or keep
FCP > Color > FCP / AE > Output
But use Premier as a bridge into AE for more complex scenes.
What CS5 is lacking is a Color-class grading solution. You do get something similar for AE as a plugin but that’s not really the same thing as a stand-alone gradeing suite. On the flipside, DaVinci is now offering a VERY cheap software / GPU solution that should give Color a serious run for their buck. This renders this part of FCS less of a must-have.
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Erik Lindahl
Freecloud Post Production Services
http://www.freecloud.se -
Thanks Eric. Just the sort of informed comparison I was interested in.
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[Christopher Hill] “@Rafael – Like you, I think it is time for Apple to get it’s act together. It’s just my opinion but I feel as though the many complaints that have been lodged against FCP by it’s user base in the past have gone largely unaddressed. I’m hoping that they have some stunning announcements coming, but I’m not holding my breath. “
I agree with you.
This is a moment of decisions for Apple.
Is not just about the future of FC, but about the future of Mac.
Without FC, Mac Pro have no future.
The developments of FC have never been pushed by others NLE developments, and I don’t expect Apple makes a fast movement just because the new CS5.
Personally I see this paranoia very little professional, and for the people that is crying because they think that took the wrong decision to go to FC 4 years ago, just think how would have been the last four years working with PP.
rafael
PS: After seven years of marriage, I don’t gonna ask for divorce, just because one night the dinner in the neighbors house smells better than my wife’s dinner. -
No, FCP just can’t compete any more. That’s why Steve Jobs scrapped the entire pro apps development team (you saw the announcement, right?) and diverted all the company’s resources to developing iPhone OS 4. And no more Macs. The desktop is dead. Handheld is the future.
We have all pre-ordered CS5 for our Windows 7 machines. Frankly, I’m surprised this forum is still here.
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If, as the rumours suggest, Apple is rewriting FCP from the ground up then I would imagine that is no small task. If we are going to get a new FCP then it’ll happen when it’s ready and we all have to make our planning decisions without knowing when.
For me PPCS5 is looking pretty good, however I’m very interested in the new edit tools in Avid MC5.
Steve Connor
Adrenalin TelevisionHave you tried “Search Posts”? Enlightenment may be there.
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Haha. I’m enjoying this DaVinci/CS5 hysteria. Something hasn’t even hit the market, yet people are already deciding what to do…or trying to.
Modular anyone?
Motion Design, Color, Editing
Simulated Wood Grain Cabinet Inc.
Bunim-Murray Productions -
Just as Walter said above…
These are all just tools that we need to use at different times. They all do something different. Fine. That’s a good thing. Keeps the cost to us down and let’s us pick and choose what we need. CS5 has tight integration, FCS3 not so much so.
As a 20 year veteran of this industry, I use different tools for different outcomes. When compositing images, sometimes I will use FCP, if its a simple composite. Sometimes, I’ll use Motion. Mostly, I use After Effects. It just depends on the complexity and the tools needed to get that particular job done. That’s it.
Unless you spend megabucks for a seriously high end edit system, you’ll have to pick and choose what best fits your needs. It’s just that simple. Ask yourself, what am I going to need to get my job done, and choose based on that.
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Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
https://web.mac.com/schazamproductions
schazamproductions@mac.com -
Christopher:
If anything, I would be taking a serious look at AVID MC5, not Premier. Premier has always been a hobbyist application primarily. Not saying it is bad, it is not and the Mercury setup looks pretty cool, if you want to edit on a PC (shudder). If I was going to edit on a PC, it would be on an industry accepted standard tool like AVID. A lot of FCP editors are considering switching to AVID if Apple doesn’t improve FCP soon, although we are back to sketchy integration with external apps. Now that AVID MC5 works with QuickTime though, you could feasibly keep using Motion, Soundtrack Pro, etc. along with AVID. Now there is an idea.
Premier has never been and may never be accepted as an industry standard. I would still want to use what the rest of the industry uses if I am doing work at a pro level. If you are a hobbyist or an “island” and NEVER interact with other systems and editors, colorists, sound designers, Premier is a good choice.
Dan
Providing value added material to all of your favorite DVDs
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Steve said what what? I thought he stated they layed-off external consultants and that the pro-suite of apps where going no-where.
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Erik Lindahl
Freecloud Post Production Services
http://www.freecloud.se
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