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Edit Assistant, I was learning FCP7…
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oh and i also doubt FCPX will be adopted anytime in the next 5 years. The magnetic timeline is a turnoff, no source viewer makes it hard to do match edits, and in a fast paced broadcast/film enviroment, theres not a lot of time to really get into the metadata style organizing of FCPX, which if you dont use, kinda sets you back when working with it. The general vibe amongst most editors in LA is that its a joke and they wouldnt touch it with a ten foot pole. Now i realize it has it strengths, but when the weaknesses outweigh the good, then its kind of a no brainer.
just my 2 cents.
Neil Goodman: Editor of New Media Production – NBC/Universal
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learn and be familiar with all of the “big three” apps. can’t hurt.
I learned on FCP, migrated to Premiere Pro about a year ago and it’s now my personal preference for most projects, learned Avid in case I ever found work at an Avid house… which I did… I work at one part-time now.
If you know FCP you’ll pick up Premiere Pro in hours, there’s very little that is different about it. Avid does have a little bit of a higher learning curve… the way it handles imports and manages media is different, the multi-cam functionality is much more complicated (Avid multigrouping is legendary for its difficulty and high learning curve), effects are handled differently and the different modes (trim mode, color correction mode, etc.) take getting used to if you are coming from FCP. Avid is still worth knowing because of how many houses and productions are using it, but I think Premiere Pro definitely represents the future of, at the very least, smaller shops that were cutting on FCP before, since the FCP editor’s skillset is so easily transferrable to Premiere Pro. I don’t see FCPX being widely adopted at this time.
long story short, learn em all.
Cinematographer – Editor – Motion Graphics Artist – Colorist
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To be fair, Neil, there is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to knowing Avid. I was an assistant for 3 years before I felt like I knew all I needed to know to cut multiple layers and complex compositions. Something that took me just a couple days to figure out in FCP. It’s the effects and keying and all that that are different. And all the settings that, even when you use an Avid for 10 years, you still wonder “where the heck is the setting for THAT hidden?”
But I agree with the other statements. Adobe, as good as it is, no one in broadcast production in LA or NY use it at this time. It isn’t even on their radar as an option. But neither was FCP, until a few of us used it because it did things we needed done and Avid didn’t do those things. And then we fought hard to get FCP accepted. But now that that is over, and FCP will fade away from this town, the gap will be filled with Avid mainly, but I am sure that Premiere might start to make it’s way into the nooks and crannies, and soon might be a big part.
But really, if you want to work on Network TV, feature films, or national broadcast shows on cable…Avid is the one to learn. FCP will be around for a few more years until it no longer is useful. But Avid is the main option here. (Until the few who start using Premiere fight hard to get it accepted in this town)
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
[Neil Goodman] “I dont why everyone says Avid has such a high learning curve ? If you can grasp the concept of 3 point editing, which is basically “Editing 101” than your basically good to go. “
I have to agree. I’ve only used FCP since I started editing in 2003 until FCPX came out. I then downloaded the Avid trial and followed some of their tutorials, and while I found some differences, it didn’t feel like that much of a stretch from FCP. Admittedly I don’t know Avid that well, but I did quite like it and I was able to work well with it. I’m really interested in seeing MC 6.
-Grant Gomm
http://www.blacklionproductions.com -
Avid, Premiere, and FCP are all really similar on a basic level. When you’re editing basic stuff, or off-lining without effects and such, there’s not much difference and you can pick one up quickly.
However, the real learning curve is when you go past the basics. Avid and FCP handle effects completely different and for some things, there isn’t really a correlation.
When you start dealing with promoting effects, advanced keyframing, painting, image handling, sequence to sequence editing, advance trimming and such, you start to grasp why it takes more than a couple of days/weeks/months to use it well.
Most ASLers (Avid as a Second Language) tend to try and make Avid work like FCP. Which is fine at a simple level, but terribly inefficient in more complex workflows. It’s like they’re driving a car in 2nd gear.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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Well that is a good point. I never really did get past basic editing with Avid, so maybe I spoke too soon. I do plan on moving in the Avid direction for many of the reasons above, but what’s the best way to learn Avid so that I don’t edit in “second gear”? I mean, are there typical pitfalls prone to FCP users that are easily avoidable? Or is it just a matter of slugging through it?
-Grant Gomm
http://www.blacklionproductions.com -
Some of it you learn from your peers. I’ve been editing on Avid for 11 years now and I’m always learning some new shortcut or trick.
A little you learn from good books. I’m a fan of the Avid Handbook: Advanced Editing Techniques. Teaches everything you need to know about decomposing, multi-groups, etc.
Mostly, I just ended up cutting a ton of stuff on it. Best teacher there is.
My personality is such that when something doesn’t work quickly or easily, or efficiently enough, I’m willing to slow down and figure out if there’s a better/different approach. If there’s one piece of advice I could give about learning any NLE, it’s to NOT edit a certain way because it’s the way you’ve always done it.
Andy
https://www.timesavertutorials.com
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I’ll chime in here too. I work in Toronto, and just like David says about LA — it’s becoming an “all Avid, all the time” place once again. Premiere Pro is not being used anywhere. There is a bigger battle between Media Composer 4.0 vs 5.5 if anything…
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Thank you everyone for your input, everyone.
The general feeling seems to be;
FCX – not worth learning beyond basic functionality.
Avid Media Comp – not the simplest of the bunch, but widely used.
Adobe Prem – Great, but not currently used widely in the professional world.
FCP7 – 1 or 2 years before redundent
I think I’ll get to grips with the basics of Adobe, get my head round the trickier side of Avid, but ultimatly continue editing on FCP7 until I get laughed at (or preferable just before then)
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I don’t think so. Like I said, it might serve a purpose, but it won’t be a standard.
People defending it as a 1.0 comparing it to the 1.0 of the first Final Cut always seem to exclude the legacy and the truths inherent in a multi-track nle that is really the standard, and for a reason.
The features missing doesn’t say much of the timeline that won’t prorate to the 11 years of complete control and flexibility.
Some people find it comfortable being in a timeline that won’t allow you to layer an audio file where you want, watching it snap back to it’s static track. I don’t get that. That doesn’t say much to whether this software catches on, but I think it says there are more issues than it’s ecosystem and tape support….
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