FCP 7 and Mac Pro 2014?

[Craig Seeman]

[Roland Blaser] “Simply it’s not the business of a computer company to invent an editing philosophy that kills existing workflows (mostly audio tracks).”

Apple isn’t exclusively computer company. They dropped that from their name a few years back.
Apple the Software company offers an alternative to tracks with FCPX (LogicX still uses audio tracks).
PremierePro and Avid both run on Macs and both offer tracks. Apple didn’t kill tracks on their Computers. They still run with the software of your choice.

[Roland Blaser] “It is as arrogant as telling them as a broadcaster how to design their OS architecture. “

There’s no arrogance at all any more than Microsoft tells broadcaster how to design their OS architecture.
Apple makes and offering and the broadcaster has freedom of choice.

[Roland Blaser] “However it was easier to be a fanboy before Apple Computer became more or less an iCompany…”

The market seems to have a different opinion than you given how well those iOS devices sell and especially given how well FCPX seems to be doing for Apple… and it certainly looks to be gaining inroads into broadcast although it’s still early days.

I’d argue that because they are a much broader and larger company they are free to be more innovative. With innovation there’s risk (reduced given Apple’s diversity) but there can be great leaps forward and that’s where I think FCPX is going although it’s been a rough ride for some. No one has lost the Avid and PremierePro lifeboats though.

[Roland Blaser] “Will FCP 7 run on the new Mac Pro?”

I’m sure we’ll hear install reports. FCP7 certainly won’t show much advantage that the new OS and GPUs offer. I still see is as important if one needs to go from 7toX given the old project must be online as I understand it.

[Warren Eig]

My guess and it’s only a guess is it will have trouble. IIRC, FCP suite has issues with dual graphics cards. I might be mistaken on this as I’m recalling from memory.

Warren Eig
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[Julian Bowman]

I just hope DVD Studio runs on it, despite the call for DVD being dead I use it a lot for my clients.

[Chris Kenny]

[Warren Eig] “My guess and it’s only a guess is it will have trouble. IIRC, FCP suite has issues with dual graphics cards. I might be mistaken on this as I’m recalling from memory.”

We ran FCP 7 for quite a while on a 2008 Mac Pro with two graphics cards. Given that FCP 7 seems to work fine on 10.9.1 I’d guess it will probably be OK on the new hardware.

—
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[Neil Sadwelkar]

I run FCP 7 on my Resolve system which has two graphics cards. And I know people who run FCP on Resolve systems with 3 Graphics cards too. So, multiple graphic cards don;t seem to bother FCP 7.

I don’t think Apple has done anything overt to ensure that FCP 7 cannot be installed or run on newer systems. I have a late 2013 MacBook Pro which shipped with Mavericks. And I could install FCP on it. (Just had to share a DVD drive off my MacPro to run the install DVDs). And now that system runs FCP 7 just fine. Maybe its all the furore over FCP X which made them take the step of not disabling FCP 7 on newer systems.

I use FCP X for some tasks and FCP 7 for others. Both run fine on my systems though not simultaneously. So, just because you get a new cyl-MacPro doesn’t mean you have to give up FCP 7 and/or use FCP X.

I think FCP 7 will run just fine on the new MacPro. Not too sure about other apps like Soundtrack Pro, Cinema Tools, DVDSP etc.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Roland Blaser]

Thanks for your points of view. Of course I will do a soft transfer to FCPX on my future Mac Pro. However for my main customer I produced around 80 TV reports with FCP 7. All the title effects, lower thirds and so on will have to be transferred to FCPX too. I guess the old reports will stay on FCP 7 whenever possible (for future encodings or small changes).

More important: I use a typical broadcast workflow with an external audio software (Soundtrack Pro in my case) for audio finishing (music, effects, commentary, final mix). You know: multiple stereo and mono tracks in a specific order…

I’m pretty sure I will like FCPX for its performance, for its features, for its innovative approach. Hard to accept is the trackless philosophy. Future will show whether Apple was right. I know, there are rolls but fact is: it makes working with multiple audio “tracks” more difficult for me.

********
Science journalist, cameraman, video editor. 30 years of science communication for Swiss National TV. Awarded Prix Media by Swiss Academy of Science. Nominee Descartes Prize for Science Communication European Union.
> Mac Pro 8 core, MacBook Pro. AJA ioHD. FCP 7.

[Wayne Jacobs]

I too am seriously considering a new Mac Pro (trashcan). When the power came back on after an 3 day ice storm, my 2008 Mac Pro had so many files corrupted and permissions screwed up and after 3 weeks of work I have been unable to get this problem solved (even with outside expert help). I’m awaiting word from my insurance company re: how much they will pay me for a new computer – the original was covered at full original price.

I have over 30 HD video projects edited on FCP7 that, like you, I must access from time to time in the future and therefore, it becomes vitally important that FCP 7.0.3 will work on the new Mac Pro.

Have you purchased your new Mac Pro and, if so, does FCP7 actually work on Maverick?

Thanks for your help

[Harri Haanpää]

I’m just trying to work with FCP7 (yes I don’t like the workflow of X and I rather change software that use that) Anyways, new MacPro crashes all the time with more complicated project in it. I felt desperate since Client want’s he’s project to be done!

Now I tested the same project with my 15″ Macbook Pro, there was no difference with the performance, besides I was able to actually open the project and work with it!!!

Now I’m testing the export times, since I didn’t see huge difference when I was doing it with new MacPro 🙁

Using Motion however brought greater difference to previous by providing more real time video performance.

I’m lucky to have both machines, otherwise my project would be disaster.

[Keith Heard]

I plan on switching to Adobe Premier. They have a FCP interface option for easy conversion. No professional I know is going to X. Apple has shunned the professional community thinking that people will use video editors as they do word processors. Anyone who has ever edited a watchable program will tell you it’ll never happen.

Keith Heard

[Timothy Auld]

I don’t love X but I do know many editors who have edited many “watchable” – and award winning -programs who do love X. They are not lesser in their craft because they use a tool of which you do not approve.

Tim