fcp v avid

[David Battistella]

What specifics do you want to know? If it is purely techinical that is one thing. If it purely editing esthetic that is another thing entirely.

d

OK. I’m taking the Steelers, 23-21 !

[Geraint Pari huws]

comprehensive!

head to head across all areas apart from aesthetics, I know a G5 looks pretty but I want to cut on it not look at it!

digitising through to export and playout, interporability, ease of use. I am ignorant re fcp, I know avid well.

cheers
amheus

[Tom Matthies]

I know both systems and they both have their strong and weak points. I find FCP more flexible than Avid. I feel the editing interface is faster, once you get used to it. File handling on import & export is better, in my opinion with FCP. I like Avids log & capture better than FCP’s. I feel the color corrector is better in Avid. Media management is also superior…or at least less flakey. I feel that Avids editing interface is getting long in the tooth. It’s too locked into tradition with not much innovation the past few years. FCP is very flexable here.
If I’m doing any heavy compositing/keyframing, it’s FCP hands down. Avid still is way behind FCP here. FCP is replacing After Effects in a lot of jobs here.
I’m cutting regularly on a Symphony and on FCP. These days I much prefer FCP over the Avid system. The Avid Nitris is a sweet system without a doubt, however it’s very overpriced and will also become outdated more quickly than FCP. Out Symphonys were obsolete just a little over a year after we got them. Big investment, crummy support.
And then there are the AVID hardware issues to deal with…but I’m not going there today.
All in all, FCP is my choice for everyday production.
Avid gets the nod for intensive color grading jobs.
Not a comprehensive report. Just some opinions.
Tom

[Ron Dylewski]

I just got started on FCP about two months ago…and have found it to be a much more intuitive system to cut on. Takes some time to overcome your Avid-centric learned behaviors, but once you do, it just feels faster. I agree that the log/capture needs work, but my guess is that it will get that improvement. If you are a Mac-person to begin with (as I am) FCP will be very easy to master, as the app relies heavily on the basic GUI and Finder features, rather than app-specific keystrokes, etc…

Just my 2-cents…

Ron

[Wreckgar]

This interests me. How is FCP replacing After Effects? I didn’t know that FCP had the same effects, particles, and other operations as AE. Where can I read more about this and how to use the effects in FCP? I’ve been using it for a few months and have not discovered this part yet.

Off topic but this makes me think of my next question. My friend who uses Adobe Premiere Pro says that there are really cool effects in the program that you can add to your video, like lightning straight from the program. Is there any thing like this I could do in FCP? Without having to go to a different program that is? I told him, “There’s no way you could have done that with just the APP program by itself, you had to have used an outside program like AE of Combustion.” He promised up and down he just used the Premiere program. Does FCP have anything like this that I have not discovered yet?

RE:

Name: Tom Matthies
Date: Jan 31, 2006 at 8:53:59 am
Subject: Re: fcp v avid

FCP is replacing After Effects in a lot of jobs here.

[Mark Raudonis]

If you’re looking for an “authorative, comprehensive, objectively written paper” I would suggest you visit the AVID-L2 at Yahoo groups. If you don’t know about it, it’s like this forum, only poplulated by long time, die hard, AVID users. Lately, it seems like they talk more about FCP and it’s increasing encroachment into AVID’s turf than anything else. On the Avid-L2 you’ll hear a truthful, honest appraisal of FCP’s features and capabilities. Most importantly, you’ll hear that many AVID users feel like they’re on the Titanic after the iceberg hit.

Here’s the URL. https://groups.yahoo.com/group/Avid-L2/ You have to register to post.

mark

[Mark Maness]

I think you misunerstood what Tom was talking about… There was a time when we had to use After Effects for all of our compositing work – layering video tracks for an effect. But now, with FCP most of that work can be done right on the time line with very similar results. I would have to say that most people here don’t do particle effects all of the time and don’t need those complex filters to get those same effects. As you know, there can be problems exporting video to work in AE and brought back into FCP. Let’s keep it simple…

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions

[Michael Alberts]

In my 15 years of editing I don’t think I’ve ever had to add a lightning bolt to a shot. So, I wouldn’t even call that a “feature”. However, if I ever did want a lighting bolt, snow, rain, particle effects etc I just pop one of my BCC4 filers on the shot, all from within FCP. No need for an external interface, it’s simply a plug-in.
The whole Avid vs. FCP discussion has gotten so repetitive and boring it’s not even worth discussing. Just search the archive for the 50 or 60 separate threads on the subject.

We were running four Avid Meredian 9000’s that we paid approx $100,00 EACH for four years ago. We’ve since ditched those systems and installed all FCP. We’re a much leaner, meaner, cost effective company for it. No need to bend over for the Avid upgrades and annual support fees. That can drain the company coffers in a hurry. Now we spend money on talent and software.

Michael Alberts
Ambidextrous Productions, Inc.

[Walter Biscardi]

[Vincent1975] “This interests me. How is FCP replacing After Effects? I didn’t know that FCP had the same effects, particles, and other operations as AE. Where can I read more about this and how to use the effects in FCP? I’ve been using it for a few months and have not discovered this part yet.”

In terms of layering and compositing, FCP can replace many of the uses of After Effects for compositions. I’ve done 27 track comps in FCP that use a lot of Alpha / Luma Mattes, various overlays / screen compositing, animated text, etc… There was a time I could only do that in AE, but now FCP can handle at least 50% of the work I used to do in AE only a few years ago.

As for particles and filters, you can simply add those as a 3rd party plug-in or generate the particle in Motion and bring it into FCP. Pretty easy to do.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com

Director, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.com

Now Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[Mark Raudonis]

I found this equation on the AVID-L2. It’s the best summary of the FCP vs Avid discussion I’ve ever heard.

Here you go: AVID = FCP + a new BMW

Need I say more?

mark