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FCPX and college students pro cons?
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That only proves that the kid knows how to put together clips on a timeline and tell a story. That’s only part of what we do as editors. It is a BIG part, don’t get me wrong. But telling a story isn’t the only thing we do. And the fact that he came from iMovie and got up to speed in FCX really quickly only goes to prove how similar FCX is to iMovie…and what user base FCX caters to.
Now..tell that kid to prep the timeline for broadcast. Since that is where the trailer would be seen…either in the theatre (that would be a FILM prep then), or broadcast TV. Have them export an OMF for the audio person to mix…oh, wait…can’t do that. FCX doesn’t do OMF…hmmm. Well, they might “soon” be able to send the sequence to the colorist, once that feature of XML is adopted and works with Resolve.
The point is that editors don’t just grab clips, throw them on a timeline and call it a day. No, we need to do a lot of technical things in order to make sure that the project we are editing is ready for broadcast, or film out.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Any one of the students you are describing should be able to pick up FCPX in the workplace on day one (even if it is there fist day in FCP). But if it is there first day in AVID they are going to take two weeks to train. I would hire an AVID specialist to edit in FCPX with no hesitation, but if I see a resume with FCPX I would reject it immediately. And an employer in today’s market place has that convenience. (Of course an amazing demo real trumps a resume)
I think your first step is to find someone close to your collage who is working in the industry. Perhaps one of your old students who works for the government. And bring them in to consult on your situation and determine what would make your students the most employable. It would only cost you about a thousand dollars and it would be worth your investment. Ha Ha
Luke Hale
DOE Video Production
Idaho Falls ID -
[Shane Ross] “That only proves that the kid knows how to put together clips on a timeline and tell a story. That’s only part of what we do as editors. It is a BIG part, don’t get me wrong. But telling a story isn’t the only thing we do. And the fact that he came from iMovie and got up to speed in FCX really quickly only goes to prove how similar FCX is to iMovie…and what user base FCX caters to.”
Yikes!
I only said that he, in common with loads of kids his age, is incredibly fast at learning stuff.
I absolutely accept that FCPX is not ready for professional use – I am also prepared to agree that it may never become suitable. Without OMF, it’s a completely dead dog for me – and I need EDL as well not to mention dual monitors and a a bunch of other stuff that is pretty non-negotiable.
My point was rather that, given the ability of this age group to learn stuff fast, why not throw everything at them and get them to learn as much as possible? Speaking as an employer, the one set of editors I have no interest in giving a job to is the kind that only know one way or working. Anyone who can show me they know loads of different applications (and not just NLEs, but mograph, 3D, audio, music, etc.) is always going to get my interest.
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Luke Hale] “I would hire an AVID specialist to edit in FCPX with no hesitation”
And I never would! Ever. “AVID specialists” are the most stuck in their ways and incapable of embracing new stuff of any editors out there – in fact, they are the most like the old school film editors who said they would never edit on a computer.
(PS. I worked full time on Media Composer for ten years before there was any such thing as FCP.)
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Dustin Parsons] “Whaaat? $300 for Media Composer and 4 years of updates is an insanely low price. Do you know how many classes you have to take before you can get the discount? I wonder if you can sign up for an Intro To Video class or something like that at a local community college and still get the deal – that’d save a lot of money.”
As the page Oliver links to points out, you don’t have to actually take ANY specific classes to be eligible. Avid’s goal is to get Media Composer in the hands of students. The key words that you see repeated are “students enrolled in” — and then a reference to a SCHOOL, not a CLASS.
Ditto teachers: you’re eligible if you teach ANYTHING full time, from primary school, up. Not just teachers, staff too.
Homeschool parents, teachers and students note: if you meet your state’s guidelines for homeschooling, YOU ARE ALSO eligible for this deal!
The fact is that with Avid’s current discounts, there’s no reason to try to sneak a quicky enrollment at your local junior college to save a few bucks. You have to be enrolled full time. Easier to just take the crossgrade price.
Final note: at the end of 4 years, your license converts to a full pro license. There’s NO difference in function — it’s just that you can sit in front of a client, and they won’t see a splash screen that says “For Educational Use Only.” FCP never offered this ability….or this price of course.
At this price, there’s no reason for students and schools not to add Media Composer to the mix of everything else that’s in the curriculum.
Here’s the link again. A quick, very enlightening read. A lot of what you thought you knew about Avid even a few years ago probably needs updating.
PS. You can get Pro Tools at the same price.
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I am more of an any tool works guy. I am primarily an FCP editor but I don’t understand the constant bickering about the tools we use to create such similar products. I guess we do need a resin to segregate among ourselves.
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[Tim Wilson] “Here’s the link again. A quick, very enlightening read. A lot of what you thought you knew about Avid even a few years ago probably needs updating.
“Tim,
The link you included is broken. Mind tracking that down and including a working link?
THNX,
DRWDavid Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
https://www.drwfilms.comDon’t miss my new Creative Cow Podcast: Bringing “The Whale” to the Big Screen:
https://library.creativecow.net/weiss_roth_david/Podcast-Series-2-MikeParfitandSuzanneChisholm/1POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums.
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Tim had a . included in the link. I think this is what he was linking to:
https://www.avid.com/US/resources/Academic-Eligibility
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Michael Hancock
Editor -
I agree with both you and Shane.
To your point, the quick learners get my attention as well. If they can pick up learning a new app quickly that’s an important skill set.
To rephrase Shane’s question, are the students capable or willing to do the boring stuff?
If you offered students the following choices of elective classes:
A) Non Linear Editing
B) Motion Graphics
C) Understanding video and audio signals
D) Audio Post Production
E) 3D AnimationHow many students would sign up for class C?
Students can know “loads of programs” (A, B, D, and E), but if they don’t know how to prepare material for broadcast then they don’t know enough.
— begin rant
Unfortunately the schools don’t spend any time teaching the boring stuff. I once asked a professor if they taught the students how to read a scope and he said, “No we don’t have time for that, we teach em’ Media Composer and Final Cut – that’s about all the time we have.” The primary focus of a course on TV/Production should be on the fundamentals rather than a specific NLE. Editing platforms come and go, the fundamentals are constant.
— end rant -
So from what I am reading it seems the pros and cons fall into these main catagories
Pros
Its easy to pick up and learn
Format Agnostic-ish
orginization features
CheapCons
Changes tried and true editing practices and techniques
Changes the languague of editing
Possible low market penatration (but don’t know)
Not super Stable
Avid is as Cheap (for eductional)I would love more thoughts
Mike Jeffs
Video Coordinator
BYU-Idaho
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