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FCPX is not used by professionals and only suitable for editing home movies!
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[Craig Shamwell] “”It’s not hundreds [of hours] – it’s thousands, before you can even consider yourself any good” Herein lies the the Crux of why many “Professional” editors don’t like FCPX! Because its easy to learn! Because you can achieve “professional” results without the thousands of hours you speak of.”
It doesn’t take thousands of hours to learn the software well. It takes thousands of hours to learn to edit well.
This applies to any art or craft, and has next to nothing to do with the actual tools of the trade.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
[Craig Shamwell] “That is the whole point Oliver that I and others are trying to make with what makes FCPX more than ready for Professional Editors!”
I’m sorry, but I guess we continue to talk past each other. Somehow you seem intent on representing my comments in exactly the opposite way in which I said them. You also seem to characterize me as if I didn’t know or understand X. I can only attribute that to your wanting to pick and choose things to reinforce your POV.
I get that you are passionate about X. That’s great! But is this the first NLE transition you’ve gone through? Sure seems like it.
FCP X is simply a tool. It’s good at many things and not so good at others. Perfect for some projects and not for others. Once you understand that, you’ll see why many professional editors and facilities don’t embrace it fully.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
“The downside to teaching X for these students is that as yet, they don’t get software skills that translate well to employment situations. But that’s not the focus of the course.”
You know Oliver I did read “ALL” that you wrote…again, and Andy’s too! And while you seem awfully offended by what I said, you were not with Andy. And after looking at it again…he pretty much is saying the same thing I am saying. Your Statement above is a prime example! A truly talented individual need only watch….and learn. The need for years and years of technical knowledge to shoot, edit and distribute very good and engaging productions are gone!! In my most respectful of opinions for you to be spending any more than 10 percent of your students time on traditional film-making is cheating them. Understanding having enough “tail” on both ends of a clip for good transitions can be taught on NLE’s as effective as traditional. (not that that’s all you teach). I know when I cut film, just a few times, I thought to myself, ‘not many folks know how to do this!’ (I have used Roxio,Vegas Pro,Avid,Premiere,Video Toaster,FCP5/6/7, since. But those limitations are gone, and just the other day I was curiously looking up Video Jobs and there are lots of outfits and organizations looking for X experienced editors. More and More every day, along with Motion Artist. Sure, Oliver you said a couple of good things about X, but almost in every breath you “take it back” with a remark like the one above. Dude look, I have nothing but respect for your wealth of knowledge and the time you have put in,( I ahve know doubt you “know” a lot more than I do Technically) but believe me….the time has changed in that to be a very good editor, will depend on mostly one thing…talent! And that again is where we differ! I hated X like everyone when it came out! But I read first then fell right on the Wagon with everyone else. But once I started with it and updates like using the Tilde Key to move and disconnect connected clips, the Magnetic Time Line, literally has me thinking differently as to how I will build my project. And no other editor has made me think about editing in a more intuitive way. And I think this again may be where some of the “Pro’s” are irritated. They believe Apple is forcing there way on them with such a timeline and “no Tracks”. Which if anyone knows, is not true. You create Tracks as you build. So you know that I am not some crack Oliver…Have you ever edited on a Video Toaster? Its what “TriCaster” used to be and has, basically a trackless timeline too! You can freely place any media anywhere. I clearly remember saying to myself, ‘Why doesn’t Premiere do this?'(its what I was using at the time) Many Professionals have never used Toaster now TriCaster Products, but they do everything from live production to streaming to recording to editing and effects. You see my point is, the open or trackless timeline is nothing new! And show me anyone complaining using a TriCaster Product and I’ll give you a Dollar!? Not claiming to be an expert in the inner workings of any of said Software, I do have enough knowledge to see that Apple has taken the best of some and improved on much to create a much more engaging experience for Creative Video Creation. I believe like the TriCaster, Apple will make FCPX a complete Capture-Production-Deliverly Software Package. Instead of Software, Sony is doing just that with its new All-In-One “Touch” Production System. I would like to know just what kind of Projects you believe are not possible, or should I say “suited” for editing in FCPX?
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[Craig Shamwell] “I would like to know just what kind of Projects you believe are not possible, or should I say “suited” for editing in FCPX?”
You know, they invented something called a paragraph a few centuries ago 😉
Example 1. Right now, I’m in the process of rebuilding a 24p master from a 29.97i Digibeta with 3:2 pulldown. The master has mixed cadence, so it’s not a simple pulldown removal. To do it correctly means slicing & dicing the file using several different corrections, etc. and reconstructing it in-sync. This requires proper pulldown removal tools and tracks. Completely impossible to do in X. Granted, that’s a pretty arcane use, but it’s what I’m doing right at this moment.
Example 2. Any chromakey that requires custom masking. I can do that in MC, but not in X unless I use third-party plug-ins, all of which are pretty weak for the task.
Example 3. FCP X doesn’t handle SD interlaced material very well – especially mixed 480 and 486 content. You can get it right, but it’s considerably less functional than FCP7.
Example 4. Any production that requires round-tripping to an outside color correction house using EDLs and trimmed media. You can do it, but it requires round-tripping through other applications in order to relink the media. Main issue – X doesn’t allow user-overrides to relink mismatched media.
Example 5. Anything requiring an OMF (yes, you can round-trip through FCP 7, of course).
Example 6. Anything shot on film, requiring info back to a lab or transfer house.
Just off the top of my head.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
[Craig Shamwell] “Oliver you said a couple of good things about X, but almost in every breath you “take it back” with a remark like the one above”
That’s because I try to give it an honest assessment – warts and all.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
Absolutely understand those situations. And for a time very common ones, but in today’s world of iPhones shooting HD VIDEO and Cameras becoming a lot more robust and less expensive, these situations are unique to individuals like you and in less than 5 years most of them won’t exist. I am sure there are professional editors out there who would not know how to tackle some of your situations.
For me Oliver I guess its just that my gut strongly feels that what Apple has done with FCPX will be historically and accurately described as REVOLUTIONARY when all is said and done! (I don’t work for Apple or have any stock.) It will make it much easier for the standout talent to shine and not be overshadowed by those who “know” how the program works. Its like Apple is saying, we know how it works, lets see what you can do with it! I will probably never digest another tape the rest of my editing lifetime and I am happy for it! But unlike so many who said you couldn’t in X anyway, I know that was simply not true! Just being able to drop any kind of media in the timeline and not worry about having to “do” anything makes for much more positive editing mindset for me. And while I, like you, will look at the new editors coming up an say..”you have no idea what it was like 30 years ago”, I embrace all the changes that are here and coming to the world of Media Creation!! Again Oliver, I do apologize if you feel I misrepresented your statements. I am very passionate and love the dialogue as it gives me a chance to share my views and possibly help others dare to “see” things a bit differently.
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[Craig Shamwell] “Again Oliver, I do apologize if you feel I misrepresented your statements. I am very passionate and love the dialogue as it gives me a chance to share my views and possibly help others dare to “see” things a bit differently”
Not a problem. Believe it or not, we agree more than disagree on your points. In the end, it’s about whatever helps get the job done – hopefully in a fast, fun and creative way. Now, go out and earn some money so you can buy that new Mac Pro!
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
LOL!!! And believe me, when I can I will! With about 64G+ of Memory, It looks to be a monster. And it would be nice to hear your opinion on what may be a potential problem for MACS. The connection of the Thunderbolt Cables! They are just not that secure enough for me like a BNC with the lock. I have had FW400’s drop out with minimal pull. Have you heard much in the way of complaints with that connection??
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[Craig Shamwell] “Have you heard much in the way of complaints with that connection??
“Not too many complaints about Thunderbolt connectors that I’ve heard, but I do know it’s an issue.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
[Craig Shamwell] “Oliver you said a couple of good things about X, but almost in every breath you “take it back” with a remark like the one above”
Oliver does this with any software he talks about, not only with FCPX. That’s why I respect his opinion. And I am a huge fan of FCPX. Just like any other NLE it has its weak spots, and only by exposing them can we influence Apple to make the app even better.
– Ronny
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