Final Cut Pro vs. AVID XpressDV

[Walter Biscardi]

Just do a search on this forum for AVID and you’ll find a ton of discussions.

The real question you have to ask yourself is what do you gain in your workflow by switching to FCP? If it’s nothing, then stay with AVID. They’re both tools, go with the one you like the best.

I run FCP because AVID can’t come close to the performance I get with FCP at the price point I pay.

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

[Boyd Mccollum]

You actually have 2 questions and the answer isn’t all or nothing. Avid Xpress Pro is platform independent. You can stay with Avid and switch from PCs to G5s. If you go with a Mac platform, you can also get FCP (now or at later date) and add flexibility to the editing platforms/choices you offer clients.

Boyd
“Go slow to go fast”

[Stu Siegal]

At the end of the year I was in the same spot – XPRO on PC and very happy with it. But, I had to spend some cash, and there really was not much to think about. I bought a G5 quad core, haven’t even installed FCP. Now, I can install XPRO on my mac, and add FCP later. The difference is in the hardware – Mojo – 1 uncompressed stream – or AJA or Blackmagic. Not a hard decision, is it? I’m reading FCP for Avid editors by Diana Weynand, probably buy some training media as well, and just accept the fact that Avid has ceeded my end of the market to FCP. Bottom line – your partner is right.

[Mark Raudonis]

Dear EJ,

Is this a trick question? I think just about anyone on this forum (it is the FCP forum after all) will tell you to at least give FCP a shot.

For me it’s a no brainer. Over two years ago we flipped our shop from all Avid/Unity to all FCP/X-SAN. I haven’t looked back since. At the time, people thought I was nuts. OOOOH. FCP can’t do this. It can’t do that. Nonsense. Every month that goes by simply confirms that my decision to switch was correct.

We had Diana Weynand come to our shop and personally conduct cross training for all of our Avid editors moving to FCP. She’s great and if you’re in LA, I’d highly recommend taking her class.

There isn’t a day that goes by that we’re not discovering a new, interesting way to adjust our workflow to the incredible capabilities that FCP and all of the other associated programs like Soundtrack Pro, Motion, Livetype, etc. can provide. I’ve got nothing against AVID. They make a worldclass product. But I also agree with StuS57 that they’ve essentially abdicated the off-line post market to FCP.

mark

[Stillhustlin]

i like fcp on mac but like we all know it is not the system or the software you use that makes a good movie.

[Les Kaye]

[StuS57] “I’m reading FCP for Avid editors by Diana Weynand, probably buy some training media as well”

Is the included training media with the book not working for you? As Mark says, Diana and her group do a great job of training.

[Stu Siegal]

Actually I haven’t even popped it in yet – haven’t even loaded up FCP to play with – still too busy, sticking with XPRO til I get a free weekend. But thanks for reminding me, I admit – I forgot it came with a dvd. Still, I’ll probably buy a set for the whole studio package, in particular DVDSP.