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First impression – V.Vegas vs. FCP 7.01
Well, I’ve just started my FCP evaluation between Sony V.V. as my comparison.
First thoughts?
Well for most people who are simply trying to produce AVCHD video for home or simple office use, I would have to say that Video Vegas is a much better starting place. It’s native AVCHD without transcoding is much easier to get started with, and to simply knock off a video it’s way easier to use that FCP.
A point of comparison though is that FCP requires a person to learn a ‘professional” (I use that term loosely here, with no slam intended on any professional who doesn’t use the FCP way) film editing technique that I’m sure is more like what “Hollywood” uses than the way Sony approached the problem.
This means that the notion of “logging and transferring” is enforced in a way that is just not similar to Sony’s approach. For instance, I can not find a way to “log and transfer” if I have already copied the files across to my desktop MacPro from the SD card. That seems odd, if not downright counterintuitive. It appears that I must insert the card into a card reader, which then allows FCP to think that it’s like controlling a camera. While it works just fine, it took me a while to figure this out, since I had already copied my files across to the drive. There was no clear instructions on this, but was sort of hinted at by the very well done help files (they could have stated explicitly that you could not copy them first).
Anyway, I thought I would share this with the rest of the group, and will try and update additional thoughts as I go.
I still like Vegas, I think that for the price it’s really just fine compared to FCP, but I have not pushed any limits yet. As to my Windows 7 BSOD problems, the elimination of the shared memory graphics card eliminated those for now, and the 1GB card seems to be working just fine.
I intend to do a side by side of these two platforms, since I will be shooting interviews over the next few months, and have enough time on my hands that I can hopefully help folks understand what is cool between the two. I know that some of you have spent significant time on both, so feel free to chime in and ‘edit’ my limited knowledge, and maybe when it’s all done there can be an interesting FAQ for those coming in new, like I did.
Stop me now if you feel that it’s just not worth it. (G)
Alf
Panasonic HMC-150 & FCP on MacPro
also – Vegas Video 9.0c on Win7/64bit -
7 Replies
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I took the Mac approach earlier this year with FCP and I didn’t transition as well as I would’ve liked to Mac so I’m back to PC. I was disappointed to find that AE didn’t have AVCHD support also. May the patience be with you.
I’m very interested in what you find. Thanks for sharing with us!Canon vixia hf100, Vegas, tons of audio editing software. 12 years of rockin’ the lead guitar!
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> A point of comparison though is that FCP requires a person to learn a ‘professional” (I use that term loosely here, with no slam intended on any professional who doesn’t use the FCP way) film editing technique that I’m sure is more like what “Hollywood” uses than the way Sony approached the problem.
Actually, what you are seeing is “first generation” technology that couldn’t change. Computers allow us to be non-linear, but for some reason (probably familiarity) the designers of early video editing systems tried to keep around the bins and razors and other “physical” attributes of the real world and, IMHO it was OK for the first time but not appropriate anymore.
Had the designers of the first word processors took this approach, they would have modeled them after the typewriter and word processors would ring a bell as you typed the 70th character on a line warning you to press the Return key at the end of each line. But they didn’t. They realized that a computer opened the possibility for automatically formatting a document and working at the paragraph level instead of the individual letter level.
FCP is forcing you into a linear process and it can’t handle your non-linear approach to the problem which is, “I know how to copy the files from the card, just work with them on my hard drive already!” It’s not a “professional” approach… it’s a “backwards” approach.
Sonic Foundry (the original inventors of Vegas) realized that they weren’t in the film editing business… they where in the multi-media editing business. Which is why since day 1 you could drop any type of media on the timeline (including an animated GIF file) and Vegas will play it along with the rest of the video. No converting, no conforming, none of that nonsense that gets in the way of creativity.
There is an organic freedom in Vegas that is missing from the those “rigid” systems. We call that rigid approach “old school”. Nothin’ wrong with the “old school” way of doing things except that sometimes it doesn’t make any sense to us “new kids”. 😉
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
I hate to sound ungracious, but this is not a forum on FCP. I am sure your saga is quite interesting to you, but I already have experience with FCP. I know what it is like, and how it compares to Vegas. I do not come to this forum to read about FCP. Can we restrict the posts to Vegas?
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Not a problem. Since I posed a similar question to the group a month back, and had a lively discussion on it then, I assumed there were people interested. Have the forum admin delete it. CU 8tr…
Alf
Panasonic HMC-150 & FCP on MacPro Dual Quads, 12 GB 7.0.1 on 10.6.2
also – Vegas Video 9.0c on Win7/64bit -
I beg to differ as it really is a Vegas issue. It highlights the intuitiveness of Vegas as opposed to FCP. I’ve come to this forum many times for help for other issues that are not specifically Vegas but are applicable. This post serves is a useful tool for those who are deciding on which platform to edit. Let them make the choice but let’s hear from the users of both who can share what the real world comparisons are.
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Might I suggest that you take a course that teaches FCP? That’s what I did when I wanted to know how it compares to Vegas. Actually using the product will teach you far more than anything which might be written in a short post on the forum. You will be able to see how the kind of work you want to do can be done in FCP. You will also see firsthand what some of the limitations of FCP are. The anemic audio function, or the total lack of support for Blu-ray come quickly to mind.
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Thanks to all of you for your advice. I’m too far away geographically to take a course, and am pretty good with manuals & self teaching, plus I’ve got a good deal of patience, having worked in the software industry for years. I’ve got the time and will continue to muddle through FCP as best I can, and will certainly take your advice about it’s weaknesses to heart. CU all later….
Alf
Panasonic HMC-150 & FCP on MacPro Dual Quads, 12 GB 7.0.1 on 10.6.2
also – Vegas Video 9.0c on Win7/64bit
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