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First non-FCP Legend gig in a long time.
After many years using FCP Legend in a multi-editor environment working off an Xsan I’m on a new gig utilizing Avid 6.5 and ISIS in a similar situation and, I must say, I’d forgotten how well Avid works in a setup like this. While you can certainly create workflows and workarounds to use FCP Legend in a shared storage, multi-editor capacity it’s not nearly as smooth. It’s also a bit of a ‘return to my roots’ as Avid was the first NLE I learned (followed by Premiere, not Pro, and FCP Legend).
Even though it’s been nearly six years since I used Avid it started coming back to me within just a few days of being on the job. My FCP muscle memory, and the new Smart Tool, betray me every now and again but Avid’s largely unchanged interface has certainly helped me hit the ground running (which is very important as I’m assisting right now so I need to be even more capable with the software than if I was editing). Using ISIS is nice as well since it has a ‘post friendly’ front end on it as opposed to trying to manage an Xsan which is an IT solution pressed into service for video post production.
The project parameters defining the frame rate & frame size of imported media is taking getting used to again, but features like the Open Bin command and being able to update projects at the Finder level is great and something I’ve really missed while working in FCP-land. I know many chafe against MC’s ‘rigidity’ but I think the trade off is worth it more often than not. Once the show is in full swing we’ll be supporting almost a dozen editors, each cutting their own act of a specific episode, and shared episode projects that are going to have thousands of stills and videos each. Doing the same show in FCP Legend would certainly require a different, and more clunky IMO, approach than what we are doing now.
Overall I still wish Avid MC and FCP Legend had had a baby (Avid’s back end file management and FCP’s GUI) with a sprinkling of FCPX on top (things like keywords and background tasks).
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20 Replies
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Andrew – funny that you posted this today because I spent the weekend re-training on Media Composer. I came to much the same conclusion. Multi-user workflow is solid. I was lucky to learn from a great editor who works in commercials and who I actually taught FCP legacy. So, it was a nice trade-off. We could speak the same language. I’ve still got a long way to go, though.
Agreed that Avid’s rigidity is a frustration to the (in my opinion) logical workaroundability of FCP legacy that I was used to. Avid has a solid workflow and so much TV and film have been made on it. And yeah, it has it’s tradeoffs and plenty of bugs, too.
It does exactly what I want it to do with second source audio using the Autosync function. And it looks like Pluraleyes can now plug into Avid. Subclipping is brilliant in that you can trail back to the original clip with original source audio. Change a filename in a bin and, boom, it changes in the timeline.
Effects, well, don’t work the way I want them to – but, they work! And plenty of people use them. Scriptsync is a brilliant function when you have a script or transcriptions.
I’ve spent a year and a half with FCPX and, for me, it’s ok… sometimes. And yeah, it’ll mature, bla bla bla, we’ve heard this a million times on the forum. I might use it on an overseas news shoot/edit that will shoot DSLR and non-timecoded second source audio. But overall I’ve come to the conclusion that it has it’s limits and I don’t have time to troubleshoot them anymore. I really need a tool to work the way I expect it to and to fit in well in my working environment (which is LA). So that’s why I’m diving back into Avid to re-learn the ins and outs.
Also, not trying to cast a negative light on any FCPX or FCPX editors here. I see that you can do some amazing things with the software. These are my opinions about where FCPX and Avid fall in my career right now, given months of meticulous use and based on years of experience. I respect your NLE choice and opinions, too.
Michael Garber
5th Wall – a post production company
Bloggy Blog: GARBERSHOP -
Despite that fact that I use FCPX, If I was in charge of a multi-user environment, I’d be choosing Avid too.
Steve Connor
‘It’s just my opinion, with an occasional fact thrown in for good measure” -
[Michael Garber] “Effects, well, don’t work the way I want them to – but, they work! “
Yes, the way effects are handled has been one of the bigger things to readjust to. That certainly is an area where MC feels dated/constrained.
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the russian nested dolls effects setup? I didn’t see that coming. and no native geometrics?
https://vimeo.com/user1590967/videos http://www.ogallchoir.net promo producer/editor.grading/motion graphics
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Unlike many here, I’ve never been completely away from Avid work. In recent years it’s amounted to a few gigs a year with otherwise FCP7 work. After several months of banging away solidly with only X, I recently jumped back in on an MC gig and was quite happy with how much more solid it felt. This was in spite of passing the project between editors, TC issues with source material and roundtrips with audio and color grading houses. In both situations it was less of a hassle than with 7 and significantly better than the hoops I have to jump through with X. I’m also not trying to slam X here. The point is that so many here seem to slam Avid systems, based on old memories from a decade ago without much current knowledge with an updated version of the software.
Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
I dont really understand peoples reluctance to Media Composer either, been using it forever and its never let me down. Its my rock. I like the other NLE”s for different stuff and freelanced on FCP for years at home like millions of others but always go back to Media Composer when giving the choice and especially in Multi user workflows.
Neil Goodman: Editor of New Media Production – NBC/Universal
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I’m in a multiseat Avid setup with EditShare, and love the project sharing capabilities and solid media management. My previous gig was Avid too, and remote workflow…I’d just send the project file or CUTS bin back to Virginia and they’d reconnect without any fuss or muss.
And the software has improved a lot too, so working with the media on the timeline is much slicker.
Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Guess I’ll throw my 2 cents as well. I’m enjoying it quite a bit. I know stalwarts don’t like the Smart Tools, but I’m very thankful for their addition. The improvements have been terrific. I love the ability to open other bins. I’m quite happy working on it right now. So, a big “me too.”
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Like Chris add a “me too” – I largely work on Avid often with Interplay and often in a multi-user environment and in that situation I don’t think any other NLE is a mature or solid. Of course it has its moments but Media sharing is usually trouble free and it allows easy collaboration, bin and project sharing which in tight turnaround situations can be a lifesaver. I am often working on part of a story with another editor working on a 2nd part. Generally its pretty seamless.
I am in London and my legacy gigs have almost dried up over the last year, mostly due to my clients that had it switching to Avid.best wishes
Neil
http://www.patience.tv -
[Oliver Peters] “Unlike many here, I’ve never been completely away from Avid work. In recent years it’s amounted to a few gigs a year with otherwise FCP7 work. After several months of banging away solidly with only X, I recently jumped back in on an MC gig and was quite happy with how much more solid it felt.”
Oliver, I’m curious: what (if anything) did you miss about FCPX when hopping over to MC, and what (if anything) were you most excited about having in MC that you miss in FCPX?
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
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