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follow-up to FCP vs Vegas (wondering about QUALITY)
Hi guys,
I have been researching FCP vs Vegas for months now, and only recently — thanks to a comment by Mr. Shane Ross, I have begun looking for answers regarding output quality.
It seems to be that for my needs, Vegas is what I need. Fast, flexible, and more affordable.
However —
Shane, and so I hope he’s reading this, mentioned that FCP doesn’t just take any type of file; it takes best quality files (I also appreciated his comment about RAIDs — made me look at things different finally). And someone else had mentioned that Vegas & FCP both do the same for him, but that the FCP outcome looks “cleaner.” But he didn’t elaborate.
So is there a difference in quality? Regardless if I’m cutting a web-video, a music video, or a feature, if I want the better final look and sound, will FCP give me something that Vegas won’t, or will both be the same?
I’ve got to add though, that I have a special place in my heart for the design of Apple products — everything from the logo to the Mac to the look of final cut. But for the meantime, it looks like Vegas is the way for me to go. But will I be sacrificing even a .00001% in quality? Any ideas?
I’ve heard all the good things about Vegas —
1. No rendering before playback, saving thousands of hours.
2. Everything can be thrown right on the timeline.
3. Many audio tools working right out of the program.
4. Don’t need too much hardware.
5. Etc.Everyone says the same thing. But no one touches the “details” regarding quality in all the FCP/Vegas threads. Would I wanna cut Scarface on Vegas? Can you all help please? And can you please use details, but at the same time use them in simple language as I am a beginner and I don’t know all the names of the technologies and processes (perhaps this will teach me), and I am looking for my first editor, and I want it to have the best look it can.
Thank you all.
VL
Brooklyn, NY -
24 Replies
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[Frank Black] “Shane, and so I hope he’s reading this, mentioned that FCP doesn’t just take any type of file; it takes best quality files “
I didn’t say that. I said that FCP works with SPECIFIC FILE TYPES. Offline RT isn’t a high quality codec…it is low res, meant for offline. DV…well, that’s DV. It takes a lot of codecs, but only SPECIFIC ones found in the Easy Setup. MOst of them are high quality, but not all of them.
[Frank Black] “So is there a difference in quality?”
I don’t think so. I know people who do quality work with Vegas…high quality. It depends what you FEED it. GIGO…Garbage In, Garbage Out. If you feed it high quality, you get back high quality. Feed it garbage, it looks like poo.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
So Shane, (thanks for your response) if the quality can be the same, then for what type of workflow would one want FCP over Vegas. And vice-versa.
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Frank,
We live in times when everyone on the planet can have inexpensive tools capable of great quality, and it’s not like there’s one app that works and one that doesn’t. There isn’t a non-linear editor on the market that’s not a capable tool able to output incredibly high-quality video, if you feed it incredibly high-quality video.
The only real differences between FCP and Vegas are as follows:
1. FCP works on Apple computers and Vegas works on Microsoft PCs.
2. FCP is used by loads of professionals, and Vegas simply isn’t.
It’s not because Vegas is bad or produces poor quality, it’s just not as popular and not marketed nearly as well. However, if you choose to become a master of Sony Vegas, that decision will most likely relegate you to a life of working independently in virtual isolation, separated from the professionals around you who have chosen to use an application that makes it easy for them to interface with others and easy to find work. Your work will look just as good, but you’ll just spend a lot of your time defending why you chose to work with Vegas instead of actually editing. If that’s acceptable to you then don’t sweat it.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
http://www.drwfilms.comPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums. Formerly host of the Apple Final Cut Basics, Indie Film & Documentary, and Film History & Appreciations forums.
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[Shane Ross] “It depends what you FEED it.”
Very funny that you chose that verb too. I used the same term completely independently.
DRW
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
http://www.drwfilms.comPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums. Formerly host of the Apple Final Cut Basics, Indie Film & Documentary, and Film History & Appreciations forums.
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Since I haven’t even TOUCHED Vegas, that’s pretty much impossible for me to answer. I know people who use Vegas for broadcast work (bunked with him in Vegas for a couple days)…commercial, corporate, wedding…whatever. Just need the hardware to get it out. And there is hardware for it…Matrox for example. I just know that in Los Angeles, in what I do (broadcast TV), I don’t see it anywhere. Nor for feature film work….it doesn’t have the ability to deal with film data.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
You guys are both saying that the outcome can be the same with either. This totally answers my question, though I’d love to hear anything additional you might want to say, whether related to this question or just advice you can give someone who’s researching to get an NLE and researching to possibly build a PC off of Tiger Direct.
And David, you mention the two main differences. However, everyone on the forums who takes a neutral side says that “the NLE you choose should depend on what you’re going to do with it.” And Vegas forums are saying that there’s no rendering for playback and you can throw everything on the timeline. This creates speed and efficiency. Isn’t that what everyone wants? So what kinda workflow should FCP be used for over Vegas? I couldn’t find many FCP vs Vegas forums so most FCP forums just discus particular FCP questions posted. So I couldn’t get an FCP point of view.
One person did say though (and this was on a vegas forum) that he used FCP for his main work, but used Vegas as a swiss-army knife. This was a two year old post I believe. And it confused me because in the end he mentioned that “he chooses Vegas.” Maybe that’s because of the reason you mentioned — that everywhere else FCP is what’s used. But that was a maybe. He didnt confirm. So what kinda workflow should FCP be used for over Vegas?
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Shane, I remember you wrote that you haven’t used Vegas. But perhaps in comparison tp what you’ve heard about Vegas, what is it about FCP that does it for you? And if you can’t offer that comparison, is there anything you can tell me about FCP that I may never come across in forums.
And the following might be an amateur question — when you say it can accept film data, you mean actual “film”, right? As opposed to digital video?
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Hi friends,
Frank said the right things..I’m using FCP after years using Vegas Pro (now out version 10..amazing stuff) and i had to go to FCP world because i’ve been asked to in order to get some job..the two stw are rely different in workflow and FCP as the big advantage to come in with the Studio pack (Color, Compressor, DVDStudio, Livetype..) so is kind of all-in-one video editing system, very usefull, very Apple..Vegas comes only with DVDArchitect..then you have to chose all other external apps to do the rest..
Both are great! -
Gabriele, I have a trial version of Vegas 10 on my PC right now. You say it has amazing stuff — can you elaborate please.
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well, i think i’ve already took a look at https://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegaspro for the new features regarding mostly (my point of view) the managing of HD formats as XDCAM, AVCHD and RED as native. Vegas has encreased enourmously from version 6 on and now is really fit to edit and work with the most used video formats in real time (obviously works great with fast CPU and tons of RAM..like others sftws)..and then you go! For me Vegas is something really easy now compared to FCP..to obtain same results (clips quality in timeline makes clip quality in the final output of course)..Vegas great for PC..FCP on Mac. That’s it.
Last: i’m from Italy, here Vegas is quiet unkwown..I know Spain and Germany are full of users as in US.
No problems: get what makes you feel better in timeline and gives you work (if you need to).
Best
Gabriele
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