Long-term FCPX user, but still have 5 newbie questions.

[Robin S. kurz]

“I’m not sure I want to learn a whole new set of Apple concepts just to do what I’ve been doing almost 40 years.”

Other than some alternate nomenclature, I don’t see how “Apple’s concepts” are somehow radically different. You have bins (with a different name), ins and outs and a timeline.

“I was recently surprised to find my old copy of Premiere Pro CS6 edited 4K XAVC without any need for proxy.”

How is that not possible with FCP X? I recently even edited a 12 angle 4K multicam with 10.1 at full res (which I highly doubt, from experience, Premiere did or does) without a hitch. Obviously given the right hardware.

Either way, your best bet it 10.1.x (*only* bet actually if you need custom resolutions). You could always just install Mavericks on a separate partition.

I’m also intrigued by how amazingly long Avid needs to qualify their software every time with any and every change, even if it’s tiny, compared to any other NLE. That bullet-point alone would drive me from an MC in a day, were I still using one.

[Steve Mullen]

Apple concepts: compound clips, audition, libraries, etc. What’s wrong with video inserts? That’s been with us since VTR editing. And where are the “transport” buttons. GOTOIN, CLEARIN, etc. The same things we used to do, still need to get done, so why do I need to learn new terminology to do it? Apple has never made the case that different is BETTER.

But, the real issue is that FCPX CC is nowhere near that offered by MC. It’s not only non-intutive!!! it has no curves. Can’t see multiple scopes at once on a laptop, So since I already KNOW I’ll have to use something other than FCPX–it doesn’t make sense to spend the time to learn it beyond how I use it now. And, for simple edits its fine! (Like a super iMovie.)

And, I do have the 10.1 version on another HD. But, I see no advantage in switching to get Libraries. I’ve got zero problems with how it is. So if a new version doesn’t make a positive impact in my life, I have no need to use it. If editing is your job then fine–invest the time. (And, I’m sure if you’ve never edited film or tape–it may be very fast to learn FCPX.) But at 71 I’ve got other uses go my time. Like investigate free Lightworks. It impressed me at NAB in the early `90s and I’m willing to give it a chance. And, Resolve 11 is another product that MAY be worth the time to learn since many of the cameras I’m interested in shoot RAW. And, it too is free.

Right now I’m on 10.7.5 which is VERY VERY stable and doesn’t have the gimmicks Apple has added. Now when I NEED to buy a new Mac, I’ll have reconsider. Either I’ll have to upgrade MC or buy Adobe CC or use Lightworks or use Resolve.

I’m really thankful for the help folks have provided to me. I can now do some things I wanted to do. But, FCPX’s GUI still has problems for me. I have spent years getting MC’s ability to support multiple layouts to do exactly what I want done–on a laptop.

PS1: Premiere can play XAVC because you get to specify the resolution of the TWO viewers. Until proxies have been generated, FCPX is slow.

PS2: When I met with Randy when he was still involved with Premiere, he had NO idea what a backtimed insert was. Say what you want about Avid, MC has always understood what editors DO.

But, there is no need to argue about NLEs. There are options for everyone.

Best Regards,

Steve Mullen

Digital Video Consulting–Las Vegas

http://www.mindspring.com/~d-v-c

==========================

“Sony V1 and FX7 HANDBOOK” at http://www.knowledge-download.com/V1-FX7

“Sony HVR-Z1 and HDR-FX1 HANDBOOK” at: http://www.knowledge-download.com/SonyHDV

“EDITION 2: JVC GY-HD100 HANDBOOK” at: http://www.knowledge-download.com/JVCHDV

[Robin S. kurz]

Sorry, but you just merely demonstrated that you are missing even the most basic knowledge of FCP X. Every single command/shortcut you list in fact exists in X. Unfortunately that exact thing is what X has been suffering from for the last three years: completely false claims and presumptions… and people reading them and simply taking them to be true without any scrutiny whatsoever. Then they parrot those same “facts” repeatedly elsewhere. *sigh*

“I see no advantage in switching to get Libraries”

Wow.

“I’ve got zero problems with how it is.”

Clearly, you do.

And just FYI: I started in film school in the late 80’s on Steenbeck/Movieola, but never mind.

PS1: X has even up to *3* viewers, sorry, and is most definitely far more performant than Premiere by ways of the “gimmick” OpenCL 2.0 (not to mention CoreVideo etc. etc.) alone.

PS2: X has had back timed edits since day one, should you have been suggesting that it doesn’t.

And I’m also not “arguing about NLEs” nor have I. I couldn’t care less what anyone else uses or prefers. I’m merely set the record straight when I see the usual plethora of false claims that are based in nothing more than simple lack of knowledge, since 3 years of it are truly enough… even though I know it won’t change anything about some peoples’s dead set opinions in the end either way.

[Steve Mullen]

“Every single command/shortcut you list in fact exists in X. Unfortunately that exact thing is what X has been suffering from for the last three years: completely false claims and presumptions… and people reading them and simply taking them to be true without any scrutiny whatsoever.”

It has nothing to do with reading what others say–I’ve been using FCPX since Day 1. I’m sure I can learn to get FCPX to do what FCP 7 did. That’s not the point.

Bitching about FCPX “suffering” is really lame. What’s been missing for three years are what advantages FCPX brings beyond being cheap. Apple avoided making a marketing and sales case for FCPX by simply killing FCP 7. I’m sure they knew that if both existed very few would switch and they would be stuck with supporting QT-based FCP 7 for years. Since then folks have focused on how to use FCPX to do what they did with FCP 7 — so they can keep working. Look at the tutorials — how to do X. Apple still has not made the case that a new concept of editing provides any advantages to the editor who already has MC and Premiere–and already has years of experience using them.

Moreover, you are missing that it’s not that every command exists in FCP X, it’s that I have zero need to find them when I already know them in other NLEs. (And commands are not the same as capabilities like a CC. And, yes I’ve bought CC plug-ins.) And commands via keys are not the same as clickable buttons that I can be place where I want them.

Best Regards,

Steve Mullen

Digital Video Consulting–Las Vegas

http://www.mindspring.com/~d-v-c

==========================

“Sony V1 and FX7 HANDBOOK” at http://www.knowledge-download.com/V1-FX7

“Sony HVR-Z1 and HDR-FX1 HANDBOOK” at: http://www.knowledge-download.com/SonyHDV

“EDITION 2: JVC GY-HD100 HANDBOOK” at: http://www.knowledge-download.com/JVCHDV

[Robin S. kurz]

Yeah, Steve. You’ve clearly got Apple aaaaaall figured out. 😀

[Steve Mullen]

Apple fanboy behavior has always been and continues to be truly ugly. Lacking any response to the question “what can FCPX do to improve editing that would justify learning it deeply–you get really nasty. I understand Apple screwed FCP 7 folks, but those of use who never much liked FCP never had to switch. We just keep going with products that were always better than FCP 7. And, to do iMovie kind of projects FCPX is just fine. I’ll continue to use it. But, after my experience with you being unable to offer one single advantage to FCPX, I’m certainly not going to invest my time in it.

And, in a month I’ll have Lightwave and Resolve 11 and they won’t cost me a penny. If I’m going to take the time to learn something new–I want something more powerful, not just different.

Where do you think all those who don’t have the money for MC and Adobe are going to go next month? When cheap determines your choice of NLE then free is even better. So the switch really isn’t over. Watch for diminished interest in FCPX in the next couple of months as folks realize they can get free of Apple who has shown–not just to FCP editors but users of all their applications–that they are first and formost a phone company.

Best Regards,

Steve Mullen

Digital Video Consulting–Las Vegas

http://www.mindspring.com/~d-v-c

==========================

“Sony V1 and FX7 HANDBOOK” at http://www.knowledge-download.com/V1-FX7

“Sony HVR-Z1 and HDR-FX1 HANDBOOK” at: http://www.knowledge-download.com/SonyHDV

“EDITION 2: JVC GY-HD100 HANDBOOK” at: http://www.knowledge-download.com/JVCHDV

[Robin S. kurz]

Sure Steve. 🙂

We certainly agree on one thing: Don’t like it? Don’t need it? Have something that suits you better? Well gee… don’t use it. Pretty simple. No clinging to a long list of classic logical fallacies even needed for that! 😀

You with your, as you say, newbie questions have clearly established yourself as a complete expert on all things FCP.