OT: Smart Move from Adobe

[Bernard Newnham]

They’ve probably just noticed that Affinity and Blackmagic are offering serious cheaper competition with no subscription.

Bernie

[Shawn Miller]

[Bernard Newnham] “They’ve probably just noticed that Affinity and Blackmagic are offering serious cheaper competition with no subscription.”

I hadn’t thought about Resolve in education. It seems like they really could change the creative software landscape in a generation or two. World class, cross platform editing, color, audio post and VFX in a single package… for free… just astounding. I wonder how many TV and film production programs will be built entirely around Blackmagic’s offerings. I also wonder what that will mean for the future of creative software.

Shawn

[David Mathis]

I have been asking myself that same question. Perhaps when Resolve 15 is out of the beta stage the answer shall be more clear. This is a good move on the part of Adobe but they also need to have special pricing for their long term user base as well. No question the Fusion page in Resolve is interesting. I have been playing with it some and there is lots of potential in it. With that said, I doubt Adobe will go into “panic” mode anytime soon. They have the subscription level they want and anyone existing the rental only option will be of little consequence because the numbers will not be significant enough. My two cents.

[Scott Witthaus]

I don’t see Resolve going anywhere in K-12. At that level you are just teaching storytelling. The technology should not impede that learning and Resolve is probably way too much tech for that level of learning. Maybe in undergrad film or b’cast schools and even then I have my doubts. Having taught editorial storytelling to newbies on traditional track based editors and on X, you want the technology to get out of the way as much as possible in the learning process. From real-world experience, X does that better than traditional products.

That said, Photoshop alone is worth the $5 for K-12….

Scott Witthaus
Senior Editor/Visual Storyteller
https://vimeo.com/channels/1322525
Managing Partner, Low Country Creative LLC
Professor, VCU Brandcenter

[Shawn Miller]

[Scott Witthaus] “I don’t see Resolve going anywhere in K-12. At that level you are just teaching storytelling. The technology should not impede that learning and Resolve is probably way too much tech for that level of learning. Maybe in undergrad film or b’cast schools and even then I have my doubts. Having taught editorial storytelling to newbies on traditional track based editors and on X, you want the technology to get out of the way as much as possible in the learning process. From real-world experience, X does that better than traditional products.

That said, Photoshop alone is worth the $5 for K-12….”

I’m not so sure. Over the years, I’ve known plenty of junior high and high school kids who taught themselves programs like Blender, or Photoshop or 3DS MAX etc… mostly without guidance, and 3D applications are a LOT harder to learn than any NLE. Do a YouTube search, kids are doing some pretty amazing things. I don’t think Resolve is that hard.

Shawn

[David Mathis]

I do think Adobe will always have its place both in the classroom and the film industry. Nothing wrong with learning as many applications as possible. Not everyone will like Adobe because of their business model but I don’t hold a grudge against anyone who chooses to go with them. We should keep an open mind otherwise we will miss out on opportunities. The more programs everyone can learn the better.

[Dominic Deacon]

[Shawn Miller] “and 3D applications are a LOT harder to learn than any NLE.”

You’re not joking there. All the talk of the difficulties of learning new NLE programs in here often does my head in. You can pick up any of the NLEs and just start using them intuitively. To learn them properly takes no time at all. On the other hand there’s learning 3ds Max and rendering with VRay. Whole different world where the difference in diffculty to learn the app is almost impossible to convey but let me give it a go: if learning FCP for me was like picking up the basics on a go cart then learning 3ds Max is like learning to fly an F-16. I’ve been learning intensively for months and still feel helpless at times.

[Scott Witthaus]

try learning Unity…..oy.

Scott Witthaus
Senior Editor/Visual Storyteller
https://vimeo.com/channels/1322525
Managing Partner, Low Country Creative LLC
Professor, VCU Brandcenter

[Shawn Miller]

[Scott Witthaus] “try learning Unity…..oy.”

Yup, STEEEP learning curve… that’s why I’m amazed at the level of proficiency some of these kids are gaining just by watching tutorials and well, building things. Same with Z-brush, Maya, et al.

I think this is what Grant Petty is really after with the BMD cinema cameras and their post production software – he seems to want young people to get out there and create. It’s something that I’ve come to respect about BMD’s vision, from the outside, they look like they “see” creative people in a way that maybe Adobe, Apple and AVID just can’t.

Shawn

[Craig Seeman]

[Shawn Miller] “he seems to want young people to get out there and create. “

I think he wants to run a profitable business in the process. I do think BMD is making very smart moves to build an “ecosystem,” quite possibly better than Apple is doing (at least for video).

If you were an aspiring filmmaker with limited financial resources would you chose:
iMovie, Resolve, Avid First?
While iMovie might have been the stepping stone to FCPX, Resolves gets in you in for less money.
And if you buy their upcoming BMPCC4K for $1295 you get the paid version of Resolve included.
Obviously both Apple and BMD want to hook you into a hardware ecosystem where their “real money” is but, at least as far as creatives go, BMD offers a more attractive path.
Apple is iPhone or iPad and iMovie and FCPX but consider the price BMPCC4K w/Resolve is price competitive.

Perhaps Apple should be include FCPX with each computer purchase. Perhaps include it with an iPhone or iPad purchase with the hope it encourages the buyer to get a Mac rather than a PC.