Pros and Cons of MC6?

[Stacy Lincoln]

I’d go with MC 6. It’s user friendly and industry standard. You can’t go wrong, really.

[Shane Ross]

It all depends on what you edit. What type of stuff do you edit? It isn’t the best for everything. It’s great for episodic TV, feature films, broadcast TV…the like.

Shane
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[Alex Shepard]

I’m a film student, so I’ll be working on everything from basic school projects to (hopefully) professional grade media projects as time progresses. The reason I find MC6 so appealing is because they offer four years of free upgrades to students in addition to the discounted price.

Shep

Feel free to contact me directly via ShepEdits@yahoo.com

[Shane Ross]

If your plan is to go into broadcast TV or feature film, then Avid Media Composer is the app you need to get.

Shane
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[Jack Guthrey]

What does your school teach?

Avid is industry-standard and I personally believe that using Avid will make you more technical savvy as it requires greater input and technical knowledge when compared to Adobe Premiere.

Avid’s student program is very good and if you spend those 4 years truly learning the program, you’ll have no problem affording another license after you are done with school.

That being said, we recommend that students get a copy of everything and learn them all. You need to know FCP, Media Composer, Premiere, and After Effects for sure.

Jack Guthrey
Carolinas Account Representative
Marshall Graphics Systems

[Alex Shepard]

That’s great, but the question is “why?”

i.e. Are there any particular strong points or other areas in which it’s lacking? Or is this just because Avid is the industry standard?

Thanks
Shep

Feel free to contact me directly via ShepEdits@yahoo.com

[Shane Ross]

Because Avid has been embedded in Hollywood for over 20 years. Let’s say that for a start. FCP was chipping away at that choke hold…and was starting to overtake Avid in many areas. But then FCX came out and that pretty much killed FCP’s take over.

Now onto what makes it good.

It’s main function is to track footage. It has the best media management of all the NLE’s. It can relink to media like no other NLE, because it tracks it so diligently. And this is PRETTY major when dealing with tapeless media, and offline/online workflows.

IT has a solid…VERY SOLID…tape input and output workflow, which is still used today.

It deals with 3D natively better than any other NLE. No extras needed to get it right.

Dynamic trimming, which is essential for L cutting techniques, is second to none. Adobe Premiere made better strides in that area than FCP.

You can edit 23.98 non-drop frame, yet track the 29.97 drop frame timing of your cut, to match network delivery.

Built in film tools, frame counters, all that. If you are cutting a feature film…shot on film, Avid is now the ONLY game in town (next to Lightworks). FCX doesn’t do film. Adobe doesn’t do film No one else does film other than lightworks.

You can mix frame rates RIGHT (FCP did it wrong).

You have universal mastering if you use the Nitris box…meaning convert 29.97 to 25fps, 23.98…23.98 to 25, or 29.97.

Delivery rock solid EDLs…that yes, is OLD tech, but so many people still require it.

Solid workflow with ProTools, as that too is an Avid product. And that is the industry standard audio editor.

Basically the world of broadcast TV and feature film editing was built around Avid, so it plugs in rather well. FCP was designed more and more to fit into that world…and did a lot of things needed. Now, it doesn’t.

Shane
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[Alex Shepard]

Excellent, thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for. I’m going with Avid but I figure I’ll also try to look into some of the Adobe products for the sake of comparison and diversity. I’ve heard so many people were upset when FCPX came out so I never seriously considered it.

Also, Jack: Thank you for your input, that does make sense.

Shep

Feel free to contact me directly via ShepEdits@yahoo.com

[David C jones]

Avid really is the way to go. I currently use FCP 7. I have used an older version of Avid and also currently edit with GVG Edius. But I’ll be editing with Avid once I finish the current project I’m cutting.

There really is something to be said for learning what’s considered the industry standard. You never know where your next job will be or where you may find yourself working. You want to be ready, and chances are, Avid will be there.

Best,

Dave J

[Neil Goodman]

i also think learning how to properly cut in Avid with the keyboard will make you approach other NLE’s in the same manner, therefore being more efficient. Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing someone mouseing, and dragging, and dropping within an NLE.

Neil Goodman: Editor of New Media Production – NBC/Universal