Quick Poll. So what’s your decision?

[Jamie Franklin]

I’m sticking with what works. There are days rendering can cause my blood to boil over, and non-native format editing can get annoying with the extra legwork (2 things that aren’t really all that improved with X) it’s nothing to the complete blunder and annoyance of the position tool and iron control of the mag “timeline”. Adobe is a good alternative when needed but there isn’t a desire to jump ship, and I’m going to invest some time trying out MC6 to shake my squirrel cage and get experience for places that might require the know-how. But FCS will be my home for the foreseeable future.

The freedom of 7’s multitrack outweighs any of the perceived improvements in X. Until Apple breaks 7, there really isn’t a reason for me to leave it.

Anyone know when Lightworks will release a mac beta? I haven’t kept up with development lately…

[Adam White]

I’m sticking with FCP 7 until Premiere CS6 is released. I’ve been really impressed with some of the features + power of PP and I like the fact that it respects a more traditional editing paradigm and the fact that I feel like it just gets out of my way and lets me work how I want to.

I’m waiting for the new version of PP because A) FCP 7 still works great for now and B) I feel that CS6 will build on the progress made by Adobe the last couple years and I’m really optimistic its going to be a really good release.

In terms of FCP X, I find the lack of a source monitor offensive frankly, and for me its an instant deal breaker. So is the idiocy of not being able to have multiple sequences in a project/event/hoopla whatever the hell Apple have decided to call it now. And I just felt like it wants to hold my hand through the process which is not what I want from an NLE at all.

For me the issue with FCPX is not missing features but its whole design and way of working. I simply don’t want to work the way X wants me too, so I’m not interested in it. The only way I can see myself sticking with FCP is if all those design decisions are reversed, which is never going to happen.

From the part of the industry I’m in (short form web content) I can’t see FCPX being the NLE of choice for many. We should be it’s ideal user – but we also respect and like working within the editing paradigm that X tossed aside.

[Paul Escamilla]

We’re sticking with FCP 7 for now.

I have two new 12-core Mac towers coming and am excited to experience the speed boost from the dual-core i’m now running on.

I wish I could put a new Final Cut Pro 8 on the new machines, but alas, Apple decided to make FCP X instead, and it just won’t work in our editing environment.

At some point, we will have to switch to a new application. Premiere, or Avid or something else. Were going to have to give it some though and run some trial software.

[Mitch Ives]

[Dominic Deacon] “I’m not sure this forum has an actual poll function but I’m interested in what everyone’s decision has been- FCPX Or Not?”

Jury’s still out. Using FCP7 for most work, using FCPX to learn it.

IMO so much depends on how Quickly Apple fills the gaps. The addition of Multicam and professional output to monitors if does actually happen in early 2012, would go a long way in making it more usable. After that, let’s hope they’re serious and really start improving it on a constant and ongoing basis…

Mitch Ives
Insight Productions Corp.
mitch@insightproductions.com
http://www.insightproductions.com

[Dominic Deacon]

I’ve logged about 60 hours with Edius so far- mostly doing colour correction- and only had to render twice. Both of those were when I imported some pro res files that it didn’t like. The interesting thing was that after the initial render I could then do whatever I wanted with those Pro Res files- colour correct, add graphics etc- but they never needed rendering again. One of my main frustraitions with FCP was that every time you make even a small adjustment, say move a title one frame, you still need to render the entire clip again. Which seemed nuts to me.

It’s interesting over on the Edius forum everyone keeps asking why Edius has such a small user base when it’s easily the fastest option. This forum is a great example of how Edius somehow manages to fly under the radar.

[Herb Sevush]

Dominic –

I gave Edius a look after X first came out. For me there were 2 problems – a lack of integrated compositing workflow and a version of multicam that is not quite robust enough for what i do, although it could work well for others. I’m also fairly committed to a ProRes workflow for now, which makes switching over to Windows a little difficult. Otherwise I loved what I saw, especially the speed and ability to handle anything on the timeline without rendering.

Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions
—————————
nothin’ attached to nothin’
“Deciding the spine is the process of editing” F. Bieberkopf

[Dominic Deacon]

I’ve never used any form of multi cam so I wasn’t aware it was dodgy. For me the major issue at the moment is I find audio work very clumsy compared to FCP. Probably I just don’t understand some of the intricacies of how it works but there’s very little support online for actually figuring these things out in Edius. A quick search of You Tube will bring up dozens of Lightworks tutorials but bugger all for Edius.

[Adam White]

Were in the same position. And there are so many people struggling with the same exact problem.

There is naturally a reluctance to move on from FCP 7 because it is such a solid project, it works so well and there is a whole generation of pro editors who have known little else. These are the younger editors who would probaly have been hitched to FCP indefinately had Apple made the v8 most users wanted. I still find the whole situation pretty remarkable to be honest – here was a product on the brink of taking over the entire industry and essentially wiping out the competition. That looks like a pipe dream for FCPX now.

But I think there is also a sense, speakng from conversations I’ve had with people in the same boat, that we can only put off the inevitable for so long and that the party is over so its probaly time to clear up the mess and move on.

[Michael Gissing]

[Adam White] ” I still find the whole situation pretty remarkable to be honest – here was a product on the brink of taking over the entire industry and essentially wiping out the competition. That looks like a pipe dream for FCPX now.”

‘Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory’ is the expression that springs to mind. FCS3 for the moment pending what my fellow editors locally choose. I am on the final post end – grade online & sound post where FCPX has little relevance.

Some have already jumped to Adobe and many are going to AVID MC6. Da Vinci seems obvious but I will wait until Adobe release CS6 and see if there is any hint of Iridias in their workflow. Also the ultimate decision is also whether to stay Mac.

[David Lawrence]

[Jamie Franklin] “Anyone know when Lightworks will release a mac beta? I haven’t kept up with development lately…”

According to the website, we should hopefully get the first Mac beta on Dec. 19th.

Looking forward to it!

_______________________
David Lawrence
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