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Re-learning the Avid and really hating it
I started out on the Avid in the early 90’s. I then jumped onto FCP on version 1.5. I haven’t used Avid since. I got a call to edit a series on an Avid for 6 months and thought I should do it for steady work. I have the manual out and can’t believe how frustrating this is. I feel like my brain works better with FCP. Am I just so comfortable with FCP or are they really as different as they feel to me now?
I would appreciate any insight or tips.
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12 Replies
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I edit on several systems every month.
FCP 3, 4, 5
Avid Media Composer-Mac
Avid Symphony-PCI find I like FCP the best, but the high-end Avids are very fine machines as well.
It does take a lot of careful concentration to remember where all the controls are (and which keys work for what purpose) on each system.
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I am learning on an Adrenaline. I can see it is a good system but sometimes I just want to adjust something in the timeline like I would in FCP and feel I have my hands tied behind my back. Quick question, is there a way to copy a clip in the timeline and paste it so it overwrites instead of pushing everything? Shift cammand v in FCP.
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What I notice when I go back and forth might be part of your frustration. With the Avid you MUST operate the thing along narrow guidelines or else it wont do what you want it to do. With FCP operationaly its much more freeform. This constriction with Avid is really a physiological thing and for me it adds a burden that is on a moment to moment basis extremely discomforting.
Chris
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What I notice when I go back and forth might be part of your frustration. With the Avid you MUST operate the thing along narrow guidelines or else it wont do what you want it to do. With FCP operationaly its much more freeform. This constriction with Avid is really a physiological thing and for me it adds a burden that is on a moment to moment basis extremely discomforting. Of course for some the Avid way is not such a bad idea, for me I have been half asleep while editing and as long as I did it the Avid way I could get throught the edit, and even get some sleep while doing it.
Chris
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you’re not alone. we have a solitary Avid left in the studio, and when I have to go in there to do something I feel like throwing things and cursing. it’s HARD getting back into the rigid system of AVID after the free-for-all approach that FCP seems to take.
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But let’s not forget that you CAN COPY AND PASTE KEY-FRAMES in the Avid effects window.
This means that ALL settings within a given effect can be duplicated and moved or added with a few keystrokes.This is such a valuable function, that this feature ALONE makes Avid a better system to quickly build (and CHANGE) the timing and adjustment of effects.
If FCP would add this ability, it would make a WORLD of difference in my work-flow.
(And how about a border in FCP that can ALWAYS be added to the edges of any “box,” regardless of how it is cropped, simply by hitting a “Border” button?)
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And the Avid Trim tool is much much better. Have a 4 up view during slip and slide is great. And it pops up when you’re dragging or using the keyboard. I find that FCP’s lack of preview window when you’re using the keyboard to slip and slide is a real detriment.
-CHL
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I’ll add my 2
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Tom,
Have you checked out Silicon Color’s “Final Touch” for FCP? https://www.siliconcolor.com/
It’s like stuffing a Davinci into your Mac! Seriously.
mark
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[Mark Raudonis] “It’s like stuffing a Davinci into your Mac! Seriously.”
Quick Mark. Copyright that. You just wrote Final Touch’s slogan
Michael Horton
lafcpug
https://www.lafcpug.org
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