-
Since when was the law written you had to upgrade to the latest?
-
I wonder if people also felt that way when the first node based composting apps were released.
I suspect Apple believes the interface will improve work efficiency. Generally Apple has been pretty good on designing user interfaces throughout their product lines.
They’ve also dealt with new interface aversion with the jump from iMovie 6 to iMovie 08 so I wonder if there was a longer term response they may have been looking at when they decided to make the same jump in FCP.
-
Truth is there are many kinds of environments in which editing is done and FCP X will satisfy some and possibly not others. That isn’t really the point, at least not for me. Though Hoffman and Ross are comfortable with one-person shops keeping all the tools in their belt (AVID, Adobe, Apple) many editors, like myself, have to function in larger, collaborative environments, and Biscardi is our “voice of sanity”. With multiple edit stations and editors, assistants, and clients, facilities seek a streamlined workflow that will address as many needs as possible and will remain stable into the future. In the world of Apple post production FCP 7 is not as capable as current competing products and FCP X remains an unknown.
Apple has put businesses in the predicament where their current FCP solution has fallen behind, their future FCP roadmap is unknown and, rightly or wrongly, in doubt; as a consultant it would be irresponsible to make a business argument in favour of FCP in the current environment, and I personally resent Apple’s practices that have created this situation. Some facilities have taken my advice and planned their next upgrade cycle around the release of a 64-bit, modern FCP, and now they are asking what happened to that plan? I don’t have an answer; who would have predicted this mess of uncertainty? Being “secretive” has served Apple well in the consumer market, but look at Apple’s record in the business sector; there is a pattern here.
If I ever go back to making my living working from my basement I will rejoice in the choices available. In the meanwhile I am expecting to see the reverse of the trend seen over the last 5 years locally and witness a facility migration away from FCP. It may be that FCP X 1.0 when released will surpass current expectations, but then it might not matter; that’s just business.
Duane Martin
Calgary FCPUG -
So apparently, making a decision about the future will have to wait until June… You’d need to buy a license for each station (normal for any new software), and any given project would have to start and end in FCP X or other NLE. I don’t see where there is a difference in what I’ve been saying for a facility with many workstations. If it won’t work for you, don’t use it. Use what does… I’ve seen more than one facility with more than one NLE installed BTW. I don’t see how this changes anything. Maybe you can explain?
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann
Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.
-
[Duane Martin] “as a consultant it would be irresponsible to make a business argument in favour of FCP in the current environment”
Which may last all of eight weeks. As a consultant one can say hold off. Thing of the bigger iron purchases such as MacPro. One might say hold off as well given you will not retroactively be able to install Thunderbolt ports. On the other hand if you must make a decision today you have your answer whether computer or NLE.
[Duane Martin] “I don’t have an answer; who would have predicted this mess of uncertainty?”
In eight weeks they will either be happy or they will be moving to Avid or Premiere. Given what happens with any change this is not unusual. Maybe you should talk to people who were using Discreet Edit or maybe Combustion. This predicament is not uncommon.
In this case FCP is being replaced by an entirely new app called FCPX. That much is clear and in June people will know if it has the same functionality.
-
Being an old discreet *edit’or myself, you raise the point that hasn’t been made clear before. What we are seeing is an EOL for FCP. The fact that the same company is coming out with a new product, FCPX, that might or might not be an acceptable replacement for a given shop is not the point – the EOL for FCP is. And I fear it will be just as painful and costly as moving from any other dead NLE. For myself, after dismissing as “silly” all the rumors of Apple wanting to sell FCP, I’m now wishing they had.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
[Herb Sevush] “FCPX, that might or might not be an acceptable replacement for a given shop is not the point – the EOL for FCP is.”
Why isn’t it the point? People can chose FCPX, Avid, PremierePro. Of course maybe the learning curve may be at issue as in all three cases there will be some if you’re not familiar with the intricacies. If FCPX at $299 turns out to be the best option it won’t be costly. If people already have CS5 suite it won’t be costly.
Avid is biggest cost given the crossgrade and possible incompatible hardware that may need to be replaced.At one point many facilities moved from Avid to FCP and that was a major cost savings given the Avid upgrade pricing at the time. FCPX may still be the least expensive option . . . if key features are still there . . . and we won’t know that until June.
So it does come down to whether FCPX is an acceptable replacement, at least regarding cost although not regarding learning curve. Yes, it’s an entirely new beast keeping a previous product name.
-
The reason it’s not the point is that I think most users were expecting an upgrade, not an EOL. Having been thru two of them already (EMC2 and discreet *edit) I wasn’t looking for another.
I always had the ability to chose Avid, PremierePro, Vegas or anything else. But I also used to have the ability to choose an ever improving FCP. That is now a dead issue. Will I choose FCPX ?? Well, not in year one, that’s for sure.
I am thankful that I now have the knowledge to plan for the future — no hardware upgrades this year, since FCP7 can’t even utilize the hardware I have now. 2012 seems to be the crossroads year.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
[Herb Sevush] “The reason it’s not the point is that I think most users were expecting an upgrade, not an EOL. Having been thru two of them already (EMC2 and discreet *edit) I wasn’t looking for another. “
Alas, this happens so it’s nothing new as your post points out. Not fun but just a reality in this business. At least the moves are less costly than they used to be.
[Herb Sevush] “Will I choose FCPX ?? Well, not in year one, that’s for sure. “
It may all depend what’s there and what’s needed but it is possible key things may be missing. My own speculation, but my guess is that since they’re no longer tied to replicating and shipping discs, if there are features missing, they will happen much faster than 1.0 versions in the past. Of course that’s no guarantee that it will happen.
[Herb Sevush] “I am thankful that I now have the knowledge to plan for the future — no hardware upgrades this year, since FCP7 can’t even utilize the hardware I have now. 2012 seems to be the crossroads year.”
One of my own questions is Thunderbolt and anything in FCPX and Lion that may take specific advantage of this beyond what other NLEs can. That may not be known until WWDC. One example might be something akin to Final Cut Server use of Thunderbolt bandwidth as almost “fiber” like. Apple loves motivating hardware purchases. All speculative on my part but at least keep an eye out for a “hook” into hardware purchases that may make FCPX 1.0 more appealing.
-
Craig –
Every case is different, but my work (broadcast) runs in seasons and we’re about to start a new season in June. I would have no problem upgrading FCP 7 in mid-season but I definitely would never switch to a totally new NLE in mid-season. Plus, having learned my lesson, I never buy version 1 software, not even 1.1. I need to see at least one 2 in there to make me a believer. It’s not the missing features I’m worried about so much as the esoteric bugs it takes months to find, especially on an initial release. So, for me, I’ll look at FCPX, and if I like it I’ll give it a try in 2012, but not sooner. What this means is that basically I’m stuck without an upgrade for another year. And so it goes …
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
[Herb Sevush] ” I would have no problem upgrading FCP 7 in mid-season but I definitely would never switch to a totally new NLE in mid-season.”
I agree having been in this situation with broadcast work many moons ago. For updates would do just one NLE and use it for the less demanding work and see if it blows up. For a major upgrade we’d put it on a “non broadcast” workstation and let it get beat to death. This was at an Avid facility when FCP had first come out in fact.
[Herb Sevush] “I never buy version 1 software, not even 1.1. I need to see at least one 2 in there to make me a believer.”
1.0 is worth playing with on a non critical system to see if there’s even potential for 2.0. My own speculative hunch is that things will progress faster given the file based distribution. My guess would be June through December to be a period of fixes and feature additions. Which of course may make it good to go in 2012.
I’m under no illusion that the June release will be good to go in many post environments but I don’t buy into the doom and gloom some others have in this forum. Apple has been a company to manage difficult transitions. They did it with OS9 to OSX and PPC to Intel so they have the management to pull this off. It’s not all or nothing though and not Instant fail either if it’s not all there in June. I have a hunch this will be a killer system come 2012.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up