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Something else to debate!
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[andy patterson] “The Surface Pro uses a Core i5/i7 and Windows 10. It has done that for years. Even when it ran Windows 8 it could use an i5/i7 CPU. You can run Indesign and Illustrator on the Surface Pro. You can find videos of people doing this 4 years ago.”
Interesting. How does it handle the heat in that form-factor?
I notice you mention only vector based software. Does it run higher requirement pixel based manipulations like Premiere Pro that has to push a ton more pixels around ?
Thanks for the info.
Creator of XinTwo – https://www.xintwo.com
The shortest path to FCP X mastery. -
[Bill Davis] “Does it run higher requirement pixel based manipulations like Premiere Pro that has to push a ton more pixels around ? “
Looks like it does.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=premiere+pro+surface+pro&page=&utm_source=opensearch
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Michael Hancock
Editor -
My daily laptop is a Surface Pro 3.
[Bill Davis] “Interesting. How does it handle the heat in that form-factor? “
Some heat dissipates passively through the case, but there are small fans that kick in to push out hot air when necessary.
[Bill Davis] “I notice you mention only vector based software. Does it run higher requirement pixel based manipulations like Premiere Pro that has to push a ton more pixels around ? “
Sure. The Surface Pro is a real laptop, but with a different form factor. It has a screen you can touch, a keyboard you can tear off, and an OS designed to handle both. I’ve used Ae, Pr and even a little C4D and Nuke on my Surface Pro. I wouldn’t pick a laptop for that kind of work as my first choice, but it works fine.
I personally think it’s a little big and heavy for frequent tablet use — I like the iPad form factor better for that — but Cortana is pretty cool and the flexibility of going back and forth between tablet and desktop personalities right on the same device is impressive.
Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive | RenderBreak [blog] | Profile [LinkedIn] -
[andy patterson] “It is unfortunate that you are limiting yourself to just editing. Why not try to create logos using Illustrator or edit the photos that you have to use in your video production with Photoshop? Maybe on day you will start to use Cubase or Cakewalk for audio mixing. In that case the touch screen will allow you to manipulate the virtual audio board as easy as using a control surface. In fact some Cakewalk users have stated they like using touch screen over the control surface but everyone will have their own preference. Others have stated touch screens work good for certain tasks but not everything. I agree. “
That answers it for me.
Horses for courses.
I don’t currently value that type of “learn 6 programs and switch between them daily” approach if I can possibly avoid it.
I understand the concept. Each program custom developed to do ONE task as well as possible – providing the user ultimate control with deep access to everything. The thing is, I seldom have time to touch six different things just to get the overall task done.
Part of the beauty if X (for me at least) is that I can stay inside it and get essentially everything I need to deliver my work done in one cohesive place.
With the pace of business today – bouncing between multiple tools just isn’t on my radar if I can have one that gets the job done properly in a single environment.
If I was in my teens, I’d probably still have the vision I used to… that learning 6 deep programs – deeply – was a valuable path. Today, not so much. I’ve bought, learned and ultimately DROPPED more software packages over the decades than I currently use. And now I value the ones that let me get the most work done with the least friction in both learning and execution possible.
Sure I’ll take a flyer on a dedicated App if it’s relatively inexpensive or if it specializes in a particular function I need (Like Slice/Track X, etc) but I’ve come to value keeping things “tight” in terms of my desire to expand my program expertise mindshare. Theres just too many things to learn out there – and nowhere near the time available to learn them all.
To each their own.
; )
Creator of XinTwo – https://www.xintwo.com
The shortest path to FCP X mastery. -
[Bill Davis] “I don’t currently value that type of “learn 6 programs and switch between them daily” approach if I can possibly avoid it.”
While I agree with your overall concept of trying to do as much as possible within your core NLE, what tools do you have in X that make it possible for you to avoid using something like Photoshop? Personally I’m not great with it and I avoid it when I can, but I doubt a week goes by that I don’t need to use Photoshop for something work related. The same goes for AE/Motion – I do most of my effects in PPro but sometimes I’m working on a piece that cries out for something heavier – do you never use Motion? On the audio side I use Audition constantly but in X I know that you can use Izotope RX5 as a plug-in and do the same kind of work – but even though it acts as a plug-in, in reality it’s a totally separate audio gui. Just curious as to how you can do everything within X.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions
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nothin\’ attached to nothin\’
\”Deciding the spine is the process of editing\” F. Bieberkopf -
[Bill Davis] “I don’t currently value that type of “learn 6 programs and switch between them daily” approach if I can possibly avoid it.
I understand the concept. Each program custom developed to do ONE task as well as possible – providing the user ultimate control with deep access to everything. The thing is, I seldom have time to touch six different things just to get the overall task done.”
Premiere Pro CC can probably do just as much as FCPX. Having said that I can chop down an oak tree with a steak knife but an axe would be much better. A chainsaw might be even better than an axe. Wouldn’t you agree?
[Bill Davis] “Part of the beauty if X (for me at least) is that I can stay inside it and get essentially everything I need to deliver my work done in one cohesive place.”
That is awesome that FCPX is so advanced. I did not know FCXP supported PDF export, RGB to CMYK conversion as well as support for bleed and slug area. If FCPX had been out when Avatar was being created the people working on the film would not have had to use Photoshop and Illustrator to design the marketing materials for Avatar. I did not now FCPX could do all that.
[Bill Davis] “With the pace of business today – bouncing between multiple tools just isn’t on my radar if I can have one that gets the job done properly in a single environment.”
I agree 100%. If your client needs you to design a DVD cover layout and you can do it in FCPX I say go for it. I wouldn’t use Photoshop myself if FCPX can be used for printing production. I had not idea of the power of FCPX. Maybe Adobe will merge Photoshop and Premiere Pro to compete against FCPX.
[Bill Davis] “If I was in my teens, I’d probably still have the vision I used to… that learning 6 deep programs – deeply – was a valuable path. Today, not so much. I’ve bought, learned and ultimately DROPPED more software packages over the decades than I currently use. And now I value the ones that let me get the most work done with the least friction in both learning and execution possible.”
I agree. I have stopped using many software titles that I used to use 10 years ago. I also bought into Adobe’s Creative Suite (CS was better than CC) because I started having clients want me to create websites and brochures for them. It is OK to just do video editing but I have done a lot more than that for my clients. Keep in mind many video post production houses and advertising agencies offer webdesign, print production as well as video production. That was not the case 30 years ago.
[Bill Davis] “Sure I’ll take a flyer on a dedicated App if it’s relatively inexpensive or if it specializes in a particular function I need (Like Slice/Track X, etc) but I’ve come to value keeping things “tight” in terms of my desire to expand my program expertise mindshare. Theres just too many things to learn out there – and nowhere near the time available to learn them all.”
Some of us have needs beyond just audio and video and some of those needs might be met with a touch screen better than keyboard and mouse. In the end it will depend on the user and the software programs being used. The touch bar and touch screen paradigm may or may not be useful for everyone.
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[Herb Sevush] “Just curious as to how you can do everything within X.”
I guess FCPX is a lot more powerful than I realized.
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Fair questions, Herb.
The primary tool I use that makes me less dependent on Photoshop is called “a designer” (teasing) – seriously, I seldom do that type of work myself. I do constantly get graphic designs form artists (typically west coast folk) and use the type and graphics tools in X to re-create their designs directly in the program so I have editorial control for changes. Using X’s built in keening, leding, and similar tools to match pro designs to my video raster is something I do reasonably often. It’s consistent with my preference not to have to leave the program as my deadlines approach.
Similar to my use of Motion. I mostly commission motion graphics, but I am dabbling more and more. Motions basic linkage in publishing generators and effects directly into my storylines with customizable parameters accessible in the editorial space is a good approach for what I need.
As to audio, for the way I work, X is heaven. Remember I started as a radio guy and narrator by trade. Audio production was my first career. The Logic stuff built into X is awesome. So is the direct VO tool. I realize that many other editors can’t control their raw materials in the same fashion I can, and if I was in that place with “iffy” sound arriving daily, I’d probably use the external tools you mention. But that’s not my reality.
FWIW.
Creator of XinTwo – https://www.xintwo.com
The shortest path to FCP X mastery. -
[Bill Davis] “The primary tool I use that makes me less dependent on Photoshop is called “a designer” (teasing) – seriously, I seldom do that type of work myself. I do constantly get graphic designs form artists (typically west coast folk) and use the type and graphics tools in X to re-create their designs directly in the program so I have editorial control for changes. Using X’s built in keening, leding, and similar tools to match pro designs to my video raster is something I do reasonably often. It’s consistent with my preference not to have to leave the program as my deadlines approach.”
I wasn’t focusing on Photoshop as a CG program as much as in it’s ability to alter static images in ways that I can’t within an NLE. Say I have a locked off shot of someone cooking behind a counter and there’s a product on the side that I want to get rid of. If there’s no action in that part of the shot the simplest thing is to create a still image, take it to photoshop, use a clone tool to erase the errant product and fill in the frame around it, then bring it back into my timeline and crop out that area of the shot – I never seen those types of cloning or drawing tools within any NLE I’ve ever worked with. You could do product removal with Mocha, or something similar, but that’s still leaving your base NLE.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions
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nothin\’ attached to nothin\’
\”Deciding the spine is the process of editing\” F. Bieberkopf -
[Herb Sevush] “- I never seen those types of cloning or drawing tools within any NLE I’ve ever worked with. You could do product removal with Mocha, or something similar, but that’s still leaving your base NLE.”
Have you tried creating a custom mask with the pen tool? For example, I’ve had to erase license plates before (we didn’t blur because we didn’t liked how it looked) from handheld shots and I basically duped the video clip onto V2, used the pen tool to crop out just a portion of the car’s bumper, and then used that to cover the car’s license plate. After feathering the edges it look fine (thankfully the car’s bumper and a pretty plain, uniform look overall).
Each situation is different, but there might be more power in your NLE to cover these types of situations than you think.
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