The exponential greatness of the magnetic timeline in FCPX

[Andrew Kimery]

I’m going to harbor a guess and say this will be a more one sided discussion than Herb’s multicam thread since multicam is common ground that’s found in all the major NLE’s where as the magnetic timeline is not.

[James Ewart]

[Steve Connor] “So what are the benefits of the magnetic timeline over tracks?”

It’s lovely simply not having to worry or even think about what might be happening outside of your field of view. No “select all forward” necessary. Ever. No second thought given to what might be getting knocked out of sync ten minutes down the road or more. So you can concentrate on where you are. It’s a huge advance In my view.

[David Mathis]

No worrying about track assignments or making an unintended edit as of a result of failing to pay attention to said tracks. Connected clips staying together unless told otherwise. Focusing on the story not mechanics, though learning the basics is a good learning experience.

So, a Motion question here for good measure: Benefiits of groups in Motion over pre-comps in After Effects, just for kicks. Now off to my vacation.

[Dennis Radeke]

[Steve Connor] “So what are the benefits of the magnetic timeline over tracks?”

Well, the question you ask starts with a bias whereas Herb’s question was one of inquiry and an exposition of where he’s come from.

If that’s how you posit the question, as Andrew said, you’re likely to get very one-sided answers.

My two cents,
Dennis

[Jeff Markgraf]

Fair point. So…

Herb: “So I invite you to enlighten me on what you see as the strengths of multicam in X.”

Steve: “So I invite you to enlighten me on what you see as the strengths of the magnetic timeline in X.”

Let the games begin anew.

[Steve Connor]

[Dennis Radeke] “Well, the question you ask starts with a bias whereas Herb’s question was one of inquiry and an exposition of where he’s come from.

If that’s how you posit the question, as Andrew said, you’re likely to get very one-sided answers.
“

Fair point so let’s continue using Jeff’s rephrasing of the question.

[Herb Sevush]

[Andrew Kimery] “since multicam is common ground that’s found in all the major NLE’s where as the magnetic timeline is not.”

That about covers it.

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

[Herb Sevush]

[Scott Witthaus] ” What do you learn without actually doing it?”

I learned that X handles start-and-stop shooting for multicam much better than PPro, and if that was a major part of my workflow, I would have to seriously consider it. I learned that X has no ability to flatten it’s multiclips, and along with that it is very difficult to stabilize or use optical flow on any of the clips in it’s multicam timeline, all of which is quite simple in Ppro, and if that’s a serious part of your workflow, then X might not be for you.

It takes me at least a month of continuous, full time usage to even begin to evaluate an NLE. After the first month I hated Legacy. After the third month I was glad I hadn’t stopped after the first month. Bill Davis constantly bemoans those who “give up” on X too soon, that it can take a long time to “wrap your head around” X’s way of doing things. I don’t have 3 months to go down the wrong path so doing research saves me from investing my time in something that is obviously not the way to go. YMMV.

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

[Oliver Peters]

Magnetic timeline – the debate 😉

For me it’s a pro and con. I object to the fact that removing a dissolve at the head of a timeline causes a shift in timing by half the length of the dissolve.

I’d love to see a way to lock storylines or clips in a position relative to time, not each other. Like turning on track locks in other NLEs.

In general I like the magnetic timeline for roughing in an assembly, but really cumbersome when polishing the edit.

– Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com

[Timothy Auld]

Anyone have any comment on the lead pipe cinch fact that Avid has had the equivalent of the magnetic time line for 30 years or so? But you can turn it off if you need to?

Tim