Understanding Avid products

[Scott Cumbo]

Andrew your right, it is a smaller section of video pros, but why teach the kids things they won’t be using in broadcast or film when those tools are used to make indie films, corporate and web videos also?

I have done my share of corporate videos, web videos, no budget music videos, I even cut a video for a clients kids sweet sixteen, all on avid and fcp. I’m not saying those other programs aren’t valid. I’ll use windows movie maker if someone wants to pay my rate for me to do it. Just saying, in this market right now someone who knows avid and fcp will find it easier to find a job than someone who know Vegas video or whatever.

And you know as well as I do that most of those kids won’t be working in the video industry anyway. Most don’t have the heart for it. But I say teach of the 2 kids that really want to do it, not the other 30 that are just spending their parents money.

Just my 2 cents…. Probably worth less than 2 cents anyway

Scott Cumbo
Editor
Broadway Video, NYC

[Andrew Mckee]

I agree, hence why I am an Avid and FCP7 certified trainer, but I dont think we should rule Premiere (because i think it will be an up and comer) or FCPX (because although its not right for my film work, I can see it being perfect for corporate work) out of the sylabus. In a long course geared towards post, students should learn as many pieces of software as possible. That way they don’t get too attached, learn to pickup software quickly (which is really a necessary skill in this industry) and learn to focus on the techniques of editing rather than the software being used.

Andrew McKee
Editor/Colourist
Avid Certified Instructor – MC5.5
Apple Certified Trainer – FCP7
Pixelwizard.net

[Declan Macerlane]

Tom,
If you’re interested in an all in one solution, then have a serious look at Avid DS. It’s won’t give you everything, but then what will.
It is however an excellent editor, has first class 2d compositing with trees, an excellent graphics too and very good audio tools. It also has a 3d environment which can work well for some thing but is limited.
I’ve used it for offline and online. Film, broadcast drama and documentary, some corporate and even a wedding video 😉 It is a very versatile machine and really should be the only “finishing” system that Avid offers, now that MC and Symphony are so close.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Dec

[Chris Harlan]

[Scott Cumbo] “Using NYC as an example, no one is looking for a kid who knows premie or vegas video.”

Ditto that in LA.

[Tom Galli]

Ok, let’s pretend (for a moment) that I am sold.

I buy MC at the educational price of $295/license.

I like the idea of ProTools, but that’s $700, with no mention of an educational discount. The MP version requires me to buy an audio interface, and the SE version only does 2 tracks, so those aren’t contenders. So maybe all my future sound editing gets done in Garage Band?

But this leaves me without a DVD authoring package. And I do enjoy authoring a good DVD. Where does a Mac user who has been abandoned by DVDSP turn?

The difference between theory and reality is that, in theory, there is no difference between theory and reality.

[Walter Soyka]

[Tom Galli] “But this leaves me without a DVD authoring package. And I do enjoy authoring a good DVD. Where does a Mac user who has been abandoned by DVDSP turn?”

Adobe Encore?

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[Stephen Mark]

This comment is not much use if you have to make a purchasing decision for a school. I’ll make it anyway. I’ve been a professional editor for maybe 40 years — from film to Ediflex, Montage, D-Vision, etc — then (and still primarily) Avid, played with early FCP, using it for a short doc that got nominated for an Academy Award — did it in my bedroom in 2000, which was mind boggling at the time. And now I do some teaching. What I’ve learned when it comes to all these systems is that none of them will be around in the same form for very long. What I want students to know is the aesthetics of the craft. How do you confront a bunch of images and begin to decide, to feel, how to put them together? It takes years to hone craft and build one’s confidence in his or her own aesthetic sense. But a competent professional should be able to adapt to any NLE computer program in a couple of weeks or less. Teach craft. The machine you use to practice on is the least important element. I’m aware there are employers who think potential hires must already be proficient in this program or that and while I consider that a delusion, it’s a real obstacle. It also shows how little many employers know about what an editor does. The answer to any employer who places software knowledge over craft is, “Of course I know ______(fill in the blank with software),” and if that isn’t really the case, run out and get the new book or set of online tutorials designed to get you up to speed.
And now my real reason for following this thread: Does anyone know if Avid FX or Boris Fx (i.e. Boris Red integration) is or will ever be part of Avid 6?