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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy Using old FCP projects in FCP 6

  • Using old FCP projects in FCP 6

    Posted by Chris Woods on March 9, 2009 at 5:02 am

    Not sure if this has been all ready answered on this board, but can you use FCP projects made in FCP 5 or earlier versions in the new FCP 6. I know that in the past I have used projects created in FCP 4 in FCP 5 with no problem, but just wanted to double check just to make sure they didn’t change anything. I’m getting the new version and wanted to make sure I can still edit from my current projects. Thanks.

    Scott Davis replied 17 years, 2 months ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Dino

    March 9, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    Older projects always opens in newer versions of the software. Occasionally a bug will cause problems. They are usually patched quickly. Newer projects never open in older versions of the software. This includes minor updates (.X revs) and patches (and .X.X revs).

  • Scott Davis

    March 9, 2009 at 6:37 pm

    [Dino Sanacory] “Newer projects never open in older versions of the software.”

    Not accurate. If the project is exported (in the newer version of FCP) as xml; you can import into the older version. Now I have never done this with a very complicated project (ie many layers, effects, etc). So far I have seen exact translation.

    -Scott

    Scott Davis
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  • Dino

    March 9, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    [Scott Davis] “Not accurate.”

    I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I’m not accurate. Perhaps that I’m not providing the whole picture? I confess that I was not aware of the possibilities available through XML. My experiences with it in the past (far in the past) were less than satisfactory. There however stands definite limits to what is possible in regards to how far back you can go. FCP 6 introduced XML v.4. FCP 5 covered XML v. 2 and 3. Depending how far back you want to go will require giving up more and more functionality, compatibility, and stability.

    My personal reference standard for version inter compatibility and project information exchange is Avid media Composer and Symphony. I believe that what is possible with these product families is far superior to what is possible in Final Cut.

  • Chris Woods

    March 9, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    Thanks.

  • Scott Davis

    March 10, 2009 at 12:27 am

    [Dino Sanacory] “There however stands definite limits to what is possible in regards to how far back you can go. FCP 6 introduced XML v.4. FCP 5 covered XML v. 2 and 3. Depending how far back you want to go will require giving up more and more functionality, compatibility, and stability.”

    Absolutely. I’m my personal experience opening a FCP6 project in 5 via xml v3 work great for a basic cuts and transitions project. I think as XML matures it will be equal to or better than Avid’s paradigm mainly because of XML’s ability to translate into non-FCP products (Like FMP if I can ever figure that one out.

    -Scott

    Scott Davis
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