Will FCX be around for a while?

[Shane Ross]

Only Apple knows and they’ll never tell. We all thought FCP 7…at least the way FCP was set up in that version…would be around for a while, as it was taking over the TV/Film industry. But then that got the axe and a version that met the needs of the larger base of editors came out. And they all seem to like it. And it’s constantly updated, so it seems fine, for now.

Apple did kill Shake, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro without warning…so, who knows?

FCX has a HUGE userbase of over 2 million (I don’t have proof of this, just word on the street, I’m sure Philip Hodgetts has the actual proof somewhere), making it the most popular editing app out there. So I can’t see it going anywhere. But then again, FCP 7 was killed…so you never know.

Also, Apple is lagging behind in high end computer updates…the MacPro was last updated in 2013, the same time that the iPhone 5C and 5S came out…and now we are on iPhone 7. Take that as you will.

I no longer make plans of any longevity with Apple. NO one knows what they are doing, and those that do, can’t say.

Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Oliver Peters]

There’s no one who actually knows who can or would tell you that. You’re only going to get conjecture and speculation in any online forum. I would say you have at least another 5 years – hopefully more. It’s anyone’s guess after that. That being said, even if development stopped today, the app would continue to work, so it’s a pretty low risk. That machine would also be fine with Media Composer, Premiere and Resolve, should you need to jump ship. It never hurts to be as fluent in as many NLEs as you can be.

Ultimately it depends on the type of work you do. If you freelance professionally and have to be able to interchange with other shops and freelancers using compatible project files, then you’ll find that in the greater world out there, few others are running FCPX. It’s strong in pockets, but not overall. OTOH, if you are a casual user or a one-man-band without the need to share project files, then it really doesn’t matter what you use, so the time investment in FCPX will pay off for you.

– Oliver

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

[Tom Sefton]

I very, very much doubt it’s going to get discontinued any time soon. Besides that, it’s easy to learn!

Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk

[John Young]

[Shane Ross] “And it’s constantly updated, “

Let’s not get carried away…. 😉

[Michael Hancock]

It gets major improvements about as often as the MacPro! Oh…wait….

To the OP though – when Apple released FCPX they said they had a 10 year plan. It’s 5 years in, so you could reasonably expect 5 more years before they toss it out and start over.

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Michael Hancock
Editor

[Oliver Peters]

[Shane Ross] “FCX has a HUGE userbase of over 2 million (I don’t have proof of this, just word on the street, I’m sure Philip Hodgetts has the actual proof somewhere)”

I think the last official Apple statement was only 1 Million. However, that’s been a couple of years at this point and FCPX continues to be a high-ranking app in the Mac App Store. So I think it’s fair to presume there are over 2 Million by now. Maybe even more.

But one thing to consider, the bulk of FCPX users probably aren’t working editors and many aren’t even in actual production and post fields as we usually understand them. In the case of Avid users, which is a much smaller number, I think it’s fair to say that the majority use it professionally – or at least need to have a good understanding of it for their job. Premiere is probably in the middle, because a lot of users have it by virtue of being CC customers.

My point is that just because there are a lot of users for the app, doesn’t necessarily affect its professional circumstances and development. I think with Apple, most of us have come to understand that when they label something as “pro” it doesn’t mean “for the professional user”. Merely that the product is for a more advanced customer than the non-“pro” model. Take iPad versus iPad Pro or MacBook versus MacBook Pro as examples. That being said, FCPX certainly is quite a professional product and I’m pretty sure the development team has the professional user in mind for their target customer.

– Oliver

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

[Herb Sevush]

[Tom Sefton] “Besides that, it’s easy to learn!”

Only if your a newbie, according to some. Apparently experienced editor’s brains are too full of other, older stuff to take advantage of it’s ease. Like a file drawer they have only so much room in their noggins and once filled up it takes time to make space for the new. “It’s so easy, it eluded me.”

Or so I’ve heard.

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

[Charlie Austin]

[Herb Sevush] “Or so I’ve heard.”

From a couple people. Who are wrong. 😉

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~ My FCPX Babbling blog ~
~\”It is a poor craftsman who blames his tools.\”~
~I still need to play Track Tetris sometimes. An old game that you can never win~
~\”The function you just attempted is not yet implemented\”~

[Tom Sefton]

Turn off your mind, relax, and float upstream.

It’s easy if you try!

Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk

[Glenn Payne]

Thanks so much, everyone! Especially for the speedy replies. Sounds like it should be around for the next few years at least so I’ll probably give it a go. Now I just need to find a beefy used imac (at a reasonable price) and I’ll be good to go. Thanks!