[Andy Field]

“Despite the FCPX Fans? LOL”

There isn’t a nit that isn’t picked on this forum….a refreshing change from that reading the snark free discussion here this week about PP7.

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852

[Andy Field]

Why all the PP Talk here and not the PP Forum?

because FCP 7 refugees appear to be this forum’s most frequent visitors — and despite the FCP X fans, the FCP 7 veterans desperately want the look and feel of the old program with the speed and efficiency that PP CS7 offers. I’ve been privileged to test the soon to be released version of PP7 for several months and it really is everything we wanted FCP 8 to be ..and more.

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852

[Andy Field]

3 things that are a little different

1 – moving the canvas around – simple point and move in FCP 7 (as long as image and wire frame are selected – in PP6 you must first DOUBLE CLICK the “canvas” window before applying moves in that window.

2 – audio mixing – the mixer is great at recording a key frame mix – but only locked the the timeline track – not each clip – if you mix something and then remove a segment of clips in the timeline – your mix is gone – the key frames stay with the timeline -not each clip….this is something I’m told Adobe is working on fixing for future releases.

3 – composite modes – don’t exist as in FCP 7 and a cntl click on the clip – they are a key filter and effects opacity function – for Alpha and Luma keys – go to the key filters and chose track matte key – for screen, hard light etc…click on clip -then then inside the effects tab – twirl down opacity and you’ll find the various blending modes

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852

[Andy Field]

FCP 7 is frozen in time – file formats, apple system upgrades and a host of plugins may not or won’t be supported going forward. If you’re willing to freeze your system software and hardware where it stands – then stick with FCP7 and keep editing – nothing will break – but you’ll eventually hit a wall with future file formats that may no longer work with FCP7

Depending on the complexity, sound mixing, color correction, and external app requirements you need – FCPX may be ideal for you. IF you have effects and sound mixing intensive projects – Premiere Pro with it’s links to a suite of effects apps may be the better bet.

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852

[Andy Field]

Why the sigh? And the condescending tone? I simply said how I like to work. It wasn’t a personal attack. And I truly didn’t know if you could replicate that in fcp x as I don’t use it much.

Why are so many answers and comments laced with vitriol here?

So you are saying you can tag a group of clips and then click on something that makes it one log-able scrub-able exportable and then reimport able XML reel? If so. Very cool

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852

[Andy Field]

I still live and breath “reels”. Like the old reels of film – or resl of tape – it makes life (for me) so much easier and the spacial relationship recall is easier.

Our workflow with that “newfangled” file based media? — We gather clips from each card/xdcam disk/hard drive record….arrange it by timecode or order shot – and place it in a timeline.

That timeline then becomes a virtual reel. TL1 TL2 = Real 1 Reel 2…

We log everything on each real – soundbites – nat sound – shots etc…create a database of material we can either print or search with
MovieLogger https://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/movielogger – one of the fastest manual loggers around — it exports verbatim logs and XML files so you rapidly find any clip you need and even search in FCP for the exact word you’re looking for in a soundbite or shot description

Write the piece using logs – or create a paper edit

Then go to to town with our timeline/virtual reels

Having logged and reviewed everything that “spacial” relationship – one shot to the next in each reel – is already imprinted in our noggins.

Scrubbing for the right shot or sound (or just typing in the timecode) is a breeze and makes life so much easier than hunting through bins – individual clips or even keywords when you already know the flow of what you’ve shot

FCP7 made virtual clip reals easy – OPTION DOUBLE CLICK to open the virtual reel as a viewer — add in and out points — CMD drag to timeline to edit only the original underlying clip into a new timeline.

Not sure if this is possible in FCP X — Hope they are working on that work flow in Adobe Premiere.

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852

[Andy Field]

Agree with Shane – local stations are either using Edius or Avid – with a smattering of FCP 7 –

Some (including Saturday Night Live and Conan) are now using Premiere Pro

no where in the “for hire – use our equipment” market have i found a single instance of FCP X. Doesn’t make it a bad program…just little or no demand now coming up on two years of it being on the market

Sure it’s fine for one man band operations and boutique agencies that have found it useful in Promo and short form workflows (with a number of work around dealing with primary tracks and audio mixing)

Bottom Line – you need to know virtually everything today – if you are a production editor for hire -you need to be at least proficient in

After Effects
Premiere Pro
AVID
FCP 7 (doesn’t seem to be disappearing)

Edius is useful at the local news level as well as Grass Valley Aurora’s System….but either of those are a quick learn if you know the others

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852

[Andy Field]

Hi Oliver – seemed pretty stuck – left it alone for an hour and came back – still stuck on the AMA deal – disconnected drives and wifi – no help – uninstalled – reinstalled -everything fine again – odd –

I am getting whiplash jumping from NLE to NLE – was a FCP7 wiz – have clients that want AVID timelines delivered so forced myself to learn it – not as enamored but probably because I don’t have the keystroke muscle memory yet – big fan of Premiere which is more FCP7 like but needs work on audio mixing and media management (and more robust set of 3rd party transition plug ins)

Symphony’s a nice step up from MC with the included Boris BCC plugins and CC —

we all have to know it all now until there’s a clear leader again

Thanks for your help and suggestions

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852

[Andy Field]

Thanks for suggestions – unfortunately nothing worked (disconnect wifi – drives – reboot etc) Uninstalled and reinstalled Symphony – working again – odd Thanks for your help

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852

[Andy Field]

Yes a thunderbolt drive – is that the issue?

Andy Field
FieldVision Productions
N. Bethesda, Maryland 20852