Byrd Mcdonald
Forum Replies Created
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I’ve been using PRedit for about a year, and it’s had an amazing impact on my work and my business.
An important point to make — this software does save time, but that is not where it’s greatest strength lies. The magic, if you are cutting content that is dense or you have multiple takes of an answer to an interview question , is that you not only are thinking about story and content in a organizational way (does this TELL a story, am I laying this out in the best order). It’s the ability to organize your cut WHILE listening to the interview sections that is truly extraordinary, removing the disappointing moments we’ve all had with paper cuts where just because someone says the right words doesn’t mean they are delivering the soundbite well.
For me, in a world where I’m tracking so much content, it somehow removes the stress of remembering exactly what someone says, putting that memory aspect of editing squarely on the shoulders of the software, so I can sit back a little an “audition” the sound bites, build the story and TAKE IN what it all will sound like in a way that is so freeing for me creatively.
Additionally, it’s an amazing thing (added a few revs ago) to get a “snapshot” of how long your paper cut will actually be when cut.
I frequently don’t use picture when using this tool, as I am cutting stuff constantly, both to hand off to other editors, as well as shows that I finish. I frequently only link to audio files. I use 3Play Media to create JSON files, skipping the elaborate CS4/5 workflow. I create audio-only cuts, then export them to FCP with an excel doc exported as well. From there, it’s super easy to re-build the edit. I do find that the “conform” feature, which rebuilds your timeline in Final Cut Pro, is frequently inaccurate, missing in and out points by seconds. But that’s easy to fix, and that’s the finessing work you need to be doing in an editing app anyway.
I’ve been able to cut really elegant and concise stories using this app that, yes, I could have done before, but it’s more creative and intuitive, and nothing has made editing more fun for me in 2011 than PRedit. I:’m frankly surprised that there still doesn’t seem to be as much buzz for this app as there should be. I can see how people who are cutting montage would find it strange and unnecessary. But for the story tellers among us who use real people to tell our stories, it’s a godsend. Please NLE designers, look at this app and use aspects of it in future revs of your software – it would be great to get this ability under the roof of the NLE itself. I haven’t used Avid’s tool, but I’ve been told it’s no as powerful as PREDIT.
Byrd McDonald
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I seriously can’t believe how ignorant these hippy-dippy defenses of apple’s strategy sound. You are clueless.
Byrd McDonald
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That anyone can defend apple right now is an amazing bit of evidence that Mac fanboys lack critical thinking skills. Small business owner with shop built on fcp, this makes me question apple to the degree that I can see myself leaving the platform entirely.
Byrd McDonald
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Been meaning to reply to this for some time. I think you make a great point that it isn’t about the toys, it’s how you use them. But I will say that it’s exciting for me to get to a point in my pro life where seconds, minutes, and hours of time really do MATTER. Sometimes we really are chasing performance because we see how it can directly relate to our clients served, our sanity, our ability to get OUT of the studio at a reasonable hour, and our ability to experiment. Really trying to put together a new system that will help me do a little bit of all of that – that seems like a fair goal. I’ll say this though. I did buy a new computer, and the amount of time I’ve spent trying to get all the hardware and software to play well together – that has not been AT ALL about the work, and it is frustrating.
Byrd McDonald
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Adding in my experience. Recently bought a 8-core Mac Pro (Mac Pro5,1). Loaded it with 20 gigs of ram. Purchased the Nvidia Quadro 4800 for mac. Also added a PCI-E sata card (that plays a later role in story).
Then I installed, from scratch, FInal Cut Pro 7, CS5, and a handful of plug ins (Magic Bullet Suite) and a few other apps I use in editing and producing.
This box has been in my studio for 3 weeks and it is STILL not stable. The initial problem was that my hard drives would “freeze” the system through the E-sata card. I tried a different card, same problem. Through problem solving, I found, though, that when I removed the Quadro 4800 card, the drives NEVER FREEZE. How one problem relates to another is, I think, the point of Joh’s posting. Sometimes, these problems are mysterious and never reveal an easy answer.
I do know that I have a Quadro 4800 card that seems to not want to be play well with the Mid-2010 Mac Pros, and that is a hard-to-swallow pill, indeed.
Byrd McDonald
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Walter, coming from you, this is probably the input I’m seeking. For FCP, I’ve read about how the code isn’t optimized for the cores, and I’ve used that as a reason to buy middle of the road (spec wise) macs for the last 4 years. But now, I’m beginning to get antsy for more performance. AS a result, I’ve branched out into Adobe products. I recently bought a Nvidia Quadro FX 4800 for my box, and I’m amazed that I’m able to edit my native Canon 5D files WITH filters.
I know the universe doesn’t need yet another beg/ plea with apple to release a new version of the software, and I understand the economics well enough to know they don’t need the pro apps division to make the profits they are making on everything else. I just want to be AMAZED again with Final Cut Pro, performatively.
Back to work, I think my renders done!
Byrd McDonald
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Sorry to be the one naysayer – and it’s likely that my case is an exception, but I’ve owned the monitor for a few months and just this week I’m noticing a very strange, very distracting “flicker” in the monitor that I’m certain is some form of failure in the monitor. It comes and goes, but when it’s around it manifests as this predictable, every-few-seconds “strobe” through the image, almost as if it is getting some form of electrical interference, though the strobe is rhythmic when it is happening.
A bummer. I’m not sure about the warranty, but I’m assuming it is just a malfunction.
Otherwise, I was happy! Also had the SDI option, and monitoring thru my Aja Card produced very nice results. SD upsampling nice as well. JVC build quality = there is the debate.
Byrd
Byrd McDonald
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I’m having the same problem with the same system. The suggestion doesn’t change it for me. I’m looking at my show at 33%, and I still get these random horizontal lines.
Byrd McDonald
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Thanks all for the input. I agree, it’s a mess of a workflow, and I think I see the light. It’s just really difficult in Oregon right not for HD color correction. Sure, I have Color, but no time to learn it for this output, and I’m seriously respectful of the role a colorist plays in the affair.
We are rethinking the approach as we speak.
Appreciated.
Byrd
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I love this quick recipe for dvd making, but I’m cynical that this doesn’t even begin to address the real question of the “best” way to author an SD DVD that started live in 720p 24n codec.
I’m in the exact same situation, and i’m finding that certain approaches are lending much better results than following the quick recipe.
I’ve compared quality between this aforementioned approach, and a different approach of transcoding the HD to SD timeline, and then spitting out a final file for DVD SP.
I know I know…people cry “search the postings.” I’m here to tell you that I have and there are so many conflicting reports about how to downconvert that my eyes are bleeding. I feel like Focal Press should issue a volume on this issue alone.
Some of the varying opinions include.