[David Eaks]

SliceX with Mocha is on sale for $99 until the 22nd. I got it while its on sale, have barely touched it yet but heard (read) its good-
https://www.coremelt.com/products/slicex-powered-by-mocha.html

Event Manager X is a very good $5 spent-
https://assistedediting.intelligentassistance.com/EventManagerX/

The Apple FCPX third party software and devices page is a great place to start when browsing for plugins-
https://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/resources/plugins.html

If you haven’t already, read the Apple Whitepaper: FCP X for FCP 7 Editors-
https://support.apple.com/kb/ht4965

The FCP.co free plugins and free effect Friday pages house lots of stuff from a variety of people-
https://www.fcp.co/forum/9-free-fcpx-plugins-and-templates
And
https://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/news/1153-it-s-free-final-cut-pro-x-effect-friday-here-on-fcp-co

[David Eaks]

Ahh, makes sense. Thanks Mark! I really enjoy the Macbreak Studio videos, BTW.

[David Eaks]

Nice find Dave! Although I had a bit of a hard time absorbing much from the video, as my mind wonders into thinking about an FCPX version at every flick of her finger.

[David Eaks]

I was meaning to start a thread asking about the iPad app for LPX. Glad to hear its solid and its integration is actually useful. I bought and fiddled with LPX a bit, but honestly I’m pretty lost. Never even got to messing with the App. Although its very different to video editing, I figure that if they can get this right, there is at least a chance that they can do it for FCPX too. I find the current FCPX controller apps to be worthless to me. They try to “replace” the keyboard and mouse, that’s just not going to happen. We need a supplement to keyboard and mouse, with navigation shortcuts, favorite effects and transitions etc, layout switching. IMO.

It’s been nice to see a positive reception to an X app. Really looking forward to learning it and creating some sound for video my projects.

Out of curiosity, is your photo from and iphone, saved to a windows PC, then uploaded?

[David Eaks]

I think Jeff’s “compound clips as snapshots” method could be handy, but it is ONLY to be used once you have a firm grasp on how compound clips work.

What he is saying is that you can select everything in the timeline and create a new compound clip (compound clips are saved to your event and you’d give it a name identifying the version, if you go into the compound clip and make changes it will alter every instance of that compound clip on every timeline it is in). The idea is not to actually use the compound clip in any timeline, but to add the compound clip to a timeline and choose “break apart clip items”. It will remove the “compounding” so that all the clips are back on the timeline, just like it was before creating the compound clip in the first place. Once broken apart, there is no longer any relationship between the clips on your timeline and the compound clip in the event. So, the compound clip is like a “holding cell” for a version of your edit or a “snapshot”.

So, compound the entire timeline and give it a version name, break apart and continue editing, compound it all again at another meaningful point in the edit (this is now snapshot 2), break apart and continue editing, repeat. If you want to go back to an older edit you’d add the appropriate compound to an empty timeline and choose “break apart clips items” and start editing away.

I’d really recommend just using duplicate project to create versions of your edit. Much more straight forward and simple and without many potentially devastating user error problems.

I use compound clips to “store” several little groups of titles/effects/graphics, kept in an event called “All Favorites”. For example, a group of three custom titles over a single background graphic, I can open the compound clip in its timeline, copy whichever little title group I want, then go paste it in the project I’m working on. The compound clip itself is never actually edited into a timeline. It’s a great way to save a custom template with several elements already put together.

[Jeff Kirkland] “I’d argue that it’s not prosumer to provide them, just maybe a little prosumer to use them. But guilty as charged.”

Agreed, guilty. But why do people think that FCPX is prosumer because it has templates available? No other “professional” application has ever included a template that maybe wouldn’t give the best impression of your companies work if it was use in your project? Thats laughable.

[Ronny Courtens] “I hardly ever use the templates, except when I see one that offers a pretty good starting point for a certain job we have to do. Then I open it in Motion to tweak and customize it and I save the custom template straight from Motion into the FCPX browser for further use. This can be a huge time-saver on fast turnaround projects while the client does get his “own” look. “

This is where the real power is, which in my mind proves beyond any doubt that it is intended for professional use. Creating your own template for use right in FCPX. I just made a simple transition that has Motions 3D Throw behavior parameters published and a cross dissolve at the end. So it does a customizable zoom before a cross dissolve at the end. I used to keyframe the same thing in the timeline fairly often when editing multicam projects. Now the effect is just a click away.

[David Eaks]

I noticed the iOS App update on my iPad and updated it. When I saw the name change, I immediately thought “that wasn’t a good idea”. But honestly I haven’t used the service in qute a long time, Dropbox works for me.

[David Eaks]

I agree with the 7506 recommendation. Low cost, great all around quality. Since you seem to be focused on using them primarily for video editing, you really just need two things IMO

1) hear sound

2) be comfortable

Now, the 7506’s are pretty much all I know, we haven’t been without two or more pairs almost as long as I can remember and they are no-brainier purchase. Also check out the newer MDR 7510 model though. Larger 50mm driver units, wider frequency response, double the power handling, durable non-folding design, similar price. Seems like a generally positive reception to these, but read some reviews to see what you think.
B&H link- https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/758126-REG/Sony_MDR_7510_MDR_7510_Professional_Studio_Headphones.html

My other thought is that there may be some other model headphones that are specifically designed to be worn for extended periods of time, maybe with some better airflow. I tend to get sweaty in the 7506’s. Especially if you aren’t specifically needing to block out other room noise, I’d bet there’s something even better suited to comfortably wearing for hours on end. As Andrew said, it’d be a good idea to go try some on for yourself.

[David Eaks]

Ahh! Bret hit it right on the head. That is precisely what my situation was, and how I got around it.

And I now recall the “select clip but don’t import” method was for AVCHD clips that were offline, but “shouldn’t” have been offline.

[David Eaks]

Hmm, I had the same thing happen a couple days ago but I just can’t remember what I did to get around it. Is it possible that FCP was quit during the import/generating thumbnails of these clips?

Try opening the import window, navigate to the original files, select one of the clips (just as if you were going to import the clip), then select just the other clip, but don’t import either clip, just cancel the import window. Now try to select the clips in the event browser and see if create multicam is available.

[David Eaks]

I agree with the others, and would recommend waiting to make a decision until the new Mac Pro is actually released. You say “but I have to get something”, but do you? Your current setup is stable and making you money right?

Another option is to buy a maxed out iMac now, then sell it if you end up wanting the new Mac Pro. Taking the financial hit as “worth the convenience” of having the fast new system in the meantime. Or just keep the iMac because it’s already meeting your needs. It doesn’t sound like you are actually in a “need to buy now” situation.

I’ve been teetering on the edge of the same situation for a while, feeling the strong pull of “gear acquisition syndrome”, but am doing just fine with the good old 2008 MP and just buying more storage, recording media and other gear that will be just as useful regardless of new Mac Pro or not.