[Ewan Lim]

To add: or at least feel like a super cutter.

Ewan
Avid, FCS3, Premiere Pro, After Effects

[Ewan Lim]

I’m 27 and feel your pain.

I started on avid and i do agree that it is a pain. My question is, if you have learnt how to use the FCS apps then have you looked at Adobe’s production premium?

After effects is a few floors above motion. Premiere has a keyboard layout setting that is almost similar to FCP. Encoder works like Compressor but gives better results (IMHO. To my eyes) And adobe audition is like soundtrack pro although i prefer soundtrack pro.

If you have used FCS and need to use something similar but gives better renders then I advise on getting the production premium.

If you have to use avid because the places or suites you are using are Avid suites then I suggest on getting an avid layout keyboard or source for the layout skin. The thing is, once you master Avid then you can probably be a super cutter on other NLEs.

The super cutter meaning that you could probably work faster on other NLEs as their learning curve is not so steep. If you feel like a master fcp cutter then i say look at Ppro at least but if you are concerned about putting food on the table then learn Avid but use other NLEs once in a while so in case anything happens, you will not be jobless.

Ewan
Avid, FCS3, Premiere Pro, After Effects

[Ewan Lim]

Hi Steve, hence me using “semi-excited”. Not fully excited because FCPx is un-usable at the moment.

The future meaning if apple decides to update the program to make it usable for broadcast. I know why it is useless, everyone knows that. It is just when they fill in the gaps. It may or may never happen but who truly knows, Apple may finally break tradition and listen for once.

Ewan
Avid, FCS3, Premiere Pro, After Effects

[Ewan Lim]

@craig:
That is true. Well, what i meant was more towards collisions and etc. I used to make collision mistakes till I sort of ingrained myself with remembering that u can “shift-L” to lock clips an etc.

I am not saying whichever is better. I was just saying that if one knew what one was doing then they won’t make those mistakes. Track based or non-track based will be useful to whoever deems it useful. ( the same as saying, use the best tool that fits you)

Here’s my 2cents:

I am actually semi-excited about the future of FCPX. It is a new way to edit and a new thing to learn and as soon as people or developers can figure out ways to make it fit for broadcast, the better! Such as monitoring and sending audio/visuals for finishing.

My reason for being semi-excited:
able to import iMovie.
Producers/Directors/assistant editors can do a skeletal base cut on iMovie (which is free with a mac) and then send it to the editor to cut it proper!

That is our/my workflow to churn out quick broadcast shows. Director does base cut, send it to editor, editor edits and sends for audio or visual mixing if need be.

And FCPX is easy to pick up too. So is iMovie. There are honestly alot of possibilities with FcpX and its trackless edit could be beneficial. We just have to think differently.

Ewan
Avid, FCS3, Premiere Pro, After Effects

[Ewan Lim]

There are far too many ways to make mistakes in other NLEs too. The thing is, you won’t be makin too many mistakes if you know what you are doing.

Ewan
Avid, FCS3, Premiere Pro, After Effects

[Ewan Lim]

Meaning that like automatic duck, we will have to pay to export XML in the future?

Will it be costly? And also does tht mean we can finally import xml files from fcp7 and fcp6?

Ewan
Avid, FCS3, Premiere Pro, After Effects

[Ewan Lim]

This happened to me once and after I resized the Jpeg photos to something smaller that will be just nice for the resolution of the sequence I am working on, it didn’t happen again.

If the photos are too huge then maybe you could resize it or convert it to PNG files.

This is if other things such as restarting FCP or the Mac doesn’t work.

Ewan
Avid, FCS3, Premiere Pro, After Effects

[Ewan Lim]

Thanks Keith!

It usually takes months for my employers to decide on purchasing anything due to the many levels that they have to go thru just to purchase anything usually. The deal will be over by September and it honestly isn’t that “far away”.

Regarding the Lion OS:

https://www.fossapps.com/download-and-install-nvidia-graphics-driver-for-mac-os-x-10-7-lion/

That is what I have came across so… well… No idea about it until I am able to find more information on it aside from updating drivers and etc.

As for Pro-ress, they do have the codec that is available to download for windows which I have previously installed in my old company for the graphics guys. Since they are all on windows and using AE (CS4). Making it easier for the editors and myself to export to them raw files for them to composite or to key in misc. stuff. So basically I don’t see an issue to use Pro Res on windows.

Also for DVCproHD and HDV, I’ve got the codecs for those too so that isn’t much of an issue.

It looks like I would have to do a slow conversion to PC if I were to advance. If only the Production Premium would include installers for both PC and Mac then that would be great.

Looks like I have to painstakingly convert all my FCP projects into XML and make the jump to PC. Either that or I could just keep my current FCP on standby and use a new PC with the Production Premium for future projects.

Still not sure How I am to approach my employers regarding the EOL of FCP and possible conversion to Adobe Production Premium. I could state all the plus points and how other production facilities (such as BBC? If I am not wrong) are using Premiere. I don’t think that they would care much about converting to Adobe when they have just purchased FCS3 not too long ago. Being ahead of the curve is never an option when saving money is involved. (I have sort of brought up the 50% discount when they were discussing about purchasing new AE for the graphics side.)

Another thing is that it isn’t exactly wise for a big company to do an instant conversion as FCS3 still has some life left in it for 3 more years or so. So it is hard for me to suggest anything to my employers at this point of time because of this… maybe give a heads up and thats about it.

ANYWAY, back to the original question:
It looks like I’d have to wait it out to see if the Lion OS will cause any issues with CUDA if I were to purchase a Nvidia card for a New Macpro.
Bringing back to the focal point, I am (or was by the looks of things) intending on getting a new MacPro/Macbook Pro/iMac for myself. Basically to use the whole Adobe Production Premium.
Seeing how that it is best to use a Macpro for this due to the fact that I could just get a recommended Nvidia card, my only concern for it would be to wait it out the best I can till I am certain that I could use a Nvidia card with the Lion OS (inclusive of boot camp installed with a Win7 64-bit)

An iMac seems suitable if I wanted to stay low cost and basically using Photoshop and After Effects right? Even though I can’t change the graphics card and would have to stick to a AMD (ATI) Radeon graphics card.

AMD card = Open CL
Nvidia card = CUDA

Adobe = CUDA
Adobe = No Open CL

Ewan
Avid, FCS3, Premiere Pro, After Effects

[Ewan Lim]

Thanks for your input Keith!

I only have 5 years of legacy FCP projects in my own system at home. 3 of which are still in the “progress” of being finalized and closed by the client.

I’ve heard of some issues with the updates of the Mac OS and Nvidia cards which was resolved with updates. My next question would be if the Lion OS has any current issues with the Nvidia graphics cards although I haven’t heard of any lately. Purchasing a new Windows 7 might be a cost issue for me so I would have to stay with the Mac OS.

I’m also concerned with the fact that I have to purchase a new MacPro and then replace the AMD radeon graphics card with a Nvidia Quadro FX 4800. Will it cause any further problems? Considering that if I purchase a new Macpro (2011), it will come with the Lion OS and I’m not sure if there will be any issues or not.

@Todd:
It is great to see a VERY quick response from an Adobe rep.! Makes me glad. I wish that every other company was this responsive.

Yes. The single-user retail license allows you to have the software on two computers—just not in use simultaneously. The typical example is for your workstation for primary work and laptop for mobile work Read the end-user license agreement (section 2.5).

So basically, I can’t run AE on one PC/Mac while running Ppro on another? Since they share the same license.

—-

I wish that I could just purchase a Macbook Pro and still be able to fully utilize Ppro and AE’s abilities but it would be a problem since they use AMD graphics cards and not Nvidia and I’m not sure if replacing it would even be an option as it will void the warranty and all. I used to be one of those travel, shoot and edit on the go type of guys.

Or should i just grow some balls and purchase a PC?

Another issue is that I would like to advise my employers on considering purchasing an Adobe Production Premium package as we are using FCS3 and it is EOL. They just recently purchased it a few months back and might/will not be too keen on replacing it just yet. They will probably wait till FCS3 is not usable and jump onto whatever is good at that point of time. Our graphics team will be using AE for graphics (duh) such as lower thirds, opening titles and etc, so I believe that using Premiere Pro would be a time saving solution as it will cut down on time spent on rendering out and make our workflow faster. Plus, I could always make immediate fixes to the graphics if there is a need to, instead of going back to the graphics and having them to render out and etc etc etc… *takes a gun and shoots himself*

If Avid had a workflow as seamless as this then I would definitely suggest that. (I started on Avid but who really didn’t start on Avid or actually hasn’t used it before)

So I need to make a decision on my next Mac purchase (or rather upgrade since my old one is barely living) and also on what to inform my employers.

Ewan
Avid, FCS3, Premiere Pro, After Effects

[Ewan Lim]

about apple and not giving a proper timeline… well that is true.

without the features that everyone has been saying that we need, which we obviously do, FCPx isn’t ready for proper broadcast.

When we think about the future, ‘pretend avid and adobe’ products will definitely be far ahead of FCPx if Apple updates FCP as ‘fast’ as they usually do. IF Apple does get up to speed on Broadcasting needs then FCPx will definitely be my choice.

As for the now, I actually do prefer Adobe Production suite (CS5.5). Since Ppro does seem like its a mix between Avid and FCP. The plus points are also the fact that you can bring in other Adobe project files into Ppro, such as AE and Photoshop. I’d love to go back to editing on Avid but I actually have to do some minor graphics from time to time so Ppro would be a good choice for me. (Now comes the part where I have to convince people that getting CS5.5 is really worth it as FCS3 is EOL. How long can we stick to it before it stops working with updated Mac OS?)

Well, it seems that the answer to my initial question is pretty certain and that without proper external Monitors, we still can’t use FCPx for any kind of broadcasting at the moment. Be it traditional broadcasting or upcoming digital broadcasting. Even if we wanted to use it for web videos (such as youtube or some form of viral marketing), we still won’t be able to use FCPx even if we want to keep up the standards.