[Sean Sullivan]

Agreed. Thanks Paul.

[Sean Sullivan]

Thanks Chaz for your response.

I am aware that I can go to other programs (Nuke and others), but as I wrote my point was if you offer compositing as a feature in Final Cut Pro it should work at a professional level (it doesn’t) and I gave some suggestions on how that could be achieved. Not sure I understand the rationale of offering something sub par, which you have characterized as an “added bonus”, even if offered in another program. What is the purpose of a deficient added bonus? I have not suggested Final Cut “specialize” in compositing, merely that it achieve basic compositing at a professional level. I disagree with any rationale that suggests you can’t do something professional in more than one application. If you work for Apple I hope you will pass on my other suggestions if you find this offends you. My concerns regarding compositing were but a smaller point in a larger perspective.
I apologize in advance if this sounds heavy-handed, but I hope that Apple will not be defensive. I think the key to making something better is listening to the consumer base (and at least entertaining the possibility that they might have something valid to contribute) rather than explaining the current thought process driving development. The later creates a continuous loop.

[Sean Sullivan]

If apple is watching I want to chime in on the wish list:

The most important improvement FC could make is to improve speed and efficiency and thus reduce the amount of productive/billable time lost through inefficiencies (such as render times), the number of visits to other software applications and workarounds, even in run-of-the-mill workflows. In my fantasy Final Cut would enable me to do a basic job, in a quality HD format, exclusively in FC in real-time.

In general, ending or reducing the need to render and/or minimize the time rendering takes would go a long way to improving the next version of FC. Since Final Cut is a professional tool, then the filters and features inside FC as well as the Studio should maintain that standard across the board. When more than one application is necessary why not have greater integration of the components of the studio, so common elements functioned the same way and there was greater consistency to the g.u.i., menus, and function (including round-tripping) of the studio components.

My specific wish list for FC improvements include:
1. SPEED – 64bit processing and optimization with the latest apple hardware.
2. H.264 mov file native compatibility (several streams in real-time…premier already does it); In general I wish Apple could find a easier/better way to work with footage in multiple formats, including reducing or eliminating render times and accepting a wider range of formats.
3. On the fly file/timeline compatibility conversion integrated into Final Cut’s interface (automatic prompts, simple, easy-to-use conversion window [i.e. Mpeg StreamClip], integration of essential compressor features);
4. Serious (professional quality) green screen capability (i.e. better/finer edge and masking tools, with pen tool addition of unlimited anchor points which can be easily/manually moved without prior activation for garbage matts and masks);
5. Better native color corrector (yes I know they got Color but why bounce back and forth if I don’t need to);
6. How about a serious face lift to DVD Studio Pro for good measure? (a specific but basic matter: the timeline in DVD Studio Pro should work exactly like final cut)