[Tim Russell]

Ok, thanks a lot Joey.

[Tim Russell]

Thanks for your reply.

I didn’t use capture or log and transfer, but it was just the insistence of an experienced editor who made sure I knew how to set the cap scratch that made me question if there’s something I’ve not done.

I mean, if you’re getting all the media from one place, then you place the .fcp file in the same place, you have everything you need to open it up at another FCP workstation right?

[Tim Russell]

Haha my dad’s a vicar so I might just be able to swing it!

[Tim Russell]

So I think the general consensus would be to wait and get experience at a post house somewhere. Ok, the thing that makes me quite eager to a get a system now is that I still qualify for a pretty good student discount for the next few weeks, and, I have not seen a single advertisment for even an internship that doesn’t require “extensive knowledge of FCP (and some after effects)”.

If my budget did stretch to a MBPRO, (second hand Mac Pros are still out of my price range), would this be a feasible option to last me 1 – 2 years of amateur to semi proffesional work? Other than the portability aspect and an audio line in, I can’t see the advantage it has over an iMac, as I would upgrade to a proper system if that’s where my work took me.

[Tim Russell]

Thanks a lot for all your replies.

Scott,
I have been scouring industry job websites, and there definitely seems to be a steady flow of editing jobs. I’m not expecting to become a top-paid editor or even recoup my investment for a while, but just start off by looking for low/unpaid jobs to build up a showreel. And with any luck I would have a part time job alongside freelancing.

I would also quite like to work as an editor in a staff position if the opportunity arose, but all the adverts I’ve seen ask for FCP experience, whereas I have only worked with Avid.

So I guess you could say that at first I only want a system to dabble with, but one that could handle maybe the amateur side of semi-proffesional work. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression before.

So with this in mind, would an iMac be ok for a first machine that could last me perhaps a year or two? I don’t mean to dismiss suggestions that I get a MacBook Pro, but would like to go for the cheaper option if at all possible.

William,
I’ve heard that iMacs don’t do peripherals so well before, but I know that they can support a second monitor, and other than an external HD, what else would they need? Or is even that too much?

Thanks again all for your responses.