[William Beazley]

Dave,

We had a lot of trouble working with AVCHD as well. FCP 7 did not prepare for this well. Sony’s advice on using it is posted here:

https://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/assets/files/micro/nxcam/manuals/25697_NXCAM_FCP_FR.pdf

The 32 bit software explains why FCP is not responding to the extra memory upgrade I bought for another 1300. In fact, I got a “can’t find an codec” message when I added a motion title followed by an “out of memory” error. I’m working with a 3 minute talking head video.

I work mainly with voice over power point on Camtasia and could stay put if I didn’t need a good chroma key capability. I’ve spent one and one half days fighting FCP 7 bells and whistles, just so I could add a nice background. Beware of chasing the hype about the MAC without considering the learning curve. Fortunately, there are enough helpful users (read non-high-priests) who post tutorials. To these folks, I am grateful.

Vegas could take a lot of cycles on my laptop to render while I take a potty break or watch the news. I do 3 minute blurbs not Avatar. Home movies with better cameras. Nothing special.

So, like you say, buy what fits your brain.

Bill

[William Beazley]

I am in the middle of exactly this bake-off myself. My son talked me into buying a huge MAC Pro with FCP 7. Today for example I tried to get a simple project started but the UI is too opaque for an occasional user like me.

To me, most apple users are just too arrogant in their anti-Microsoft out look to understand that the market needs a user friendly interface with dive down ability for power users. The 3 button mouse brought up earlier is a perfect example. Jobs hated the 3 button mouse, so now Mac users have to get carpal tunnel searching around for the right menu to descend, rather than a simple right click for a drop down menu. It’s stupid and wasteful.

I have arrived at this bake-off because I use a lot of Sony equipment and have a dual core PC so I am drawn to Vegas. I have, however, a lot of horse power for rendering in this super Mac 12 core so I am drawn to FCP. Regarding FCP I am considering FCP X for the easier UI as being better for occasional use. Vegas looks like an easier direction now for a PC laptop with small files to render and no restrictions to Quad Core.

Maybe the higher art favors the power user approach but the profit to keep the SW writers alive is in the mass market.