You got a project coming up. But, you’re not sure whether you should tackle it in Apple’s new Final Cut Pro X or in a NLE you’re familiar with, Final Cut Pro 7. Here is my version of this scenario and what I chose.
I am starting a new project that I will be working on for the next several months. The first major decision I am trying to figure out is whether I should use FCPX or FCP7. Both have their benefits as well as negatives. Let’s quickly go over some of the pros and cons of each.
Final Cut Pro X
Apple’s brand-spanking new editor, Final Cut X, is a state-of-the-art non-linear editing application. Features like background rendering, Smart Collections, Magnetic Timeline (which I view as a negative, as stated in my review), and more make editing a breeze. However, it’s a 1.0 version. It does have a lot of bugs, which Apple needs to address. Plus, it’s missing a lot of features that editors are complaining about. However, as time goes on, Apple will fix those errors and add the features we desperately need. Since my project specifically is going to take about 5 months, I’m sure by the end, there’s going to be a ton more support.
Final Cut Pro 7
Now it’s FCP7′s turn. For any new editors out there, Final Cut Pro 7 is the previous version of Apple’s NLE. In terms of benefits, I already know how to use this. It is very stable and easy to use. However, it’s outdated. Final Cut 7 runs on 32bit code and doesn’t have the most up-to-date features. Plus, the media management sucks!
So, as you read, both have their pros and cons. I didn’t go too in depth for either of them, but I’m sure many of you know the other positives and negatives. What it really comes down to is the tools that I need. As I have in many posts in the past, I’m going to refer to what Larry Jordan said. It does not matter what editing application you are using, but the story you are telling. Your clients don’t know a new software came out, unless they read the tech news. It all comes down to which editor suites your needs.
For this project, I’m going to be using mostly my DSLR, which FCPX was built for (tape-less media). However, it’s going to be finalized on a DVD, with chapter markers. Sadly, Final Cut Pro X does not currently support chapter markers. I’m hoping that Apple will support it soon. In the end, I have decided to use Final Cut 10. While it is missing many features, I currently don’t need them. And if I do, I can easily edit that part in 7 and import it into X. Plus, I need to start learning this new generation editor. While I may not like it, Apple’s not going to all of a sudden change it back to the old version. So I can either sit and complain and whine, or I can calm down, watch training videos, and take it step by step.
To see more information regarding Final Cut Pro X, please read my review. Subscribe to the RSS feed, follow @FinalCutWhiz on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook for more info.
UPDATE:
After using FCPX for a little while with some of the production footage, as well as some input from other editors, I have decided to use Final Cut 7 for this project. It is just so much easier to do the simplest things in FCP7. And, if there’s anything that I’d really like to be done in FCPX, I can just do it there and export it to 7. Maybe in the future, when Apple adds the necessary features, I will go back to 10.
UPDATE 2:
I am so glad that I went with Final Cut Pro 7. I missed all the great features that were in legacy versions of FCP. Good bye Final Cut X, at least until Apple fixes your many problems.
In a couple of days you will be back to FCP 7… as most FCP 7 editors are doing.
FCPX is very unstable, make a couple of mistakes one after the other and there is no way back after closing it. If it hangs (as it will do almost daily) you are in danger of loosing hours or days of work.
Your system will collapse rapidly, as FCPX takes all the resources of the system. Background rendering is a bit of a joke actually… Editing in FCP 7 with ProRes is much smoother and much faster than editing with FCPX (in my and others peoples experience)
Audio gets clunky all the time. The timeline does not respond as it should, again and again get painly slow moving around in the timeline
Projects in FCPX after FCPX hangs (and it will almost daily), get easily disconnected from media, and there is no way to connect them back (… yes, the re-link mode does not work either).
Editing with more than one track, is a nightmare if you use a external sync audio. You cannot link the audio to the base track. When it gets out os sync you want be notice by FCPX.
You cannot add (without a cumbersome workaround) audio transitions.
There is no transparency controls direct on video clips, you have to do again a cumbersome click there and there to do what it takes seconds in FCP 7, and you don’t see the state in the clip.
Media Management which should be a stark point, is not that easy to understand.
Render files takes huge amount of space for reasons no one understands. I edited a 500 mb clip, and it took 15GB of Rendering for that… with no effects applied on the timeline what so ever.
It doesn’t matter what they say, FCPX is a beta product, highly unstable. And so as it is, cannot be taking seriously in any production facility.
By the way, do not try to edit in multicam, multitrack multiaudio project, it will drive you nuts editing and cutting in it’s bloody Magnet timeline in less than a day…
That’s my experience. I went back to FCP 7…
Premiere Pro is fast and with a lot of Post- Production features, but I find it’s concept of cutting is very very poor comparing it to FCP 7. Cutting is what we do to tell stories.
I’m studing now closely AVID MC, it seems they really take seriously the cutting process… and I understand now why Premiere Pro is not being taken seriously in the studios, the cutting in PP is just plain horrible comparing to FCP 7 and AVID MC IMHO.
Shame on Apple for doing what they are doing, the way they are doing it. Replacing a stable, well known and praised Production Suite for a kindergarden unstable all-in-one beta product, without any prior notice and leaving studios, production facilities, education and training centers which have spent huge amounts of money on their products in the cold.
This will affect this company not probably in their pocket in short term, but their credibility as a company which products can be trusted in a profesional environment is GONE…!
Many people using FCS use Logic, use Aperture, use Macs.. who tell many others to use Macs to use their products… that’s now gone. And this will affect them in one way or another.
Will see…
my 2 ¢