Final Cut Pro X Released

[Chris Kenny]

Well, except for the part about keeping OS 9 alive for quite a long time, really, so that people with investments in that OS would have some time to make the transition. And the part about telling people what they had in mind...

As I've said several times now, I agree that Apple should have left FCS3 on sale for the time being. Though I don't think pulling is is quite as... apocalyptic as some are making it out to be. If you need to add a new seat, buy a used copy. Yes, there's a small chance if it's not in sealed packaging that some idiot has taken the serial number and resold the physical item, but even should that be the case nothing will ever come of it, realistically.

 

[Tim Morten]

As I've said several times now, I agree that Apple should have left FCS3 on sale for the time being. Though I don't think pulling is is quite as... apocalyptic as some are making it out to be. If you need to add a new seat, buy a used copy. Yes, there's a small chance if it's not in sealed packaging that some idiot has taken the serial number and resold the physical item, but even should that be the case nothing will ever come of it, realistically.

Yeah, that's cool. Let's buy used software instead of modern fully supported software from Adobe, Avid, Autodesk, Assimilate!

Thanks for your helpful advice; hard to believe any of us thought your love of FCP was clouding your judgement.

 

[D Fuller]

As I've said several times now, I agree that Apple should have left FCS3 on sale for the time being. Though I don't think pulling is is quite as... apocalyptic as some are making it out to be. If you need to add a new seat, buy a used copy. Yes, there's a small chance if it's not in sealed packaging that some idiot has taken the serial number and resold the physical item, but even should that be the case nothing will ever come of it, realistically.

OK good. And we can get our support from eBay as well?

(oops, I said I was done. Sorry.)

 

[Terry VerHaar]

How about this: If you like FCPX, go ahead and say so - maybe even tell why. If you don't, go ahead and say that, too. And tell us what you don't like. But how about we stop telling people they are "unprofessional" because they like it, or "fanboys" or "Apple apologists" or whatever other tripe you come up with. And, although there seems to be less of it, if you like it, don't tell people their are fools for moving to something else. Let them be.

The most disgusting thing about this "discussion" is the name calling.

I think FCP-X is truly going to change the editing paradigm over the next couple of years. I predict it will be the number one NLE again at some point in the not too distant future. I think people will eventually cut TV shows, features films, and every form of corporate and web video on it. I fully recognize I might be totally worng or even just a little wrong. Just don't call me "unprofessional" or stupid or foolish or delusional or accuse me of being in Apple's "pocket. Like you, I can think for myself. Perhaps I just don't agree with you.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

As I've said several times now, I agree that Apple should have left FCS3 on sale for the time being. Though I don't think pulling is is quite as... apocalyptic as some are making it out to be. If you need to add a new seat, buy a used copy. Yes, there's a small chance if it's not in sealed packaging that some idiot has taken the serial number and resold the physical item, but even should that be the case nothing will ever come of it, realistically.

Chris, you've made some valid points, but not sure this is one of them. This is a big deal for some companies. I'm just baffled that Apple didn't realize it. I know they do it with other products, but they've been in this game long enough to know that pulling the plug on a product that has it's grips on an entire industry is probably a bad idea. I would imagine they are getting some pressure from some heavy hitters (Turner and others with a lot of seats). It was miscalculated. They still have time to make that right, and I think they will.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

I think FCP-X is truly going to change the editing paradigm over the next couple of years. I predict it will be the number one NLE again at some point in the not too distant future. I think people will eventually cut TV shows, features films, and every form of corporate and web video on it. I fully recognize I might be totally worng or even just a little wrong. Just don't call me "unprofessional" or stupid or foolish or delusional or accuse me of being in Apple's "pocket. Like you, I can think for myself. Perhaps I just don't agree with you.

Terry, I respect your opinion and agree 100% that this shouldn't become personal. Kind of pointless. The only thing I offer to you is to look at this from the perspective of a facility that has multiple editing suites, a deep pipeline that has been built around FCP. That's where this is hitting home the most. If they are committed to Apple, then they have a right to question these decisions Apple has made. Just as I feel you have a right to like FCPX, and to be optimistic about its development. Really, all of the energy should be directed back at Apple, not at each other. And that can be positive energy or negative energy. In the end, it's up to Apple to move in the direction they see fit. I'm hoping that they are able to bridge the gaps. I'm all for these companies pushing each other to be better. We, the users, end up with better products when that happens.

 

[Tim Morten]

CNET story about a petition to bring back the last version: http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20074841-248/petition-seeks-to-bring-back-old-final-cut-pro/

PS - Nice to see Apple's positive response! (Not)

"Petition creator Andrew Landini, who's been a professional Final Cut user for the past eight years, told CNET that his three-year-old Apple account was banned as a result, and that the related discussion thread was shut down without notice."

 

[Brad Webb]

CNET story about a petition to bring back the last version: http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20074841-248/petition-seeks-to-bring-back-old-final-cut-pro/

PS - Nice to see Apple's positive response! (Not)

"Petition creator Andrew Landini, who's been a professional Final Cut user for the past eight years, told CNET that his three-year-old Apple account was banned as a result, and that the related discussion thread was shut down without notice."

I love the second comment in the comments section:

"just learn how to use the new version. Is it too much to ask?"

Just make software that gives you the basic tools to be part of professional workflow.. it that too much to ask?

 

[Tim Morten]

I love the second comment in the comments section:

"just learn how to use the new version. Is it too much to ask?"

Was that from Chris Kenny? Just askin'...

 

[Scott Crawley]

CNET story about a petition to bring back the last version: http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20074841-248/petition-seeks-to-bring-back-old-final-cut-pro/

PS - Nice to see Apple's positive response! (Not)

"Petition creator Andrew Landini, who's been a professional Final Cut user for the past eight years, told CNET that his three-year-old Apple account was banned as a result, and that the related discussion thread was shut down without notice."

That's an interesting article. I'd support a petition to reinstate support for FCS 3, but theirs went on to go over the line... Telling them to demote FCPX to the iMovie family... How presumptuous is that?

"The petition calls for Apple to both "reinstate" and support Final Cut Studio 3, as well as to once again make Final Cut Pro 7 (which is a part of that product) the existing top-of-the-line pro video editing software. And, as a cherry on top, downgrade Final Cut Pro X to a part of the "iMovie family" or put it in the same product tier as Apple's now-defunct, in-between product, Final Cut Pro Express. As an alternative to all this, the petition suggests Apple simply sell or auction off Final Cut Pro 7's source code to a third party so that the product can continue to be developed."

The more I think about it though, I wonder just how important Apple support for FCS is really. It was a $1000 suite, they didn't give much by way of support in the first place.

 

[Brad Webb]

That's an interesting article. I'd support a petition to reinstate support for FCS 3, but theirs went on to go over the line... Telling them to demote FCPX to the iMovie family... How presumptuous is that?

I agree with you 100%. I would sign a petition for FCS 3 to keep being sold and supported until FCPx is ready to take over a professional workflow, but I will not sign this petition.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

Terry, I respect your opinion and agree 100% that this shouldn't become personal. Kind of pointless. The only thing I offer to you is to look at this from the perspective of a facility that has multiple editing suites, a deep pipeline that has been built around FCP. That's where this is hitting home the most. If they are committed to Apple, then they have a right to question these decisions Apple has made. Just as I feel you have a right to like FCPX, and to be optimistic about its development. Really, all of the energy should be directed back at Apple, not at each other. And that can be positive energy or negative energy. In the end, it's up to Apple to move in the direction they see fit. I'm hoping that they are able to bridge the gaps. I'm all for these companies pushing each other to be better. We, the users, end up with better products when that happens.

Steve - I have a lot of respect for you through your presence here and having observed you at a RED event or two. I completely understand what you are saying and I don't think anything I said is contrary to it. I understand and respect the frustration people are felling but I (and people like me) are not the enemy. I didn't create FCP-X. I also didn't take FCP7 off the shelves. But, I shouldn't have to apologize for being excited that a new paradigm for editing may be in the making. I am in what is, perhaps, an enviable position in that I can embrace this as a new tool and master it as it grows. Sure, in two years perhaps I will have wasted time going down that road - or, perhaps I'll be in the lead group in editorial efficiency. But, whatever the case, my decision are taking nothing away from any other user here or anywhere. My "gripe" isn't with people who don't like the software. My gripe is with people who insult those of us who embrace it; even when we don't need others to.

 

[James B.]

I just purchased both FCPX and Motion
Love the speed, background rendering, BEAUTIFUL interface!
But … a ways to go me thinks before it can be used in a professional workflow.
To name just one of the missing features…LUT import or RGB curves, either of which are necessary to correct flat picture profiles.

If you've spent years mastering After effects (and Photoshop) what happens now to that valuable experience and knowledge with no native .psd import in FCPX?(never mind the entirely new metaphors Apple wants us to switch to)

I have yet to spend enough time to give a fair evaluation, but in its current incarnation it seems like a shiny new toy I can use mostly to play with in my spare time...

 

[Chris Kenny]

Yeah, that's cool. Let's buy used software instead of modern fully supported software from Adobe, Avid, Autodesk, Assimilate!

Thanks for your helpful advice; hard to believe any of us thought your love of FCP was clouding your judgement.

People have claimed Apple is somehow harming their businesses because they can't buy additional seats of FCS3. This solves that problem. I have no idea how what you've posted is supposed to be helpful. Last time I checked you couldn't buy additional seats of FCS3 from Adobe, Avid, Autodesk or Assimilate.

OK good. And we can get our support from eBay as well?

(oops, I said I was done. Sorry.)

Are the multi-seat facilities we're talking about here really calling Apple about the kind of problems the free support included with FCS deals with? I'd imagine most of them have in-house guy who's more competent than anyone you can get on the phone with the included support.

If you need more serious support, AppleCare Professional Video Support is still for sale.

 

[Chris Kenny]

Was that from Chris Kenny? Just askin'...

Right, that would make sense, since I've claimed FCP X has every feature it needs, and... oh, wait, no. I've explicitly said there are important missing features. Repeatedly. But you'd rather dismiss me as a "fanboy" than engage on the issues.

 

[Tim Morten]

Right, that would make sense, since I've claimed FCP X has every feature it needs, and... oh, wait, no. I've explicitly said there are important missing features. Repeatedly. But you'd rather dismiss me as a "fanboy" than engage on the issues.

Yup!

 

[Joe Carney]

Saying "It's hilariously premature to jump ship because a product that was released last week isn't ready to be integrated into complex pro workflows yet" is hardly "proselytizing".

I agree that Apple screwed up badly with respect to communication in this instance, but people are freaking out before Apple has even had a realistic chance to fix that. I know on Internet time it feels like this debate has been going on forever, with nothing from Apple but silence. But Apple did actually communicate some information about future features via contact with David Pogue, Studio Daily, etc. There's just no way a more formal response was ever going to take them less than a week or two to put together, and it has been all of six days.

Excellent point. While I'm having lots of fun with all this. I'm not mad at all, just cautious. I'm not jumping ship, because I've never gotten on it. Day before FCPX was released, I made an appt with the local Apple Store to come down, configure a fully loaded iMac and order that and FCPX. Decided to wait when the initial alarms went off. Being a long time Vegas user, I am very interested in what seems a very familiar tool with a great UI. Now, I'll just wait. Hopefully a more complete picture will come out sooner than later. In the meantime, this is great "melodrama".

Still, if someone was making a decision involving 100's of thousands or even millions of dollars, would it be fair to ask them to have faith that Apple will deliver?
If the decision has to be made in lets say 6 weeks from now, even if Apple released a clear cut road map with a cross my heart hope to die promise, would it be wise to purchase? Knowing the tool was not going to be suitable for maybe 3 or 4 months at best, a year to 18 months at worst. I could be talking about state educational systems or a national news organization, or a large multinational corpation, ready to purchase. Should they put their plans on hold waiting for Apple? It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months.
Personally I think organizations that have made a large investment in Apple software/hardware will be content to wait it out. Others, not so much.

 

[Chris Kenny]

Still, if someone was making a decision involving 100's of thousands or even millions of dollars, would it be fair to ask them to have faith that Apple will deliver?

As of right now, I would advise anyone who can possibly wait to make major decisions to do so.

 

[Joe Carney]

As of right now, I would advise anyone who can possibly wait to make major decisions to do so.

Yes, wise advice.

Not meaning to sound like an alarmist, but new Govt fiscal year is coming up, many decisions finalized in 6 to 8 weeks, and formalized before Oct.
There is an empirical fact in Govt spending. If they give you money, you don't give it back. You actually get penalized the following fiscal year if you do.
FCP was steadily advancing in all branches of Govt, replacing Avid slowley but surely. Those wanting to do business with the Govt are following suit.
This has got to have many in the purchasing departments shaking their heads, wondering what their next move will be.
I am beginning to think Apple really didn't think this all the way through. This isn't another case of Jobs' Hubris, not sure what is really happening with all this.
Actually never seen this much anger before from the Apple faithful.

 

[John Bellari]

WOW! 99 pages in and FCPX is still boiling over...

Apple can simply change one letter in the title and all will be forgiven... Rename the software

"ICPX"