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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

My experience with FCP X (from a sceptikal FCP 7 user)

Mathieu Ghekiere

Mathieu Ghekiere

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Copy of a thread I just started at DVinfo. net User:

Like so many, I bought FCP X on the day it was out, and trashed it after a couple of hours of experience. I tried to edit a theatre play on it, and got frustrated for multiple reasons.
I still think that 10.0.0 release was a terrible update-release for a professional program with such legacy.
I bought the Adobe Production Premium at a 50% discount, because their RED support is very good, I didn't know about the future of FCP and I didn't have a Photoshop license yet, so having their suite at such discount coulnd't hurt. I kept editing with FCP 7 in the meanwhile.

After the 10.0.3 update I got interested again, especially because of how powerful multicam was implemented.
So carefully, I began buying some tutorials again, reading articles, etc.

Last week, I got a job that needed a LOT of pictures to have an Ken Burns-like animation on them for bumpers on a congress.
Because I knew FCP 7 had a 4K picture limit, but especially because I knew FCP X had the automated Ken Burns effect (instead of putting manual keyframes everywhere), I thought it could be a good change to try out the program: small project.

I won't go into details, but my conclusion is:
I got frustrated a lot of times. I sent Apple feedback a couple of times. But I also got some very speedy workflows and exports. When I had to return to FCP 7 to put some filters that weren't compatible with FCP X yet on some finished videos, I really hated the render and export times, how fast FCP X felt.
The interface, the reaction, the background renders, the immediate render previews, the superfast exports, ...
I'm still not fond of how FCP X works with media management. I still think the program has to mature a lot, and there are a lot of weird choices. But if you really learn it, you can be very fast with it, and once you do... You will ALSO get very frustrated with how much better things work in FCP X instead of FCP 7, and not only the other way around.

Now I'm curious to learn more and more about the new program, and I'll see how and if I can implement it more and more in my professional workflow too.

As developers for FCP, we have a strong bias in favor of FCP’s continued success. That said, we had spent much of the year prior to FCP X’s release expecting that we might have to leave the platform. We were hearing the same rumors that everyone else was – that FCP X would be another iMovie, wouldn’t be pro, etc. – and we were ready to bail. Happily, we don’t have to. While there are obviously missing features (like a comprehensive redo of Compressor), the foundation of FCP X is extremely solid. FCP X, for the reasons listed above, is going to be what most professional editors use to edit. Maybe not tomorrow, but likely within a year
Click to expand...

This is a quote from the Crumblepop page: Why we’re betting everything on FCP X - CrumplePop Blog

After working a couple of days on FCP X, the more I think there is a lot of truth in this.
But Apple botched the launch, and they will really need to do some extra effort to win some people back (including keeping adding features, listening to feedback, and getting more of the industry - and camera manufacturers) to support the program.

After all the trash that FCP X got, many for it deserved (and I was one of the critics, and in a way, I still am), I also thought it would be only fair to share my (rather good) experiences after editing with it for 4 days.
 
Thank you for sharing.

I did exactly the same way as you, but still did not retry FCP X.


Olivier
 
I started the same way as you, tried it for a month and then got a refund and continued on FCP 7, I went back to FCP X in September as there was an update at that time. 10.0.3 really kicks ass, now I can import all my FCP 7 projects to FCP X. It took me months to get comfortable with FCP X, I have to say FCP 7 feels like a dinosaur whenever I go back to export a project to FCPX. Editing three features on FCP X, one with RED footage. It still has a few issues but well worth the money.
 
XML works fine too. It´s possible now to CC in DaVinci. I like it for its speed and with Prores 4444 I can always use the newest Color science from RedcineX.
I still prefer PPR but i´ts worth to study it a bit closer and I can´t wait for RR support.
 
I have used FCP since v2. Literally thousands of hours. I bought FCPX, Motion5 and Compressor4 the day of release. Bought and used every training I got get my hands on, and share the experience of going back to FCP7 and realizing how much better FCPX had become.
However, I still have serious concerns for the future of FCP. Everybody seems to be in agreement that Apple could have handled the transition better, and I feel that the ball continues to be dropped. BETA monitoring after all this time? My Matrox MX02 looks like SD on my plasma. I am very hesitant to buy yet another video card that probably won't work in the (maybe?) new Mac Pro. The "share to Youtube" options made the initial release, that's pretty indicative. Sure it will get better over time, but that's my concern. After this much time, with all the disappointment expressed by the Pro community, after all the money wasted on non-functioning hardware, plug-ins, etc., who's going to promote it? People spent real money and put their reputation on the line when setting up studios based on FCS, and I'm one of them. I'm encouraged about the new capabilities of FCPX, but no way would I recommend FCPX based workstations yet. With the future FCPX and of the Mac Pro line in question, it really makes creatives look bad to the bean counters who only see depreciation and future expenses with an unknown outcome. I can't help but feel the most likely base going forward is consumers. Not requiring a serial number is just making it worse by promoting "sharing". Apple makes software to sell their hardware, but right now they aren't giving us a reason to buy either. Still, time marches on and Pros are getting invested in other solutions, even other platforms as a result. I'm not saying FCPX is bad, it's just positioned that way.
 
It's a paradigm shift. People fear what they don't understand. Having been an editor for 10+ years, edited in premiere as well as fcp7.... XML to After effects....

I can say with confidence that fcpX is the future. It simplifies almost every process, and makes you more efficient getting projects done in half the time. It's blazing fast, no render, and the magnetic timeline (once you get used to it), kicks ass!

It was very buggy initially, but this latest update is solid. I recently had do a job in fp7.... And it was very rough. Give fcpX a shot, you won't be disappointed.
 
Bob Gundu said:
I cringe when I have to open FCP7 projects. FCPX with tight integration with Motion is impressive and my preferred editor. Let's hope native R3D happens.
Click to expand...

That's my point on FCPX's current position in the Pro world. FCP7 made me cringe before the overhaul. FCPX hasn't been effective soon enough to replace it. R3D support would definitely help change some opinions in the RED community. Fingers crossed...
 
I'm sure r3d support will come. The question is just when. While I absolutely detested fcpx and was also frustrated with the initial release. I'm ready to try for w this new update a try.
While I may not be happy with the current state of affairs with FCP X. I understand where apple is coming from and how exactly they want to try and change NLE's.
For better or for worse its a different take on editing. I think it was Larry Jordan that noted the sheer power and capability of rendering with FCPX.

That being said. I'm still not a fan of the imovie styled media management.
 
In all fairness though:

Final Cut X (and compressor etc.) does not need to compare with Final Cut 7, which is a 5? year old program by now -
but with the Adobe Production Premium package - including Premiere and After Effects. And naturally Avid.

Believe me - I would rather stay on Final Cut because I know it inside out. But Adobe just completely blows them out of the water
right now.


And with the recent discounts that they have been offering it is a complete no-brainer...

Can't say too much about Avid because I hated their support and rigid system so much when I started on
Nubus 15 years ago that I am still recovering from it.
 
To update:

I sent this mail to Tim Cook last week:

"Dear Mr Cook,

first of all, congratulations with your job as the CEO of Apple.

Apple has had some great quarters, and of course your leadership must have been a big part of that.

Without a doubt, you know about the troubled launch of Final Cut Pro X in the professional community.
When it launched, like many others, I bought it, and put it fast away when finding out the hard way about the missing features.

Apple is normally a secretive company in communication, but after the whole controversy, Apple made a separate page about the 'pro' features of Final Cut Pro X. Updates came and went, and with the 10.0.3 update, Apple seems to have added in some important features that made me (and some others) look at the software again.
I've began learning it deeper, and found some delights, but also many frustrations. As you also probably know, the software is still missing on a lot of functions.

My question is simple: Is Apple listening to the feedback they get from everyone using FCP X? And are they committed to the big task of making this complex software better to compete in the professional editing market?
Like many people, I would like to know if in the long term if Apple is targeting the professionals with FCP X and not (only) the prosumer market?
The reason why the older Final Cut Pro was so populair between prosumers was exactly because it wasn't dumbed down and because you could grow in it (like I did, from a student to someone making his earning with editing).

Software is a big commitment for professionals. Not that much because of the price, because the price of associated hardware, plugins, the energy in knowing the tool, ...
The 10.0.3 update showed a lot of promise. I would only like to know if it will stay with that glimpse of promise, or if the Final Cut Pro X teams are working every way they can to make the software better for professionals every day, using the feedback and what's going on around forums as a guidance?

Thank you for your time,

Sincerely,

Mathieu"

I got a response from someone on the Video Marketing team this morning:

"Mathieu,

Thanks very much for your email about Final Cut Pro X. I work on the Video Product Marketing team, and I wanted to be sure you're aware of our commitment to pro video editors.

We built Final Cut Pro X to be the fastest video editing software available, with a multithreaded 64-bit engine, GPU-enabled realtime playback, and background rendering. Since the launch of the application in June, we've released two significant updates that have added a number of pro features, such as a powerful new version of Multicam, advanced chroma keying, enhanced XML, Xsan support, and media stems export. We've also been working closely with third-party developers to roll out a series of new and updated applications, including Red Giant's Magic Bullet Looks, GenArts' Sapphire Edge, the 7toX conversion app from Intelligent Assistance, and beta drivers for broadcast monitoring.

We're committed to continuing to improve Final Cut Pro X, and we will release additional updates throughout 2012. Thanks again for reaching out, and please let me know if you have any other questions or requests related to the software.

Thanks,"

Glad to see they are reaching out.
 
Why would people who have left fcp 7 and invested time and money in adobe (like me) put even more time and money in to go back to fcp? fcpx has to be better than ppro for me to go back; I'm not just returning for nostalgia.
 
hans de vries said:
Why would people who have left fcp 7 and invested time and money in adobe (like me) put even more time and money in to go back to fcp? fcpx has to be better than ppro for me to go back; I'm not just returning for nostalgia.
Click to expand...

No Nostalgia here. I just use both. Why? Because there are always situations one of them is not ready for the actual job. Right now I started a project with sync sound from Epic/Scarlet...ouch...no sound in PPR! Sorry, I´m not ready to use the suggested turnaround with more then 7 hours of footage. One year ago in the middle of a PPR project the red importer suddenly stopped working (CS5). Adobe said they can´t do anything about it, 5.5 will fix it. First CS5.5 was about 2 months away, second it was a paid update. Which is every time a bummer (Master Suite update here). So, I just like to be on Mac with FCP too, because I have always the opportunity to use it whenever PPR dont work.
Marc
 
I´m editing a 5 minute piece on FCPX right now and i could not have done it so fast with any other editing software. Shure Apple messed up the launch of FCPX but the groundwork of it bodes well for the future. Now with all the new features we are almost at the level of FCP7 on some stuff but years ahead anyone else on others. And I´m shure Apple had a plan all along. Yeas our feedback helps but XML, multicam, xsan and all the rest have been the plan for years. I think they could have released it as beta last summer or waited until now with the launch.

But in all, FCPX will evolve and be great in a year.

/Christian
 
Like a few others here starting to dip my toes back in the FCPX pool. Once there's native R3D support then l think it will really take off.

Editing is very fast and fluid, just need to get your head around the timeline. But the main advantage is what you see on the screen you get out
as a finished Quicktime file, same colours same density, you do not get that from PPr or Avid, for me that's a major factor.

The plug ins are being to appear, external monitor etc many other good things are happening.

You just have to go with the flow and persevere its worth the work.
 
Here is a link to a test example of Scarlet on FCPX

No background music included.

Scarlet-X 655 filmed at 4K HD, RC6 on Canon 24-70 F2.8 and 70-200 F4, Heliopan ND Variable filters (very good and no colour cast what so ever, expensive yes, but worth it).

Exported out of RedCine X without grading as a flat ProRes 422 file at 3K.

Edited in FCPX at 1080p 25fps. All grading done within FCPX, its not heavily graded more colour corrected, but the last shot the wide view from Beachy Head has a couple of secondary grades.

This was to see how easy it is to process and edit footage from Scarlet through FCPX without a Red Rocket Card.

No problems, very easy and fun to use.


http://vimeo.com/groups/scarletx/videos/37195240
 
I work with multiple sequences open as tabs almost all the time. Until there's a similar way to do that in FCPX it's a deal breaker.

From what I saw, for really small, simple projects FCPX seemed OK. For complicated things with a lot of cutting and versions i just didn't understand how it would work. Also - how would you keep audio organized for M&E exports if you can't designate layers for score etc. If I want to drop the score on audio track 10 then I should be able to.
 
Cautious optimism seems to be the growing thing. Glad all the knee-jerk reactions have settled down months later. Been learning it since it's release last year with great hope for it to reach its full potential, because it truly could blow everything else out of the water one day. It's architecture is counter-intuitive to traditional, old-hat editing but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Source/Record editing is inefficient by nature and the advancements they've made are so so so great for efficiency. I'm still treating it as a Beta build right now but paying close attention to its growth. The drawbacks are still frustrating but increasingly less so.
 
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