FCPX vs CC/CS6 as of June 2013

[Gabor D.]

The title says it all...
...at the beginning a lot turned away from the freshly released FCPX and chose Adobe Premiere CS6....
...Premiere CS6 became the fav...
...FCPX has been updated and became better...
...Adobe crucified itself with the CC....
...what happens now?

So.. As I'm trying to put together a budget editing solution I'm faced with the question: FCPX or Adobe? I know the past when the FCPX was cursed, but what about now, as of june 2013? How the two softwares compare to each other?

I wanted to get the CS6 Prod. Premium collection, but now I feel it' a huge risk as this product is a dead end.... But FCPX is only 300USD for a complete program which you can own. Mac Pro coming later, so maybe Apple gives some power to FCPX later...

Which way should I go?

 

[Angus Mackay]

As much as I disapprove of Adobe's cack-handed move in forcing CC on everyone, I don't honestly think you can compare FCPX and Prod Premium. The App's in the latter could help you establish many revenue streams that FCPX would get you nowhere near. Also, as much as FCPx has improved, I don't think there's much doubt that, as of now, Premiere is still a better editor.

 

[Kalechi Noel]

Lol, you must be trying to get crucified on this forum!!!

Anyways, i'm one of the few early adopters of fcpx, and i haven't looked back since. With each incremental upgrade, the Software has just evolved, and revolutionized the way we edit... ITS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SOFTWARE THAN IT WAS AT LAUNCH!!. That being said, there is a LEARNING CURVE, as people are afraid of change.

FCPX introduces an entirely new way to approach projects, timelines, and to edit (ie magnetic timeline). A complete makeover and paradigm shift. The metadata and importing/ organizing of your footage is the BEST OUT THERE. Once you get the hang of FcPX, Premiere (which i used to edit on), fcp7 (which i used to edit on)... all look, and feel archaic. Processes that would take 3 steps , now take 1 step in fcpx. Tasks that would require roundtripping to AE, i can now do directly in FCPX. Fcpx is truly is designed for the one-man-army, giving you so much power in one that one software. It has "plural eyes" type functions with it's built in Sync features. The multimcam is BY FAR THE BEST ON THE MARKET. Chromakeying is amazing (i shoot a lot of green screen and used to use after effects with a bunch of plugins.... not anymore. FCPX built in ChromaKeying is comparable and saves a lot of time but not have to switch softwares, render, xml, re-import etc). Things that used to required After Effects or Motion .... i am doing with ease in fcpx. I repeat.... Things that used to required After Effects or Motion!! Also, No Rendering what'sover!!!


Color correction is fantastic, especially with the ability to edit the r3d data natively!! Working with RED, no render, and switching between proxies and high QUality in 2 seconds is God-Send.

The ability to customize every filter, transition or plugin using motion is also godsend. There's so much control, so much you can do.... If you only knew.
The list continues, and even now, 2 years later, im still discovering things every project. If you can, pickup a Ripple Training FCPX tutorial. it comes with a sample project that really takes you through all the rigors of editing and performing crucial tasks. Give FCPX a shot, you won't have any regrets.

 

[Alfonso Cammarano]

I have a premiere CS6 and FCPX, but I consider switch to Avid media componer 7 when it comes out.

 

[James McLellan]

Kalechi,

When you say Plural Eyes functions, can it sync R3D files with waveforms in the timeline?

 

[Rob Castiglione]

I disagree with with what Angus says.

I have both Prem Pro and FCPX and and familiar with both. After using FXPX I just can not go back to Prem Pro - it feels ... old.

I was extremely critical of the software when it came out. Not so now. I have not had this much fun learning a really exciting bit of software for a long time. The only way to really know is to immerse yourself in the programme over a month or so - then you will know whether it is right for you.

Best of luck with your decision.

 

[Kalechi Noel]

James,

It can absolutely sync the R3d with external audio... in 2 seconds.... No need for "plural eyes" anymore!! .... simply highlight the clips, and select "Sync".


I cannot emphasize that you have to LEARN the software to appreciate it. You can't really apply your previous editing knowledge and expect to pickup fcpx and learn on the fly. You will be confused. Take the time, and learn it... and the results will astound you. Download the ripple training Tutorial. It helped me tremendously.

Check out this video by famed editor Sam Mestman who has embraced fcpx, and hasn't looked back. He goes into detail the Red workflow and the benefts of fcpx.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9MLGaiJOZY&feature=player_embedded

 

[Maz Mawlawi]

Maybe FCPX as a stand alone editor is better...and if all you are doing is editing your footage then I can see how FCPX could be possibly considered better... but....honestly as a production suite Adobe simply blows away FCPX...the integration between premiere, after effects, illustrator and photoshop is simply unmatched. When you need to be editing, adding motion graphics, tracking, advanced color correcting and doing any kind of advanced 2D VFX then Adobe is simply a much better and complete tool than FCPX... Again not saying FCPX is a bad piece of software...just saying it currently cannot match the broad functionality of having multiple pieces of software working seamlessly together like the creative suite.

 

[Sandro Klopfstein]

we'll continue using premiere for now but will be making the transition to smoke as it hopefully gets polished (say, smoke 2014).

 

[Sergio Perez]

Final Cut Pro X still has some ways to evolve until it gets to a mature state like CS6 is. Currently it is still exporting audio poorly. The Magnetic timeline concept doesn't translate very well to sharing workflows with other regular timeline software. While FCPX goes away with conventional "Tracks", when translated to other editors, these "Storylines" when stacked together create different tracks in other software such as Resolve. HOWEVER, if one gets the paradigm, edits and then "Organizes" the edit "visually" to resemble a regular editor- tracks for audio and 2 or 3 tracks for graphics, video, stills, etc its manageable for round tripping, specially with resolve.

I'm using FCP X right now and putting my post house partner through hell. I see this evolving though and am liking more and more my editing experience. HOWEVER, After Effects is still After Effects. Motion is still a long way from it.

 

[Gabor D.]

Well, buying FCPX + Filmconvert sets me back with 500 USD. And I own them. This amount gives me 3 months of CC rent fee (without the one year commitment), + 200 USD for filmconvert...

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

That being said, there is a LEARNING CURVE, as people are afraid of change.

FCPX introduces an entirely new way to approach projects, timelines, and to edit (ie magnetic timeline). A complete makeover and paradigm shift. The metadata and importing/ organizing of your footage is the BEST OUT THERE. Once you get the hang of FcPX, Premiere (which i used to edit on), fcp7 (which i used to edit on)... all look, and feel archaic. Processes that would take 3 steps , now take 1 step in fcpx. Tasks that would require roundtripping to AE, i can now do directly in FCPX. Fcpx is truly is designed for the one-man-army, giving you so much power in one that one software. It has "plural eyes" type functions with it's built in Sync features. The multimcam is BY FAR THE BEST ON THE MARKET. Chromakeying is amazing (i shoot a lot of green screen and used to use after effects with a bunch of plugins.... not anymore. FCPX built in ChromaKeying is comparable and saves a lot of time but not have to switch softwares, render, xml, re-import etc). Things that used to required After Effects or Motion .... i am doing with ease in fcpx. I repeat.... Things that used to required After Effects or Motion!! Also, No Rendering what'sover!!!


Color correction is fantastic, especially with the ability to edit the r3d data natively!! Working with RED, no render, and switching between proxies and high QUality in 2 seconds is God-Send.

The ability to customize every filter, transition or plugin using motion is also godsend. There's so much control, so much you can do.... If you only knew.
The list continues, and even now, 2 years later, im still discovering things every project. If you can, pickup a Ripple Training FCPX tutorial. it comes with a sample project that really takes you through all the rigors of editing and performing crucial tasks. Give FCPX a shot, you won't have any regrets.

This post is 100% on the money. For as big of a PR disaster as the FCPX launch was ... APPLE is going to gain significant marketshare in the professional community. It never ceases to amaze me how many creative, supposedly tech-savvy folks are so resistant to change and make up their minds before kicking the tires

 

[Joe Walker]

If FCPX could just re-implement "Batch Export" and give me the ability to have multiple tabbed timelines open all at the same time, I'd be in heaven.

 

[Robert Ruffo New]

This post is 100% on the money. For as big of a PR disaster as the FCPX launch was ... APPLE is going to gain significant marketshare in the professional community. It never ceases to amaze me how many creative, supposedly tech-savvy folks are so resistant to change and make up their minds before kicking the tires

FCPX I see on in offices that specialize in quick and dirty, low-end projects, such as weddings and mid-range to low-end corporates. I have never, ever seen it anywhere else. Magnetic timeline is not well suited to making fine adjustments, trying different combinations etc. It's only made to be fast. If you're a perfectionist and need to make fine adjustments for yourself or as a response to client feedback (i.e. any high end workflow) it's a ludicrous joke.

If you need to edit a wedding in 16 minutes, then it's perfect.

 

[Kalechi Noel]

FCPX I see on in offices that specialize in quick and dirty, low-end projects, such as weddings and mid-range to low-end corporates. I have never, ever seen it anywhere else. Magnetic timeline is not well suited to making fine adjustments, trying different combinations etc. It's only made to be fast. If you're a perfectionist and need to make fine adjustments for yourself or as a response to client feedback (i.e. any high end workflow) it's a ludicrous joke.

If you need to edit a wedding in 16 minutes, then it's perfect.

Again, I repeat... Learn the software!!!!

If you need the precision editing, "trying different combinations"... Simply lift the clip from the story line ....and move it around as you please (fcp7, premiere style)... Ctrl + command + up arrow

like I said, I made the switch in 2011 and haven't looked back. We operate out of nYc, shoot countless music videos, commercials and films. I'll plug our website now

www.kaonmultimedia.com

(check out pool vodka commercial, edited , cored entirely in fcpx
Rupaul's drag race - manilla Luzon - best xxxcessory - chromakay , edited, animated, colored entirely on fcpx )

Fcpx does it all better than fcp7 / premiere ever could. I've been there... Speaking from experience.

not to discredit adobe suite, as they are powerful tools... But fcpx simplifies the process and allows you to do amazing things in half the time... And the fact that you can avoid xml, and round tripping , unless absolutely necessary... Can't beat that.

 

[M Most]

This post is 100% on the money. For as big of a PR disaster as the FCPX launch was ... APPLE is going to gain significant marketshare in the professional community. It never ceases to amaze me how many creative, supposedly tech-savvy folks are so resistant to change and make up their minds before kicking the tires

I was pretty put off by FCPX at first, but I've been spending quite a bit of time with the most recent version and while I wouldn't call myself a "convert," I really like the way it works - but only while you're still inside it. Anytime you have to take what you've done anywhere else (with the notable exception of Resolve, which seems to work pretty flawlessly with its XML files) you're into "figure it out as you go along" land. Audio exporting, even with third party assistance, is still very non-standard, unintuitive, and just plain weird. Not to mention that it requires a lot of work that other programs don't (you need to designate "roles," you need to attach certain metadata, often by hand, etc.). As a standalone, do-it-all tool, it's really fast, efficient, and dare I say, fun to use. But in a professional environment, you must play very well with others. That's still its weak point. How much of that will be remedied over time, we'll see. If I'm cutting something myself, I actually prefer it. But for anything else, it's got a very, very long way to go to match the overall utility, media management, and interchange abilities of Avid.

 

[David Battistella]

This post is 100% on the money. For as big of a PR disaster as the FCPX launch was ... APPLE is going to gain significant marketshare in the professional community. It never ceases to amaze me how many creative, supposedly tech-savvy folks are so resistant to change and make up their minds before kicking the tires

Ive been equating it to how everyone shat on red and called it vapour ware, etc. fcp x is a great tool and it will only get better. Premier pro is heading toward all the same dead ends as avid and fcp 7 reached.

david

 

[David Battistella]

Note that the true post professional can appreciate what is in the software and see the potential. It's far far far from iMovie pro. I'm cut thing three films on it right now. It's true that going outside resolve can hurt but I thing that will change on the .1 release.

David

I was pretty put off by FCPX at first, but I've been spending quite a bit of time with the most recent version and while I wouldn't call myself a "convert," I really like the way it works - but only while you're still inside it. Anytime you have to take what you've done anywhere else (with the notable exception of Resolve, which seems to work pretty flawlessly with its XML files) you're into "figure it out as you go along" land. Audio exporting, even with third party assistance, is still very non-standard, unintuitive, and just plain weird. Not to mention that it requires a lot of work that other programs don't (you need to designate "roles," you need to attach certain metadata, often by hand, etc.). As a standalone, do-it-all tool, it's really fast, efficient, and dare I say, fun to use. But in a professional environment, you must play very well with others. That's still its weak point. How much of that will be remedied over time, we'll see. If I'm cutting something myself, I actually prefer it. But for anything else, it's got a very, very long way to go to match the overall utility, media management, and interchange abilities of Avid.

 

[Maz Mawlawi]

Ive been equating it to how everyone shat on red and called it vapour ware, etc. fcp x is a great tool and it will only get better. Premier pro is heading toward all the same dead ends as avid and fcp 7 reached.

david

Not discrediting FCPX but why do you think Premiere Pro is going toward a dead end? (Not taking in consideration the whole subscription debacle) They have been adding tons of improvement and features to it at every release...

 

[Liam Hall]

This post is 100% on the money. For as big of a PR disaster as the FCPX launch was ... APPLE is going to gain significant marketshare in the professional community. It never ceases to amaze me how many creative, supposedly tech-savvy folks are so resistant to change and make up their minds before kicking the tires

I kicked the tyres, hated it. If CC sucks I'll have another serious look at FCPX. If it still sucks, I'll go back to Avid and shout cocksuckers very loudly. That said, I'm pretty sure Premiere CC will tick most boxes.