Torn on new Editing system

[Alexander Thomson]

Cutting in HD is fine, but I have a feeling Apple's gonna implement some kick-ass native R3D integration in FCP. And it's gonna be as easy as flipping a switch to offline/online a project. I'm thinking NAB 2012. Why else would they be so silent about concerns with the software unless they are working hard on creating an "Apple-y" solution. That seems like the perfect setting. New CPUs, GFX cards, and NAB, all in April.

Im holding out just a bit longer. FCP X isn't that bad. Every time I discover the FCPX way of doing something in 7, it's a "oh my god that's SO much easier" kind of moment. Match color and magnetic timeline are great. It just works.

That is, when FCPX works. I've never seen a program crash so hard in my life. Once the running times get above 20 minutes, it just chokes. Really disappointing for something you just spent $300 on.

Im counting on Apple to deliver. Something tells me they're just as pissed that people are switching to Adobe as the people who HAVE to switch in the first place. Still though, I have 7, X, and I just installed the Premiere Pro 5.5 trial to give Adobe a shot. Every RED Final cut 7 editor has waited wayyyy too long for a suitable, stable RED integrated final cut workflow. This includes new Mac Pros. I'm patient enough to wait 'til April. But after that, and still no updates, then I guess all the faith was for naught.

Just my two cents.

 

[Peter Cote]

I think you're going to be disappointed in Apple. They've been showing sign after sign of lower importance on professional users. Final Cut is done as an industry leading NLE. There's no way software alone can enable r3d editing. Besides the point is not to enable r3d native editing. CS5.5 can already do that, but the ability to edit in 4K is limited by processing power. I can edit r3d in CS5.5 on my Macbook Pro, I just have to drop playback resolution down to 1/8th. The point is high resolution editing with smooth playback and scrubbing.

 

[jake blackstone]

I respectfully disagree.

Do you edit in 4K?

 

[jake blackstone]

I think Jim would disagree with you.

Jim has my respect as an innovator and the father of most innovative film cameras. But for editing advice Jim is not the one I'd consult.
Do not confuse editing with finishing. NOBODY I know edits 4k. What display would you even use for editing 4k? Editing in HD and finishing in 4k is simple. Editing in 4k is not and totally unnecessary, but hey, don't let me stop you...

 

[Alexander Thomson]

I think you're going to be disappointed in Apple.

I'm afraid so. My expectations at this point are quite low, lately given Apple's lackadaisical attitude towards its pro apps. They dumbed down Final Cut to make it more accessible to novice users, i.e. capitalize on the growing HDSLR market, and with that, alienated their vast array of professionals who depended on their product.


My enthusiam is high though, and I still believe that Apple's planning something huge. If they weren't, they would've already fixed it (final cut). Just a few more months........

Meanwhile, oh well, time to learn another NLE. heh.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Do not confuse editing with finishing. NOBODY I know edits 4k. What display would you even use for editing 4k? Editing in HD and finishing in 4k is simple. Editing in 4k is not and totally unnecessary, but hey, don't let me stop you...

These are wise words. I think the workflow they used on Girl with the Dragon Tattoo worked pretty well: edit on Avid in HD, lock each reel, then conform, color-correct, and deliver in 4K. That method works just fine.

Given unlimited speed, unlimited time, unlimited storage, and unlimited money, doing everything 100% in 4K would be wonderful. Unfortunately, in a real world, you still have to wait for media to copy, things to render, the expense and complexity of massive numbers of drives, and all of that. I agree with Jake that 4K is not great to deal with at the moment, not at every step of the post path, not for a feature. It might be someday, but we're not there yet.

I'm not sure where Apple's direction is at the moment. One hopes they'll continue the Mac Pros, but CEO Tim Cook hasn't said one way or the other whether they're going to stay in the pro applications business. This will affect the audio recording, video post, and graphics businesses quite a bit in the next year or so.