Avid is the standard, but that doesn't mean that it's the best. Think about it. Windows is the "standard" operating systems for 97% of the computers out there, but is it the best? People have slowly been trickling to the Mac platform, and the same thing is happening with things like FCP. More and more editors and companies are using FCP because it's cheaper and easier to use.
What really matters is the result. Whether you use Avid or FCP or Windows Movie Maker, it's unlikely that your average joe will be able to tell the difference. Pay no mind to what the industry says you should use. Use whatever you're happiest with, and focus your energy into making a good project.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Josh,
I agree with you, Josh, but it seems having experience with FCP and/or Avid always counts a lot more than Premiere experience. PP2 works perfectly for my own needs, especially complemented by Photoshop, Audition and AfterEffects. Aside from heavy CG work or something, I can't imagine any video needs I might have that wouldn't be fulfilled by that package. However, pretty much any ad I've seen for a video editing position has called for experience with Avid or FCP, seldom Premiere. Is this stigma?
Posts: 598 | Location: Mobile, AL | Registered: May 10, 2005
Originally posted by REDking: Yeah I used PPro at an internship and it seemed their update was aligned and mimicking FCP 3 in terms of usability and it's interface.
I'm not sure if this is true - but I did hear from someone that FCP was actually programmed by defectors from Premiere - which would explain their similarities.
quote:
Originally posted by REDking: What would you all say is the clear standard right now. AVID seems to always come up as the broadcast standard, is that still true?
In my line of work - music videos and spots - it's still the king. Just finished cutting a feature on it too. But I did cut a feature on FCP - and that was pure HELL.
FCP is slow when handling feature length projects. Slow as in <take a bathroom break for one of the 5 projects for the film to load up and then take a sip of coffee while you wait for it to perform an edit> slow. But it isn't slow with shortforms.
Originally posted by Josh: Avid is the standard, but that doesn't mean that it's the best. Think about it.
Hehe - well in professional editing - it really is the best. (my opinion)
That being said - the gigs that pay the best are on Avid. Final Cut Pro jobs are Final Cut Pro jobs because there are low budget and thus don't pay as well.
Originally posted by Harris: However, pretty much any ad I've seen for a video editing position has called for experience with Avid or FCP, seldom Premiere. Is this stigma?
Yes this is true. I've never seen Premiere in the professional editing world.
Avid and FCP are the skills to know. But be warned - there's a veritable ARMY of FCP people out there now because it is so cheap. Avid skills are more valued because they're rarer these days.
Case in point - it's becoming hard for me to find a good assistant these days that is well versed in the Avid.
But if you're looking for a job in the editing world. KNOW ALL OF THEM. After Effects too. The more knowledge one has - the more valuable you will be to potential employers.
But I did cut a feature on FCP - and that was pure HELL.
Really..? As I've said here before, FCP is certainly being used for feature work, if only for rough cuts (not always, though). A feature that I worked on a while ago (budget approx. $! million) bought two G5 setups with FCP. I think a lot of it depends on location, too. Avid seems to be more popular in LA while in NY it might be the inverse.
Oh yes. I've seen FCP turn to molasses on complex projects. I cut a feature in it, and it was a nightmare. That was on an overloaded Quicksilver G4 in FCP3 so things have changed since then, but I've had the glacial edit syndrome in 20 minute projects on maxed out G5s. It's some kind of flaw in the program architecture. A simple edit will bring up a progress bar.
I used to despise Final Cut least of all the evils (Avid, Premiere, FCP, etc) but in newer versions I'm beginning to actually like FCP. I intend to learn Avid soon, so I can finally take part in these arguments.
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Posts: 5197 | Location: Tisch at New York University | Registered: June 03, 2003
Well I'm talking from personal experience and it may not be the same for everyone. We were cutting the feature at 23.98 and the audio was not sunc up in telecine - perhaps causing the system to freak out as it located the seperate video and audio media for the entire film.
I also heard that 23.98 projects cause some slowdown in FCP.
Maybe my system was cursed. It is possible that it wasn't set up correctly - but I didn't set it up.
I cut a feature in it, and it was a nightmare. That was on an overloaded Quicksilver G4 in FCP3
Not a small disclaimer, that...
In my experience, if you have reasonable scene lengths the architecture works fine on longer projects. As I said, I've worked on productions "with money" that were using it for features. And the Apple site is full of similar testimonials (although some of them, like the Murch piece, reveal that he was presumably only doing rough cutting of SD dailies).
Any system is going to be awful if it's not set up correctly. That doesn't mean the program is bad...
Originally posted by Studentfilms.com: Final Cut Pro jobs are Final Cut Pro jobs because there are low budget and thus don't pay as well.
Or they're jobs in which the producer chose not to waste money on unnecessary equipment, and instead put that money where it was really needed.
You think that money is going to the editor? It doesn't change the fact that FCP jobs don't pay as well. The producer is spending the money elsewhere - which is great for a producer - not good for an editor making a living.
Originally posted by Juan-L.: So no one has fcx? So you guys think i should save up to get Final cut Pro or get the studio.
So is Fcx not as good or not worth it and shoould i just get fcp. Also if i get a mini mac would not do right? what should the minimum requierements be for fcp?
Thanks...long way till graduation but i would like to see my options. Thanks
Wow...nice agruments guys..but its my thread..at leat contribute to some of my questions. Thanks...but by all means keep that copnversation going...its interesting.
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Posts: 199 | Location: illinois | Registered: April 19, 2004
Originally posted by Juan-L.: So no one has fcx? So you guys think i should save up to get Final cut Pro or get the studio.
So is Fcx not as good or not worth it and shoould i just get fcp. Also if i get a mini mac would not do right? what should the minimum requierements be for fcp?
Thanks...long way till graduation but i would like to see my options. Thanks
Wow...nice agruments guys..but its my thread..at leat contribute to some of my questions. Thanks...but by all means keep that copnversation going...its interesting.
I don't think a Mac Mini can run FCP (at least it's not qualified for it). Actually - I think it can run FCP but not Motion that comes with the Final Cut Studio package.
For an editing system...hmmm... If price is an object I'd consider getting an iMac. They're great all in one systems, have dual proc, and the 24 inch one even has high speed FW800 to add fast drives if you need to.
A Powerbook will be good too - but screen realestate isn't that good - plus I can't stand editing on my laptop - mainly because the keyboard (I use the numeric keypad all the time) and the small screen size.
Granted I just plug in a keyboard when I need to and you can always plug the laptop in to a bigger monitor but that's extra money.
Re FCP - isn't there a student priced version? On the Apple site, Final Cut Studio Academic is 599. I'd suggest getting that over Final Cut Express.
In the educational store the 20inch iMac at 1,399 (or the 24 at 1,899) would be fine. Although you might want to consider upping the RAM to 2 gigs from 1.
One more thing before I forget - if you want to get Avid editing software - the Avid Xpress Pro Educational goes for $295 last time I checked.
BUT - the big gotcha there is that it doesn't run on Intel Macs yet (just G5s). The Intel version should be out around January? (a guess) And it should work just fine on an iMac.
Thanks..thats been very informative...if i was to get a mac it would have to be a 17" screen becasue with all the upgrades adn warranty it comes out to around 1500 and then i would have to get fcp so it would be around $2100-$2200. So guess this is going to be my christmas/birthday(march/29)/graduation/ present. Plus i will have to save up some money. So i guess thats the setup i will try to achieve. Thanks everyone
"Don't Cry For Me I'm Already Dead."
Posts: 199 | Location: illinois | Registered: April 19, 2004
I just remebered that apple comes out with new or improved products all the time so by then May/June 2007 there might be a new mac or cheaper prices or something better that comes out. This is just early planning so i can tell my parents what i want for xmas(money).
"Don't Cry For Me I'm Already Dead."
Posts: 199 | Location: illinois | Registered: April 19, 2004
Originally posted by Juan-L.: Thanks..thats been very informative...if i was to get a mac it would have to be a 17" screen becasue with all the upgrades adn warranty it comes out to around 1500 and then i would have to get fcp so it would be around $2100-$2200.
Invest in the future and spring for the 20-incher at least. 17 isn't too much screen real estate.
Have you seen that 24 incher though? It's gorgeous. It's even bigger than my 23 inch cinema display.
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