AVID PREVIEWS AJA Kona / Blackmagic / MOTU, 64-bit, res-independent, 7.1, Red Giant &

[Job ter Burg]

When I think AVID I think Sony
When I think apple. I think red.

Yet Avid provides a better workflow for both Sony and Red footage. And Avid is a company with people you can actually get in touch with (their own forum, the Cow, and here for example). For Avid, professional post production is their core business. Not iPhones.

I hear you when it comes to the perception of Avid as an arrogant, uninterested company. Those sad days are gone, though. They are much more responsive and have been making much interesting progress, feature-wise. ScriptSync and PhraseFind come to mind as everyday editing tools at a more than just useable level.

I'm very critical of the company, but I stuck with Avid as they always managed to make the most sense for my workflows. Still do, more than any other tool.

[Elmer Tenkink]

Steve,

I think that this is what FCP X actually is.

David

I think FCPX is more towards dslr shooters (with a lot options missing)
But using it as a hub wouldn't be bad.
Import dslr files, solve rolling shutter etc. auto sync the audio on it, and export files for editing in Avid

[Eric Santiago]

You are sooo right. But AVID lost the scope of their core business : editing tool for editors and went with more or less talent with sound, post-production (DS), media distribution... and lost a lot of editors in the way, perhaps for the sake of their business?

Good it looks like they are back and listening to the "market".

Pat

Ive stated this before but my conspiracy theory is that Apple stepped back to let the others enjoy their time in Apple world. The one thing I didnt hear from most haters on FCPX out there is that they were going to sell their Macs for a PC. Im hoping Avid smartens, they have lost a few out there over the years and not because of the software but their lack of vision and communication.

[Steve Sherrick]

Steve,

I think that this is what FCP X actually is.

David

I don't agree. Not in its current state. Maybe down the line. I'm still giving them the benefit of the doubt but have to say I was surprised by the way they launched this new version. Not the initial tease at NAB. I knew that was going to be light on details. But didn't expect as much holdout on the actual release. I have read up a bit on AV Foundation and I see where they are trying to go but not everyone is reading up on this stuff and they need to communicate better so people understand their direction. And the way they stopped FCP7 initially made me question their approach based on the fact that the new version was so different and was going to need time to transition people. So right now, I think having all three NLEs can be a strength. They all have their shortcomings.

[David Battistella]

If I had to. I could.

The same way as if I was shooting EPIC right now, without every feature enabled, I could still get it done.

No playback. No problem.

I've squeezed out an OMF and scene detection is remarkably good in Davinci Resolve.

Many people are not quite aware of how powerful the color board is. I'd say minus the tracking it's on par with Davinci and it's good up to 4k

Im not one for needing everything to be perfect in order to make it work. I'll find a way.

I'm sure you can provide a laundry list of what you as a pro need to do your job and why FCPX is a hunk of shit, but I'm not really interested in what it can't do. Just what it does do very well right now. Better than any other NLE I have sat in front of.


David

[David Battistella]

@steve

I'm with you. It has potential but we have to see it. The rollout was poorly handled but I judge apple for that, not the software. I'm a tester. I'm testing. I'm using it. I'm plugging things in. I know it's strength, weakness and I apply that the way I choose to now.

I'm not going to convict a very well though out tool minus some features and legacy support because I think Appke didn't hand it to me on the dish I asked for.

I'm not afraid of software. I want to know if and how it can make my like easier and if it extends me creatively (the same criteria goes for a camera and red is a good analogy) was the rollout if the red one perfect. Did a lot if people condemn the tool. He'll yes. But a lot if people embraced it too.

I rather not be part of the destruction gang, I like to be part of the construction crew.


David.

[DCC Erickson]

In the truly pathetic comments category, I'm just glad the interface no longer looks like it's stuck in the '70s. It made me cringe.

[Andrae Palmer]

David,

What's the point of a Color Board when there is no way to properly monitor your colors? Are you editing for web with only a calibrated computer display? Also missing from Apple Color is 3D LUTs, native R3D support, RED rocket card support and no support for external control panels. On top of that the UI In FCPX is tabbed with major sections being all over the place. I don't think this tool was well thought out at all.

[Steve Sherrick]

@steve

I'm with you. It has potential but we have to see it. The rollout was poorly handled but I judge apple for that, not the software. I'm a tester. I'm testing. I'm using it. I'm plugging things in. I know it's strength, weakness and I apply that the way I choose to now.

I'm not going to convict a very well roughy out tool minus some features and legacy support because I think Appke didn't hand it to me on the dish I asked for.

I'm not afraid of software. I want to know if and how it can make my like easier and if it extends me creatively (the same criteria goes for a camera and red is a good analogy) was the rollout if the red one perfect. Did a lot if people condemn the tool. He'll yes. But a lot if people embraced it too.

I rather not be part of the destruction gang, I like to be part of the construction crew.


David.

David, I think you have a very good attitude towards these things. It is easy to take shots at Apple right now. I have even taken a few. It's harder to do the research (AV Foundation, metadata approach, etc) and see what the potential is. In all fairness to those who have railed against it, I do think it comes down to what kind of world you work in. If you are at a facility that is managing a lot of projects and interfacing with all kinds of people like sound designers, colorists, DI labs, etc you could easily be scared off from this new version of FCP due to how it was released. And you could look at Apple the company and say they are not a dedicated post production software/hardware company but rather a huge entity that has a large base in consumer products. I think that's a natural reaction. Now guys like you and me that are have our own small shops I think can get away with tinkering and seeing what works best for our pipeline but it's much harder to do that in larger facilities. That's why I'm saying in some ways, small shops have it made to a certain extent because they can change must faster. It's not that big a deal for me to have all three NLEs. But I don't have to buy hundreds of seats, provide training, build all kinds of infrastructure, etc.

I do find it interesting that you linked Apple and RED. Initially, they appeared to be in bed together. Recently though, it has seemed the opposite. I'm sure support will come in FCPX. But I find it interesting that Apple has never had any interest in this community. I know they are a big entity, but surely someone from Apple could have appeared once in a while to get some feedback, connect. And this is coming from someone who attempted to get them involved at every Reduser event and was basically told they had no interest in doing that. So, perhaps it comes down to a different strategy and this RED world is just too small for them to really focus much attention on, but with close to 10,000 RED cameras out there, and presumably a lot more than that six months from now, you'd think it might be worth at least some attempt to connect, but I'm sure the bean counters would disagree with me.

[Eric Santiago]

I do find it interesting that you linked Apple and RED. Initially, they appeared to be in bed together. Recently though, it has seemed the opposite. I'm sure support will come in FCPX. But I find it interesting that Apple has never had any interest in this community. I know they are a big entity, but surely someone from Apple could have appeared once in a while to get some feedback, connect. And this is coming from someone who attempted to get them involved at every Reduser event and was basically told they had no interest in doing that. So, perhaps it comes down to a different strategy and this RED world is just too small for them to really focus much attention on, but with close to 10,000 RED cameras out there, and presumably a lot more than that six months from now, you'd think it might be worth at least some attempt to connect, but I'm sure the bean counters would disagree with me.

Over the years Ive been online from chat lines to forums Ive never see Apple get involved. The usual local event will have an Apple logo but it comes from the vendor thats selling their products. My first NAB this year and even there Apple wasnt really involved. The SuperMeet was the only one.