FCE vs. FCP

[vgd09]

So, I was wondering what your guys opinions were on Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro 4.

I'm a soon-to-be Mac user and I'm looking into Apple's line of video editing software. I mostly do light home projects, so I think Final Cut Express will have all the funcionality I need but I really like the features included with Final Cut Pro (4) especially LiveType and the compression utility.

What is the titling like with Final Cut Express? Can you possibly get LiveType w/ Final Cut Express? Which would you recommend for me?

I would like to learn Final Cut Pro if thelearning curve isn't too bad, and do some heavy-duty projects

Thanks!

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by vgd09
So, I was wondering what your guys opinions were on Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro 4.

I'm a soon-to-be Mac user and I'm looking into Apple's line of video editing software. I mostly do light home projects, so I think Final Cut Express will have all the funcionality I need but I really like the features included with Final Cut Pro (4) especially LiveType and the compression utility.

What is the titling like with Final Cut Express? Can you possibly get LiveType w/ Final Cut Express? Which would you recommend for me?

I would like to learn Final Cut Pro if thelearning curve isn't too bad, and do some heavy-duty projects

Thanks!

I would get FCE and upgrade to FCP if/when you out grow FCE.


Lethal

[Doctor Q]

Are you a student? The educational prices change the picture for people making this decision.

[Makosuke]

You said you're a soon-to-be Mac user; if you're going to be buying a new computer direct from Apple, you can get a copy of Final Cut Express with your computer order for $99.

Aside from being a really good deal, that'll let you try out FCE for cheap at the very least.

So far as I know, you can still do the upgrade to FCP with that version (I just got it that way myself, and as far as I can tell it seems to be the normal boxed version--shipped way before the computer, in fact), in which case you'd still save $200.

[patrick0brien]

-vgd09

I agree with the others. Start with FCX, use it as a trainer.

FCP is the 800-pound gorrilla. Most pros I know don't use all of it - the entire suite (that's right, a suite) is 10gbs+ (that's gigabytes), and supports HD, Secam, 24p, 24p-30ipulldown, Beta, and a slew of stuff too much to go into from here.

[peterjhill]

FCE comes with a great DVD that can help get a new user up to speed on how to use the software. I just got the software and watched the video today... Now I feel comfortable working on a real project.