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Apple Posts Final Cut Pro X FAQ, Promises Updates
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Some thoughts on FCPX
I really feel for the high end video professionals who wanted to like FCPX. Apple's my favourite company and I actually WANT to use everything they make. So when an application like Motion doesn't take care of my needs and I have to go to After Effects, I actually feel like I'm corrupting my Mac experience somehow... despite how much I actually love Adobe's products. I'm sure FCPX users feel the same way.
As a person who works in marketing, I understand why Apple is making their decisions. They probably have a white board somewhere in Cupertino that lists their strengths as a company: Industrial design, marketing, customer support, retail, owning the entire experience, media distribution. Each of Apple's products and services should play to as many of these strengths as possible in order to be given the greatest chances of success.
Aside from the executive's Macbook Air, business and professional environments are not where Apple wants to be playing. The calculation for a business is quite simple: performance to price. Industrial design and marketing don't matter when the decisions are based off balance sheets. Customer support, virus protection, and retail don't matter as much when there is an IT department already in existence. Apple's strengths are great, but they don't make price as large of an incentive.
Apple's (very large) playground is beginner to prosumer. I think the only companies legitimizing Macs at a higher professional level are Adobe and Microsoft. I will fight tooth and nail to keep using Apple's products, but if Adobe were to ever leave the Mac, I'd have no excuses left.
This is sad in the same way that the demise of the XServe is sad, but very few people cared how beautiful the rack in your server room was. Apple wants users with expertise falling in between iMovie and Final Cut Express to be producing stuff that falls between Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro.
I will actually buy FCPX because it looks easier to use. I'm part of the reason Apple is doing this.
I really feel for the high end video professionals who wanted to like FCPX. Apple's my favourite company and I actually WANT to use everything they make. So when an application like Motion doesn't take care of my needs and I have to go to After Effects, I actually feel like I'm corrupting my Mac experience somehow... despite how much I actually love Adobe's products. I'm sure FCPX users feel the same way.
As a person who works in marketing, I understand why Apple is making their decisions. They probably have a white board somewhere in Cupertino that lists their strengths as a company: Industrial design, marketing, customer support, retail, owning the entire experience, media distribution. Each of Apple's products and services should play to as many of these strengths as possible in order to be given the greatest chances of success.
Aside from the executive's Macbook Air, business and professional environments are not where Apple wants to be playing. The calculation for a business is quite simple: performance to price. Industrial design and marketing don't matter when the decisions are based off balance sheets. Customer support, virus protection, and retail don't matter as much when there is an IT department already in existence. Apple's strengths are great, but they don't make price as large of an incentive.
Apple's (very large) playground is beginner to prosumer. I think the only companies legitimizing Macs at a higher professional level are Adobe and Microsoft. I will fight tooth and nail to keep using Apple's products, but if Adobe were to ever leave the Mac, I'd have no excuses left.
This is sad in the same way that the demise of the XServe is sad, but very few people cared how beautiful the rack in your server room was. Apple wants users with expertise falling in between iMovie and Final Cut Express to be producing stuff that falls between Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro.
I will actually buy FCPX because it looks easier to use. I'm part of the reason Apple is doing this.
Larger issues no doubt
You'd think a company as savvy as Apple would take this as a PR disaster ... and therefore, mobilize an all out effort to really discuss these issues with a variety of stakeholders for the sake of the long-term business.
Of course as stated in several places, it could be an effort to consolidate the product AND just say that "we think editing video is now a commodity thing" and our software effort here is saying that ... we've figured out that what helps Apple is to now help consumers do video versus the market share of pro's." They could be right.
But why not be smart enough to tackle the issue head on and create a day where you make that market-driven case and show the software for what it is and isn't in advance.
That would have be sensitive, smart and best of all, kind.
It's really hard to not say ... Apple, you acted dumb.
You'd think a company as savvy as Apple would take this as a PR disaster ... and therefore, mobilize an all out effort to really discuss these issues with a variety of stakeholders for the sake of the long-term business.
Of course as stated in several places, it could be an effort to consolidate the product AND just say that "we think editing video is now a commodity thing" and our software effort here is saying that ... we've figured out that what helps Apple is to now help consumers do video versus the market share of pro's." They could be right.
But why not be smart enough to tackle the issue head on and create a day where you make that market-driven case and show the software for what it is and isn't in advance.
That would have be sensitive, smart and best of all, kind.
It's really hard to not say ... Apple, you acted dumb.
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Plus it is 64bit! People are just whiney because they are...This software will get better with time. What else is there to use? Use that if it is better.
People Overreact
I dont understand why people can't be patient or look at the positive side of things. No one is forcing you to use Final Cut Pro X. Heck! If you download it, you don't even have to use it! You can still use 7 until you are happy with X!
There are so many great features that will make my editing life SO MUCH BETTER. Remember the "UNRENDERED" screen in Final Cut Pro 7? Well its gone in Final Cut Pro X. I can no edit without ever having to wait. The color correction tools are much better and I can organize my clips a lot easier too. These are just a few of the features I've ran into and loved!
I videotape concerts and performances and use MultiCam for them, but I think I will manage with editing without it for now. I have done it before, its not that bad.
What strikes me as odd is how many times in that FAQ they say that they understand how important a certain feature is to users. If they undertand that, then why didn't they put it in in the first place?
I dont understand why people can't be patient or look at the positive side of things. No one is forcing you to use Final Cut Pro X. Heck! If you download it, you don't even have to use it! You can still use 7 until you are happy with X!
There are so many great features that will make my editing life SO MUCH BETTER. Remember the "UNRENDERED" screen in Final Cut Pro 7? Well its gone in Final Cut Pro X. I can no edit without ever having to wait. The color correction tools are much better and I can organize my clips a lot easier too. These are just a few of the features I've ran into and loved!
I videotape concerts and performances and use MultiCam for them, but I think I will manage with editing without it for now. I have done it before, its not that bad.
A bunch of babies cry in Hollywood and people capitulate? Jeez, when has that ever happened
I know they're not all there, but the rest are just riding their coat tails.
This is bigger than Hollywood. I have a friend here in town that runs a small shop of less than 10 employees. They do a lot of local work and they have several national clients (Hoarders tv show). They just switched to an all FCP Studio setup after years of being an Avid shop. Apple actively sought out these types of shops and marketed the benefits of FCP over Avid and Adobe. The investment was over several years and at great expense. They are now trying to decide what their options are going forward.
FCPX is not an option because of the clientele they have. They are filming part of the project and other production houses are working on graphics and audio so there is a need, not a desire, to output EDL, OMF and share media and project files.
This is not just a inconvenience for them, this is a wake up call moment. All the equipement they have now still works. That is not the problem. The problem is waiting to see if Apple will continue to support this style of workflow in their future releases, or have they abandoned this market for the consumer / prosumer market.
If Apple has made that decision, it would be nice if they would announce it and allow business owners to decide what direction the businesses 5 year plan is headed in.
Angry little man
All those movies your stealing at piratebay aint produced by twits with a camera phone and imovie.
All those movies your stealing at piratebay aint produced by twits with a camera phone and imovie.
This is such an overreaction to what has actually happened. People are mad that at most 3 features are missing. THREE FEATURES! HELLO..... How many features does this application have? This is not a PR disaster. Just a bump in the road. We always get over these bumps and forget about them. (iPhone 4 Anttenagate)
You're not a professional - so you simply don't get it. That's ok. But since Apple released (and sold) the software and touts it as "pro" - professionals have every right to voice their concerns or complaints. They also have the right to question Apple on their timeline and future plans regarding both FCP7 and FCPX.
From what I can tell - there is much to love about FCPX. But that doesn't make it ready for primetime for some professionals.
It's not an overreaction. There are more than three features missing. Speak for yourself - not everyone.
PS - People didn't forget about the iPhone 4 issue. They either got a case, returned the phone or learned to live with it. That's not the same as forgetting.
But again - it's clear you aren't a professional and are simply not getting what the professionals are saying.
I agree completely. My point was that this is not as big of a deal as people are making it out to be.
Who are you to tell me that I am not a professional? Have we met?
Check out my website: http://jacklinkproductions.com
First off, it's not just 3 features. Stop pulling numbers out of your ass.
Secondly, the features are absolutely essential for a professional editing application.
If it wasn't a PR disaster it wouldn't have gotten the attention it has, especially from such a niche market.
Yes, lets make all the consumers think that having a pro app makes them a pro editor. We all know Apple did this for the money so that consumers can get something that the "pros" use. Fact is, after looking at Final C-, iMovie Pro, People will be switching to other video editing programs for more control over what they want to edit. When the Hollywood Movies and TV-Shows look like crap in the future, that's when you'll realize that Apple messed up if something isn't done about this.
That is incorrect.
The original statement from Apple is:
"The "next major release" will provide "great multicam support"..."
In the software world, a major release always means the same thing: the next major version of a software. In this case, that would be FCPX 2.0.
I find it amusing that posters, like yourself, can conclude that some people are making it out to be a bigger deal than it is.
People have different work flows and requirements. If a program lacks the ability to maintain that workflow or offer a viable solution - then it's a BIG problem for that individual.
It's also very telling as to who Apple is more interested in. If you want to claim that 90 percent of the population doesn't care or need these features - I won't argue. At all. But 10 percent of the population does and were told by the CEO that big things were coming. You can't or shouldn't be surprised when Apple is called out for not delivering (to date) on what was promised.
I'm not complaining really. I am simply voting with my wallet until there's a resolution that's satisfactory for my workflow. That means I'll stay in FCP 7 until "whenever."
There's a much more detailed unofficial FAQ here:
http://www.digitalrebellion.com/blog/posts/final_cut_pro_x_frequently_asked_questions.html
http://www.digitalrebellion.com/blog/posts/final_cut_pro_x_frequently_asked_questions.html
Its a pro application. Its just not in any way shape or form complete.
Yep. Problem isn't the direct, problem is that they botched the launch in every way shape and form imaginable.
Give it a chance
I think it has potential. Once all updates are given to us, I'll give it a chance. That could be a long time from now. So....I go back to using Premiere Pro, FCP7 and Avid
If it's still a disappointment after the updates. At least I have fall backs. No harm done.
I think it has potential. Once all updates are given to us, I'll give it a chance. That could be a long time from now. So....I go back to using Premiere Pro, FCP7 and Avid
If it's still a disappointment after the updates. At least I have fall backs. No harm done.
People seriously have to chill the eff out. The features are coming. Yes, at some point Apple has to release the software into the wild so they can make the product better. All 1.0 software is beta software. All 1.0 hardware is beta hardware. If you're a person who is an early adopter, then you should KNOW THIS ALREADY!!! Holy balls.
Also, if there are features missing, the best thing to do is learn the software while still using Final Cut Pro 7. Your software didn't deactivate once FCP X came out, so seriously, grow up.
FCP X will get feature parity or close to FCP 7 very soon. I've been using FCP X casually beside FCP 7, and I gotta say the software is absolutely mind blowing. I'm very impressed, and it's blazingly fast. Once those features come in, and they will come, then you guys can wipe the tears from your face and start learning it. But apparently paying the $300 now to learn it is different than paying the $300 in 4-6 months to learn it because it added a handful of features.
Just pull the heads from your asses and seriously stop bitching. Apple is getting the features in there, and it'll be fairly soon. In the meantime, use FCP 7 for your professional life and learn FCP X on the side so once it has all the features you need, you can make the switch. Otherwise, you're not really a professional if you expected to switch your whole professional life around FCP X on the first day if it did have feature parity. Or, if you are a professional who does that, you're not very bright.
Also, if there are features missing, the best thing to do is learn the software while still using Final Cut Pro 7. Your software didn't deactivate once FCP X came out, so seriously, grow up.
FCP X will get feature parity or close to FCP 7 very soon. I've been using FCP X casually beside FCP 7, and I gotta say the software is absolutely mind blowing. I'm very impressed, and it's blazingly fast. Once those features come in, and they will come, then you guys can wipe the tears from your face and start learning it. But apparently paying the $300 now to learn it is different than paying the $300 in 4-6 months to learn it because it added a handful of features.
Just pull the heads from your asses and seriously stop bitching. Apple is getting the features in there, and it'll be fairly soon. In the meantime, use FCP 7 for your professional life and learn FCP X on the side so once it has all the features you need, you can make the switch. Otherwise, you're not really a professional if you expected to switch your whole professional life around FCP X on the first day if it did have feature parity. Or, if you are a professional who does that, you're not very bright.
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Because "Real artists ship".
MetalMoon said:
Because "Real artists ship".
Im not saying that no one needs these features! Did I say that?
I am saying that It is not that big of a deal, because MOST of these features will come someday and you can use Final Cut 7 until then!
The thing is that no one WANTS to use Final Cut Pro 7 anymore. Which I understand... We are ready for an update. This update isn't ready for everyone yet. I understand. But as I have said before, No one is forcing you to use it.
I do understand all of the concerns that professionals have posted and I agree with most of them. Posting your concerns is a good thing. I just dislike how people love to turn everything into a PR disaster just because they dont get instant-gratification.
I think it has potential. Once all updates are given to us, I'll give it a chance. That could be a long time from now. So....I go back to using Premiere Pro, FCP7 and Avid
If it's still a disappointment after the updates. At least I have fall backs. No harm done.
This is what I have been trying to tell people! Everyone acts like Apple is stuffing Final Cut X down their throats and forcing them to use it.
What strikes me as odd is how many times in that FAQ they say that they understand how important a certain feature is to users. If they undertand that, then why didn't they put it in in the first place?
^^ ^These two post say it all IMO.
This is a prosumer app at a prosumer price. Pro coming in next release, hopefully.