Apple Releases Major Update and Free Trial for Final Cut Pro X

[letterexchange]

About the XML

Everyone who cares about this just go to Larry Jordan's blog here as he was in a meeting with Apple's management to discuss the new release: http://www.larryjordan.biz/app_bin/wordpress/

He explains that the new XML import and export is a NEW format that 3rd part apps have to develop for and incorporate into their apps. There is no importing and exporting of old FCP formats at all. Macrumors just added their assumption to the news story and didn't actually quote anything Apple actually said. All the information on Larry's blog explains what the deal is direct from Apple's mouth.

So if you are trying to import your old FCP 7 projects you should stop wasting your time.

Also the new 10.0.1 versioning instead of 10.1 is because they are going to start version numbering FCP X like OS X. So probably in 8 years there will be a release of FCP X 10.8

 

[bretm]

Close.

They should have called it Final Cut X Beta.

I'm serious.

That would have avoided a lot of the backlash, as instead of people saying - Apple's new PRO video editor is useless - people would be saying - Apple's beta version of their new video editing software has a lot of potential.

I'm still living in FCP5, which I understand from my university lecturers/tutors to be the first seriously stable version of the software. I can understand and accept that it took Apple several years to get to that point. What I guess people are pissy about with X, is that it is like going back to the days of preFCP5... back to a program that is not suitable for industry use (as is).

I currently work for an employer of 80,000 people, who recently changed to a new payroll system. They had to move forwards with a new software solution, as the old software was unsupported. IMO, Apple needs to affirm their continued support for FCP7, until X is up to scratch.

(Thankfully I believe I read that 7 is once more available, albeit via phone sales only).

FCP got increasingly less stable with each release. I started with 1.2.x in 2000 and I can count the number of times it crashed that first year on one hand. And I'm not sure it was really FCP that crashed as we were running OS9 back then and it could easily have been something else. When something crashed in those days, the whole system locked and you just turned the computer off and back on.

FCP 5 may have been when FCP got a timeline interface facelift allowing more advanced patching and soloing and introducing the auto sync stuff. Not sure.

But FCP 1.x was a full featured editor that could do 75% of what a 100k Avid could do, and some other stuff Avid couldn't. It used AE 3.x plug-ins natively and was resolution independent. It had composite modes. It supported RS-422 protocols. It didn't have the audio mixer panel or a audio meter. But back then you were getting everything from a deck, so the meters on the deck could be used. I had a DVCam attached and the monitor to the DVCam. Audio metering was fine on the deck. I think that meters and the audio mixer was version 2. Version 3 was literally like 6 months later and featured real-time effects. Version 4 brought about the 3 way color corrector and 4.5 brought about some HD support. Version 5 was mainly the new interface and easy setups and other refinements and support for more HD. Somewhere along the way they made the switch to Studio and added Motion and Livetype and Sountrack. 6 Added color I think. 7 bumped color to 1.5 and dropped Livetype. It added some sharing support but not much. So 5 is a pretty good version and was the jump to the current v7 basic functionality, just with a few less bells and whistles.

 

[cosmichobo]

Avid was designed for Professionals and that design assumes that you know certain standards that are inherent in the field.
FCP assumes you are new and don't know anything and is going to sweep ALL that (necessary) experience under the rug for you to be "creative."
...
FCP fails most of the time.

Just to be clear - are you referring to ALL FCP products, or only FCP X? Because FCP by all indications had somewhere between 22-49% of the editing market, which would certainly suggest that it is a serious, professionally accepted alternative to other long term players.

Just because something was done one particular way for generations, doesn't make it right. As someone who had to introduce change in the health system here in Australia, the amount of times I heard "But I've done it this way for years" frankly **** me to tears, especially when "this way" turned out to not only be narrow minded and selfish/lazy, but also against policies that had been in place for years.

 

[RobQuads]

yes, it crashes a lot, etc but it always recovered sanely and I was eagerly waiting the update

So accepting of such poor coding. Something that people earning a living from often can't and won't accept.

There is no way a professional application such as FCP-X should be crashing like that, specially with the OS being such a closed wall system.

I know if our software 'crashed a lot' we would have CEOs coming down on us like a ton of bricks.

Its probably one of Apples worst software PR screw ups. Should always have been a beta / 0.x release keeping FCP 7 in release until it was nearly there.

 

[Soura2112]

My way too..

You'd be amazed at the amount of stupid footage from cameramen I've had to work with over the last two weeks for an EXTREMELY high profile project...45 frames is an exaggeration of course, but as a shooter myself, I find a great advantage in being both an editor AND a shooter. When I shoot, I shoot for the edit, and basically fill in the timeline as I shoot. As an editor, having shot my own footage, I have PLENTY of angles, sequences, and options, and can only be pissed at myself for not holding or getting a shot.

In my tiny business I do the camera work and editing so I get what want and the blame falls on me if I would miss something. When I go on vacation with friends or family they always question why I'm shooting a certain way, I tell them, they get interested and then they get more excited for their copies of the videos I shoot. So I prefer to capture my work myself. Not always the case because I do a lot of editing that regular people just shoot, and it's a mess. Thankfully that's where the tricks come in from editing software. Why I like to have Adobe and FCP for different ideas I'm trying.

I understand AVID being the big boy on campus but for us in the small market it's very pricey. Why I stick with Adobe and FCP. I may not be a professional working for a studio but I get by fine with the products I use. Plus I'm my own boss. I see the argument from all sides it just comes down to the individuals needs. Hopefully one day I can venture to bigger things and use AVID, till then I'm happy with what I use. Adobe worked out well for The Social Network and other major Hollywood films and when I talked to many editors at Sundance in 07 they almost all used FCP. Yes, Sundance is low budget, I understand that.

IMO FCX will get going down the road, just more and more updates. No one is making you buy it. So far I like it, I don't love it though. I think the new updates will help out a lot, and more down the road....I hope. Thankfully the material I have been using FCX for works well together. No hiccups yet...knock on wood!

 

[LethalWolfe]

All that being said, if you want to get your Editing Project done correctly, just use Avid hire a competent editor.

Fixed that for you.


Lethal

 

[linuxcooldude]

Fixed that for you.


Lethal

ha...good post.

 

[DarenDino]

bought FCP X when it first came out...along with Motion and Compressor. Yes, I read all the articles, feedback, FUD, etc.

But I am brand new to video and have been running it and I love it. Was really pumped about what it could do, etc...even invested in additional storage for current and future projects

yes, it crashes a lot, etc but it always recovered sanely and I was eagerly waiting the update

Now the update comes...

I head to the App Store and click "upgrade" and then the most jaw dropping thing I have ever seen comes up:

"sorry, we cannot complete your purchase because your video card does not meet the minimum specs for this purchase"

Same with Compressor and Motion....

WTFFFFFFF!!!

Not a word of this when I bought it

what is tim cook's email address?

macpro 1,1/ATI Radeon HD 3870
12GB RAM

Same for me, a £3200 Mac Pro, 32GB ram and Quad Core and I cannot even update FCP X?????? - load of bollocks that my graphics card is out of date after 3 years.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Not a word of this when I bought it

what is tim cook's email address?

macpro 1,1/ATI Radeon HD 3870
12GB RAM

If you go to the Tech Specs page for FCP X and click on link to GFX card compatibility you'll see that the 3870 is not an officially supported card. This info has been there since launch.

Same for me, a £3200 Mac Pro, 32GB ram and Quad Core and I cannot even update FCP X?????? - load of bollocks that my graphics card is out of date after 3 years.

Three years is a long time in the computer world (especially for trend in aps to heavily leverage the GPU more and more). I don't know if this is still the case, but back when I was heavily into gaming and PC building GFX cards would be updated every 6mo and if you had a card 12-18mo old you might as well have been in the stone age.


Lethal

 

[justperry]

Software is a tool that is used to create art or whatever else and not vice versa - I don't know about you but I like my tools to do what they are supposed to do. I wish Apple could have just released a 64bit version of Final Cut 7 instead of a clunky version of iMovie on steroids...

A software designer who doesn't consider what he does to be art is probably a not very good one.

Some people just can't read and so do you.
He said that software IS a tool to CREATE art, and if you still don't understand it means creating art like music - video - comics - etc.

What amazes Me even more is that when I post this people actually gave you 9 plus points, so they can't read either if you ask me!

That doesn't mean though that your statement is not a good one, its just wrong in the context of replying to that one message from Mrwonkers

 

[elvislives]

Total crap! Are you even an editor?

I'm a professional cameraman & editor and to be honest I really like FCP X, it doesn't do everything I want, and yes its buggy (10.0.1 has just finished downloading so I'll try it after finishing typing this) but to be honest when I go back to FCP 7 I start to miss the features in FCP X. I've now cut loads of projects on it (some have even been broadcast on national TV!) and its been a dream. In fact several projects are repeats of old projects and I've cut them in half the time it took me in FCP 7.

Yes it's not for everyone, but then neither was FCP 7 which is why Avid, Quantel etc are still doing roaring trade.

Sorry its total rubbish that FCP X isn't pro - when was the last time an amateur piece of software had decent accurate scopes, or able to sync dual sound systems. Oh and how many amateurs do you know that work of an XSAN (which FCP X as of the updates does!).

Totally agree!!!

Any version 1.0 of Software has bugs and missing functions, I remember using first version of Maya, it was totally crap! and now look at it...
Give it time and it will surpass FC7, for now if you got a issues with FCPX, then just keep using FC7, nobody is forcing you to change.

 

[mijail]

So accepting of such poor coding. Something that people earning a living from often can't and won't accept.

I work in engineering. We are currently "happy" with our software because it only crashes once every few days; but from january, after a major update, it crashed a few times *every day*.
Some colleagues in this company work with other competing software. I started thinking about switching, but they told us they have equivalent problems.

In my previous job, I was programming custom plugins for a different kind of software (professional, expensive, can't-buy-it-only-licence-it). What a crapfest, for the users and for the programmers.

So: I really wonder who are those "people earning a living" who "can't and won't accept"? Must be a lucky, happy, spoilt bunch.

NOT that I am defending this state of things, and even I would like Apple to best those industry practices, but you certainly sound like exaggerating a teeny little bit.

There is no way a professional application such as FCP-X should be crashing like that, specially with the OS being such a closed wall system.

OS X a "closed wall system"? Are you mistaking OS X with iOS, or do you have a funny definition of "closed wall system"?

I know if our software 'crashed a lot' we would have CEOs coming down on us like a ton of bricks.

Man, I'd love to work in such a pristine company. Where should I send my CV?

 

[caddisfly]

If you go to the Tech Specs page for FCP X and click on link to GFX card compatibility you'll see that the 3870 is not an oficially supported card. This info has been there since launch.

...except if that was true why didn't app store catch that before I spent $400 on fcp x, compressor and motion?

 

[wms]

Update for UK?

Sorry if I've missed posts trawling through this thread but can't find mention of when we get this update in the UK?

 

[mjsanders5uk]

as a cameraman you should keep your hands of from editing leave that to the pros. i work with avid composer since 1995 and with premiere since 2 years. final cut x missing basic needs. you know that. no one need scopes without basic functions like a magnetic timeline.

MMM, I'm very tempted to rant but I don't have time for that. I am pretty insulted though that apparently I'm not a pro editor because I also shoot. For the record I started editing in 1988 just after I left Ravensbourne (then the best TV training college in the UK), back then it was 910's and ACE25 and front panel. I've cut everything from news to promo's including a number of 1hr docs and a short feature (OK I shot it as well but its nicely done I have to say!).

Like you I've moved with the times, working on newscutter, lightworks, media 100 and a few other's. FOR ME and for what I cut now (mostly news, 10 min news features, corporates ranging from 2 min talking heads to intricate effects driven pieces and the odd hour long doc) I am more comfortable with FCP over Avid, to be fair I have used Avid for years now but I am tempted to give it a try as everyone is saying very good things about MC5.5

I can work with FCP X, I'm liking it. No it doesn't do everything I need to which is why I have FCP7 and ranted quite heavily about FCS 3 being taken off sale. But I'm not stupid enough to dismiss something new when it comes out on the basis it doesn't work like I used to...

One last thing, could you elaborate on your last line "no one needs scopes without basic functions like a magnetic timeline", it really doesn't make sense!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Its probably one of Apples worst software PR screw ups.

Hardly. This is a blip compared to, say, the whole iPhone 4 antenna-gate because a whole lot more people are tuned into the iPhone than FCP. FCP-X pissed off the small circle of video pros because of lack of collaboration tools, compatibility w/ previous versions. But eventually FCP-X is going to be solid just as the iPhone 4 is viewed a year and a half after it's "scandal." It's a ping in the daily cling-clang-bang-boom of the Apple machine.

 

[KevTCC]

Exactly.

And as a "professional editor" i have decided that it is too important to try and run untested software on my mission critical systems and instead will use it on my personal machines where i can trial it until it does exactly what we need for daily tasks.

Only an idiot would put beta/untested software into a paying production environment.

Plus there is also the fact that my customers don't need to know what editing software i use, unless i am editing in their suites (in which case ill use what they already have).
All they care about is that the end result looks the way they want in the format they request.

Finally. Someone on in this thread who sounds like they actually have customers.

Thanks for this post.

Kev

 

[the8thark]

I use Final Cut 7 on the weekdays, and X on the weekends. There really is a LOT to like about X.

This person really understands it. This person get it well.

FCPX is not perfect but it's looking to be an even better product then it already is. I'm excited.

 

[Sackvillenb]

Well it's about time they started addressing these issues. And hey, a free trial, that's pretty sweet... Hopefully Apple's experience with FCPX will prevent them from making similar mistakes when they release the next version of Logic...

 

[MovieCutter]

Give it time and it will surpass FC7, for now if you got a issues with FCPX, then just keep using FC7, nobody is forcing you to change.

Except Apple IS forcing us to change. A lot of us have our businesses running on FCP 7, but Apple's rewrite of the program that stripped a lot of professional features with no guarantee that they will return forces us to consider other options. FCP7 won't be supported forever, and right now Adobe and Avid are offering a roadmap, whereas Apple is not.

 

[bimmzy]

I suppose if they can't hold a camera steady longer than 45 frames, I wouldn't give them the title CAMERA MAN.

hahaha soooo true

can you tell my managers that!

 

[willrob]

I'm running System Updates and going to the App Store and I'm not seeing the update for FCPX...I got the Motion update but no go here. Any ideas?

The updates are in the Mac App Store, same place you got the apps.

 

[DarenDino]

To be honest, that is total bollocks from Apple!

FCP X 10 worked fine, now Apple are telling me that my graphics card is not good enough for the 10.1 update - what has changed then?

This means that I can never ever update FCP X in future.

 

[Stuipdboy1000]

Is there full screen support in the new version of Motion. It doesn't mention it in the release notes but I'm sure when iLife got update for full screen it didn't list it either.

 

[Truffy]

OS X a "closed wall system"? Are you mistaking OS X with iOS, or do you have a funny definition of "closed wall system"?

I think he meant that one company is responsible for the whole hardware/OS/application bundle, so they should be able to get it right (or stand a better chance of doing so.)

Not that I'm defending his views...

----------

Sorry if I've missed posts trawling through this thread but can't find mention of when we get this update in the UK?

It was available last night in the Swiss App Store, so it's not like Apple's releasing it in the US ahead of elsewhere.