Apple Updates Final Cut Pro X with Multicam Support, Advanced Chroma Keying, and XML Support

[MovieCutter]

In LA....trust in Apple's Final Cut support is severely damaged. The channel I work for has had numerous discussions about switching from FCP7 to either Premiere or Avid. FCPX?...people just roll their eyes. These updates are encouraging but I'll need a LOT of convincing that FCPX isn't really geared toward the lone editor vs "pro workflows".

Exactly. It's not that FCPX is not just getting close to FCP7, it's a matter of trusting the brand anymore. Who's to say Apple won't pull features in another revision down the line? My point isn't that FCPX is totally unusable for all professionals, it's the anyone who thinks FCPX can replace FCP7 in a high end post or broadcast workflow involving collaboration, broadcast monitoring, tape mastering, etc is clearly delusional or a blind Apple fanboy...and coming from a former Apple employee and Final Cut Pro instructor, that's not easy to say.

 

[THX1139]

I worked in broadcast and produced, directed, and edited live TV. My degree is in broadcast communication. And I still call BS on your "most of us" baloney statement.

They key part of your post is when you say "worked in" and that means you no longer work in that industry. So, how would you know?

Now, if you would have said... I work AT a company that provides massive content for the networks, and we stuck with Apple, I might take notice. But, for the most part, MANY industry professionals moved on to other platforms. Soon as Apple dropped the ball, Adobe and AVID jumped in there with special offers and provided what Apple didn't do with FCX.

The only people who are really digging FCX are the DSLR short film/indie creatives, hobbyists, and maybe small shops that aren't under immense pressure deadlines. The rest of the industry for the most part dumped Apple because they couldn't trust their livelihood on a secretive and somewhat flakey company. But how would you know that? After all, you only "worked" at one time in the industry.

 

[mBox]

Seriously you guys claim that all FCPX can do is *****?
Have you guys been trolling other pages as well like StudioDaily, fcp.co, CreativeCow. etc...?
you know that there are real professionals with amazing artistic abilities using FCPX right?
Just to be clear the same pros could have easily done that in Avid/PPro.
But they chose to try it on something else.
So yea Im sure there are real good work done using the other pencil.
BTW its not the software that does *****, its user folks just plain fact!

 

[olliek]

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To each their own, I'm just going on the swath of editors that I know. And if you think FCP X is ready for primetime...you must be working in community cable access.

+1. Everyone I know, myself included, has moved back to Avid or gone with what is already the oft installed, rarely opened app of Premiere. We have gear already invested in FCP7 and to make the most of that, we've moved on to Premiere.

Working post production professionals cutting in client driven sessions need solid tools, of which FCPX is unfortunately not. If it can't ingest or layback to ANY broadcast tape deck, why bother labeling it "pro"?!

Ingesting and laying out to tape is what runners and newbie edit assistants do. Does that make them "pros" then?

"Professional" - engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than a pastime.

In other words, just because you work in Broadcast doesn't mean you can label yourself a "pro" and tell everyone else FCPX isn't for professional editors.

 

[olliek]

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What I don't understand is why Apple didn't make it more clear they were going to add these features back. I understand their need for secrecy, but sometimes they seriously overdo it.

It's only a small subset of the missing features. Multicam for me is not a needed feature. I've used it like twice. But I understand for many it's their livelihood and it's one of the features that finally got folks to switch from Avid to FCP classic.

One thing I haven't read anyone mention yet is that FCP7's multicam workflow was hobbled my the need to use exactly the same codec, resolution and frame rate across all angles. FCP 10.0.3 now let's you mix and match and auto syncs angles too. This isn't just a missing feature added back in, it's a massive improvement and better than Premiere CS5.5 by a mile.

 

[MovieCutter]

Seriously you guys claim that all FCPX can do is *****?
Have you guys been trolling other pages as well like StudioDaily, fcp.co, CreativeCow. etc...?
you know that there are real professionals with amazing artistic abilities using FCPX right?
Just to be clear the same pros could have easily done that in Avid/PPro.
But they chose to try it on something else.
So yea Im sure there are real good work done using the other pencil.
BTW its not the software that does *****, its user folks just plain fact!

Again, I don't disagree. But the tools do matter. Sure, I can do anything in FCP X I can do in FCP 7. I could even do fake multi-cam. But it's a matter of efficiency and workflow and features.

If it takes me twice as long to do a fake multicam edit of a 28 minute, 3+camera show under deadline in a version 10.0 product than it would in a version 7.0 product...why is that a tool I want to use? That particular workflow has nothing to do with ability, it's about speed and efficiency. Can I cut a long-form doc-style show or a commercial together with FCPX? Sure. But when I want to master it to tape to send to a facility that accepts digiBETA, DVCPRO, DVCAM, etc tapes for TX? What then? Well now I have to export that project out of FCPX, then into another program like FCP7 or Premiere to master to tape with a 1 hour timecode start so the broadcast engineer can cue it up to get it into their library for TX.

Most of the editors I know have to deal with stuff like that. And FCP X doesn't cut it. Everyone has their own needs, but you're talking about individuals, I'm talking about companies with 5+ seats, $100k in equipment for mastering and monitoring, and highly collaborative environments that this tool simply isn't aimed at, and that's being demonstrated by the mass exodus from the platform at that level. If you're a wedding videographer, I'm sure FCPX is great.

 

[NY Guitarist]

Most of us have already moved on to Avid or Premiere. We can't afford the uncertainty.

Not sure why speaking the truth gets you so many negative votes around here.

But yeah, AVID (Media Composer), Adobe (Premiere Pro) have reassured editors that they won't pull the rug out from under their customers. For a freelance or even one-man band it's challenging enough out there, but for a larger facility with multiple licenses, workstations, supporting hardware it was the death blow for Final Cut.

There is much talk in the audio community about the possibility that if/when Apple releases Logic ProX that this same situation will happen. Although I don't see it having as much negative impact as FCPX.

So I vote +1 on this post.

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I worked in broadcast and produced, directed, and edited live TV. My degree is in broadcast communication. And I still call BS on your "most of us" baloney statement.

I have a background similar to yours. Having worked in both NY and LA I can say that is exactly what happened.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

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Ingesting and laying out to tape is what runners and newbie edit assistants do. Does that make them "pros" then?

"Professional" - engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than a pastime.

In other words, just because you work in Broadcast doesn't mean you can label yourself a "pro" and tell everyone else FCPX isn't for professional editors.

The stink of elitism in this thread is enough to choke a horse.

 

[tjwaido]

Provide Positive Feedback as FCPX is the future.

Complaints are essential to creating a better FCPX, so Apple can address those issues! Multi-camera is exciting news, but Apple is still 10-years behind where they were with FCP7 and FCPX still lacks the tools that let professionals be professional. This is still an iMovie Pro or hobbiyst program at best.

I am a freelancer with a degree in broadcast and I have been trying to adopt FCPX. There is no chance Apple will ever upgrade FCP7 after spending 3-years of code writing for FCPX. They will only work on improving FCPX. I try to do my part to "Provide Final Cut Pro Feedback..." to Apple with a long list of pros and cons. I think we all should provide feedback if we want to get FCPX to be a professional program.

Can anyone agree with me on the following?

FCPX Pros:
• Range Tool
• Skimming
• AVCHD Ingestion
• Background Rendering On/Off
• 5.1 Audio Pan Mode Selections
• Color Correction Masking
• 64-bit

FCPX Cons:
• No Timeline Option, only Magnetic Storyline
• No Log and Capture with Timecode in/out user inputs
• Ability to Replace and Relink any media file
• Send to option for Motion, Soundtrack or Logic
• Different Keyboard Strokes/Shortcuts for a presumed upgrade of FCP7.
• No Save As, Revert To Save or Auto Save Options to revert back to.
• No Viewer Window
• No Custom Window Layout or Multiple Screens
• No Timecode for clips in storyline (FCP7 Viewer Window in/out points)
• No Audio Crossfade Shortcuts
• No user/custom Audio Editing
• Replaced Color Wheel/Skin Tones with Color Board (Color Wheel Option)
• Match Color (This is a joke, right?)
• No Chapter Markers
• No in and out range export/playback
• No Audio out-of-sync warnings
• No copy and paste in video adjustments
• Lack of Retiming Controls (Only 50%, 25%, 10% or 2x, 4x, 8x and 20x options)
• No ghost in and out points when using slip tool
• No pen tool
• Custom Timeline Features of FCP7
• Etc...

FCPX Bugs:
• No Solo Audio when doing Frame-by-Frame
• Zoom Range doesn't quite work properly

About all I can think of...

 

[routine_analyst]

lol

I love reading forum battles between people who are so into proving their own value that they have to write what kind of macs they own in their signatures. I mean, really?




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I own an upgraded Optimus Prime... version 1.4.5b late model year 2008 with upgraded polycarbonsyntetic fire bomb rifles... and your mom.

 

[charlituna]

What I don't understand is why Apple didn't make it more clear they were going to add these features back. I understand their need for secrecy, but sometimes they seriously overdo it.

They said it like two weeks after the first release.

 

[NY Guitarist]

Bottom line the way I see it: Apple lost the trust and respect from the very market that help them survive through the tough times. Those using Final Cut became the same who who recommended Apple and FCP to others.

Apple pulled a fast one at the LAFCPUG last year and many felt totally burned by that.

I've heard the term "bait and switch" more than a few times when people reference that event and the reality of FCPX when it was released.

 

[ryanw]

International news network. Last count 250 mil last year, likely 300 mil now.

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That took you 4 days? Where do the 3 cameras come in? Clock wipes? iStockPhoto? Not sure if serious...

Man, this is really bad. This guy isn't helping his case posting that video saying it took him 3 days.

 

[MovieCutter]

I love reading forum battles between people who are so into proving their own value that they have to write what kind of macs they own in their signatures. I mean, really?




----
I own an upgraded Optimus Prime... version 1.4.5b late model year 2008 with upgraded polycarbonsyntetic fire bomb rifles... and your mom.

See, it's fun isn't it? What OS did you upgrade my mom to?

 

[handsome pete]

Unless you are depending on AfterEffects, but then you had no reason to be in FCP7 in the first place.

What does that even mean? I've been depending on both After Effects and FCP for the past 10 years.

 

[steveh]

What I don't understand is why Apple didn't make it more clear they were going to add these features back. I understand their need for secrecy, but sometimes they seriously overdo it.

If you'd been paying attention, you would have read Apple's statements late last year saying exactly that; features like multicam support were coming in updates this year.

 

[yoak]

I love reading forum battles between people who are so into proving their own value that they have to write what kind of macs they own in their signatures. I mean, really?


----
I own an upgraded Optimus Prime... version 1.4.5b late model year 2008 with upgraded polycarbonsyntetic fire bomb rifles... and your mom.

Usually people who actually contribute to these forum, talk about certain specifics to their gear, it makes it easier for people following the thread to quickly understand what hardware they are talking about.
When you write, you an also can refer to your sig. Instead of listing you gear over and over again
I never thiought of it as bragging at least

 

[11thIndian]

What I don't understand is why Apple didn't make it more clear they were going to add these features back. I understand their need for secrecy, but sometimes they seriously overdo it.

The key features in this update (Broadcast Monitoring & Multicam) have been listed on Apple's website for this release since November's release of 10.0.2.

 

[kokako]

multicam awesome news, just hope not too much else is changed as FCPX is so rock solid right now, glad I didn't waste money jumping to avid and premiere without trying this like so many that didn't even give it a go.
I remember the Logic 7 owners hating on 8 too, "Garageband Pro they moaned" FCPX the best software we've ever edited on, it's a breeze and if you're making a movie with DSLRs this is a dream come true.

 

[HelveticaRoman]

Sounds great, although we went over to AVID MC a few months ago.

 

[mBox]

Sounds great, although we went over to AVID MC a few months ago.

And yet you care enough to let us know
Thanks to all that have migrated peacefully.
Now can you guys just get back to work
LOL!

 

[mutantteenager]

Anyone working with FCP 7 in broadcast post production is probably still working with it for the time being, or at least looking at the alternatives. The strongest contender to replace FCP being Adobe Premier for cost and flexibility, although that doesn't exclude Avid.

FCP X just isn't a broadcast tool. All the apologists, simply want to forgive Apple for stripping KEY functionality out of a great product. If Apple put a camera in the iphone, but didn't give you the ability to print the photos off onto paper would you not see that as a bit of a step back? Tape exists in broadcast and continues to be used for both capture and delivery - fact.

Imagine if the new iphone couldn't read your contact information from your previous release of ios? These are pretty fundamental flaws and saying that a third-party plug in will deal with it, isn't really cutting it. If it's possible for a third party to write this code, why doesn't Apple add it as part of the programme - after all it was there in the previous version???

Running parallel to this is the fact that the Mac Pro seems to have been EOL'd. If you're dealing with full HD from Alexa or RED you aren't going to be using a Macbook Pro, it's just not feasible. Apple have stepped out of the professional film and broadcast market, the only problem is they haven't done the decent thing and officially announced it.

If you are using FCP X and it's working for you, then great. That doesn't deny those who's industries rely on it's predecessor who have serious misgivings about their investment in a solution Apple have diluted for the consumer market.

 

[danimal99]

They key part of your post is when you say "worked in" and that means you no longer work in that industry. So, how would you know?

Now, if you would have said... I work AT a company that provides massive content for the networks, and we stuck with Apple, I might take notice. But, for the most part, MANY industry professionals moved on to other platforms. Soon as Apple dropped the ball, Adobe and AVID jumped in there with special offers and provided what Apple didn't do with FCX.

The only people who are really digging FCX are the DSLR short film/indie creatives, hobbyists, and maybe small shops that aren't under immense pressure deadlines. The rest of the industry for the most part dumped Apple because they couldn't trust their livelihood on a secretive and somewhat flakey company. But how would you know that? After all, you only "worked" at one time in the industry.

Apple, "flakey"? Oooooookay. As I said, I am a software engineer, who went back to school to get a broadcasting degree- which I finished last spring. As part of that, I worked at a station, did all the roles, including and especially editing. I bought my own software (FCS3) and my own camera (Panny DVX100b). Which I continued to use doing projects on my own afterwards (e.g. weddings). Feel free to **** on my experience all you want. Who cares.

BUT, the fact remains that this MovieCutter joker seems to think "most" industry pros rushed out to get Avid or Premiere or Vegas or whatever he was talking about. If you want to talk flaky, rushing and throwing out hundreds of hours of work and training on a whim just because you somehow feel like Apple isn't bending over specifically for you or made the software so affordable that lowly prosumers and consumers might use it too, THAT is flaky and unprofessional.

 

[H. Flower]

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It looks like a Tim and Eric sketch

 

[mBox]

...Running parallel to this is the fact that the Mac Pro seems to have been EOL'd. If you're dealing with full HD from Alexa or RED you aren't going to be using a Macbook Pro, it's just not feasible...

Really? Are you sure? Maybe not full res 4K...oh wait Ive had to work with this on a MBP a few times in both 4K and HD.
Man people just want to repeat the same thing over and over.
I wonder if Apple reads these cause I would love to be a fly on the wall in one of the production meetings