iMovie '08 Was Originally Called 'First Cut', Ubillos on Final Cut Pro X

[esquared]

FCP7 is awful

Been using FCP since ver. 3, and I've watched them add chunks of code to do things that needed doing up to ver. 7. In my experiences ver. 7 is awful, with cryptic error messages, incompatible format mixing, poor media management, the list is long. That said I still like it better than other NLE's, which is to say they all kind of suck. If Apple didn't do something drastic, and soon, they would have lost me and I have to assume I am not alone in that thinking. Who knows how many they've lost in the past year for these same reasons? Now, been training and using FCPX and I think as an editor it's simply wonderful; fast, intuitive and even fun. Would love to have had it 3 months ago, it would've saved many hours of work on this past project. I do think however that it was a poor product transition, but that seems the rule rather than the exception with Apple. One thing I've learned long ago, any statements with the words "all", "none", "every", etc.. is to be taken very lightly.

 

[Prallethrin]

I don't do video editing, but with all the trolling and anti-Apple hate that par for the course on the Internet...

I can't help but feel that this is antenna-gate all over again**, where the haters see blood in the water and blow the whole thing out of proportion with the media joining in the mass hysteria when they see there is ad money to be made.

/shrug
But what do I know.

Nevertheless, the interwebs have lost a good deal of credibility with me when it comes to evaluation of Apple's products.


** The antenna is actually more or less just fine. No one is complaining about it anymore despite the fact that NOTHING has changed about the iPhone 4's antenna.

The iPhone 4 has proceded to sell millions without a hitch.

 

[Gray.2]

I am sick of the stupid kids who has no idea of video editing posting their useless garbage in here.

Final Cut Pro X IS GARBAGE!!!!

I work in a TV station, we had no less than 900 projects in FCP 7 and is just no tolerable not having FCP X not reading those projects 100%. We are not exporting in any other stinky format, WE JUST CAN NOT! WE HAVE NO TIME!

Compressor 3 was mediocre enough, Final Cut Server was a complete lie already.

By the end of the year we are going to switch the entire platform to Adobe Premiere and that is going to cost our shareholders some good money and time and training but better safe than depending on a CEO of a crazy software company with cancer in his brain creating software for Barbie.

There are not excuses, we have been left alone on the wild with FCP X. It is a lame joke that has no excuses.

It is just like changing every single gas station to hydrogen overnight. What do I do with my car now? you ask, well we are not supporting it anymore.

I mean, the bunch of kids doesn't get it.

If I had a gun with one bullet and had Fidel Castro in front of me or Randi Ubillos... wow... I would be pointing back and forth.

Steve Balmer must be shocked and laughing at this and you bet FCP X will end up in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest software flaw ever!

Who in the hell cares about Fidel Castro in 2011?

Your argument seemed legit until that little nugget.

Do you happen to work for Fox?

 

[NAG]

I don't necessarily think the problem is with the new tools. It's more the lack of the "professional" tools. This is really just Final Cut Express X. It's one thing if the editors were soley complaining about the new features. That is not the case. There are those, but there is much more to it. Apple has completely removed all the "Pro" features from Final Cut PRO!!!!! What did they expect people would say? You can't call it a Pro app and take out a professionals' life blood from a product and not expect a backlash. Imagine a new version of Photoshop was released and could not read PSDs?? A new interface is one thing. This?....this is NOT a Pro app. Apple really screwed the pooch here.

Thats like saying Apple took the system out of operation system in OS X.

FCP 7 was on a path to a dead end and needed a rewrite (technology-wise).

Yes, they screwed up by doing what I assume they thought would be a clean break as far as discontinuing the old version. But isn't that a completely different matter than Apple taking the "Pro" out of of Final Cut? You can't really support your claim that this 1.0 will never gain any features that are missing by saying Apple discontinued the old product and the new one doesn't have backwards compatibility.

 

[Simplicated]

I personally do not like the "release first, patch later" approach.

 

[NAG]

I personally do not like the "release first, patch later" approach.

Then I assume you hated OS X until version 10.4 (which is fair, OS X was a complete mess for a while and Apple gave free or near free updates for quite some time).

As far as this "Apple hates Pros" meme, it reminds me a lot of the "Apple hates Macs" meme. People go on about how macs weren't getting updated, Apple was only focusing on iOS, OS X didn't show up at WWDC 2010, etc... We ended up getting a great update to the Macbook Air line, 10.7 looks to be a good and inexpensive update and we have rumors that the Mac Pro line is up for a complete overhaul as well as the Macbook Pro line.

Oh wait, that last bit contradicted the "Apple hates Pros" meme. I can never keep track of which rumors to ignore and which ones to latch on to when for respective themes.

 

[Stridder44]

I don't recall anyone being forced to use FCP X, do you?

Well, considering Apple has completely removed any ability for someone to buy FCP7...

I mean sure, you could use Avid, but many many people already have everything set up for FCP. Apple is really screwing over a lot of people here with their raging hard-on for iOS devices.

 

[jaw04005]

I've never used Final Cut Pro before and I just edited a short video of some coworker's friends learning to swim. I understand the frustration if you're a professional, but this is basically the iMovie I've always wanted.

The new ProKit interface is very sleek. I can't wait to see what happens to Aperture.

It may take Apple a year or two (to replace the missing features of 7), but if they manage to turn Final Cut Pro X into an application that both prosumers and professionals can equally use --- Apple could really change the pro apps industry (hello Photoshop, you're next). They've already got the price right.

Apple may make decisions that appear rash at the time, but in hindsight very few have turned out to be bad for Apple or Apple's customers. You don't win by betting against Apple.

 

[bbtylrv]

Perspective. . . not claiming I have it-- but. . .

The real tragedy here is if Apple thinks all the anger over FCP X is just about that particular software, and not the growing fear over the last few years that pro apps and gear are a fading priority for Apple. For instance:

* It took almost 2.5 years to go from Final Cut Studio 2 to Final Cut Studio 3, and Final Cut Studio 3 was just a moderate update. Then it took almost another 2 full years to introduce Final Cut Pro X, which removed tons of features!

* Apple bought Shake, and then cancelled it. Cancelled it! Apple said there would be a next-generation app coming in Shake's place, but that never showed up.

* Apple started letting Logic atrophy.

* Apple "phoned-in" the last few Mac Pro updates, just slapping in some new Intel chips, but not adding value such as 1) more expansion slots (three slots is not a lot for a workstation), and 2) never bothering to include an eSATA port, even though tons of media professionals started using eSATA, 3) never bothering to include a USB3 port, etc. etc. Many people are wondering if the new Thunderbolt port will be Apple's excuse to give up on the Mac Pro altogether.

* Apple stopped updating its "Pro" page almost two years ago, here: http://www.apple.com/pro/

* Apple stopped attending NAB, and other standard industry events.

* Multiple rumors that Apple was trying to sell its Pro Apps division....


People have spent a lot of time and money building their businesses and careers around FCP. But since the iPhone launched, FCP and other pro apps and gear have gotten noticeably less attention.

That makes a lot of people nervous, and left to wonder what Apple's intentions are. You really can't help but wonder because Apple is so ridiculously silent about its intentions, which works fine on the consumer side but not when people are investing tens of thousands of dollars in apps and gear around Apple.

Combine that with Apple shipping a new version of Final Cut that is so radically different and so underpowered, and also discontinuing sales for FCS 3 suites and FCP Server (with no explanation about Server's demise or any intentions on bringing back multi-user functionality) and you can see how the dam finally burst in the Pro community and the angry flood waters rushed in.

Apple better start communicating better with its pro customers, and re-assuring them that it's committed to professional work in this new era of the iPhone/iPad. Otherwise, a lot of people will be heading for the doors...

I would suggest that you just switch to a Windows machine then. If you cannot see the forest through the trees and just hang on to FCP7 for a while, then you sound more like a PC person anyway. Apple is about thinking different. If that is not your style, then head on over to the PC side of the aisle. If you wait a bit, keep editing on FCP7 and see how this pans out, I believe you will find your self in good shape. Panic posts like the one you wrote may allow you to feel a bit better through venting, but you honestly sound irrational. Apple owes you nothing-- I think consumers forget this all the time. Just ask anyone who converted their music collection to "plays for sure". We are consumers and we are at the mercy of the creation companies. At the end of the day, I have far more trust for Apple than I do any PC based company. I feel their track record is pretty strong-- and I would guess that the guy who created the original FCP (Randy U.) is not going to let it die. I think Apple (and Randy) are thinking different and that we will all do well to hold back judgement for a bit. Otherwise, quit complaining, recognize that there is nothing you can do about it, and switch to PC. If that sounds good to you-- then go for it. Just please stop complaining about an unfinished product. You can argue all you want that it isn't ready or that they shouldn't have released it-- but what good will that do? It has been released, now we have to decide how to respond. I wish you the best-- and mean no disrespect-- I just think this is being blown out of proportion.

Perhaps I am completely wrong-- but time will tell, at this point you can be sure of nothing beyond your own perception. Perceptions have failed many confident people throughout history, so the wise usually hold back judgment until the knee-jerk has settled down. I believe it is too early to know.

Again, no disrespect-- I respect Randy U. and believe he will come through for us.

 

[arkmannj]

I'm really justa prosumer when it comes to video editing 'n such. I love doing it (on the side mostly) but don't make my bread-and-butter doing it. With that said I need to give FCPX a full test run before I give my full thoughts. But for now I'll say I'm still adjusting to the whole iMovie kinda feel to it, it may be "simpler' seeming, but it actually feels a bit more frustrating. I'm sure I can get used to it and adjust but for now that's how I feel.

My real disappointments are still now real Shake replacement, Soundtrack Pro, and DVD Studio Pro. (In short, with the apps being all separate we're missing parts of the suite) In the case of DVD SP, I didn't expect Apple to keep it in its current form, but maybe evolve it into something that could product interactive quicktime content, and DVD's, etc.

On a side note, Is "Motion" supposed to be the shake replacement? and if so, does the new version have more of the old shake tools yet? like morpher? and can it import Maya 3D projects etc.?

 

[dethmaShine]

Anyone who needs a new license of FCP 7?

The post you quoted implied that 'No one is forced to use FCPX'. The does not imply whether one can buy FCP 7 or not. Just use any other software.

Again not saying that that's what you should do but a logical reply to your argument to the quoted post.

 

[iphonepiephone]

I for one can't wait until all of these so-called "pros" stop their griping and get out of the way. Move to PP or Avid and leave the next generation to determine the path. All of the pros I know either adapt to new technology or they find other things to do with their lives. I'm pretty sure that when the EVS came out, all the tape guys thought it was the end of the world, now we're dependent on a tapeless system - is it perfect, no, but it's a helluva lot better than lugging around reels or betas and editing tape to tape.

Things will get better, if they're not getting better fast enough for you, then by all means abandon ship. FCPX works for me*, so I think I'll stick around and see what happens next.

*I don't cut features or rely on an extensive post house. Cut highlights, sprinkle on some AE or Motion, get them on TV, no looking back - on to the next game.

+3 and then +10 = +10, for the -3 ratings some gave you.



If you got hit by a truck tonight, would FCP be the first thing on your mind? Boo hoo, Apple have moved on from ancient formats... so? They LEAD the tech world, and I don't see anyone complaining that they DEFINED the Computer, OS *and* smartphone markets, do you?

Hard as it may be, as frustrating as it may be, you're either gonna have to accept the fact that technology is moving forward, and solid state media is the here and now of video, or cling onto legacy BS forever. There is never a "right time" - people would procrastinate into infinity, so Apple saved you the bother - BHAM! No more tape!! Done - and done MEANS done.

I recall all the complaints when Apple indicated they'd be making a touchscreen iPod... oh what a childish fuss...

Oh but "the industry uses tape" - well, maybe this is a kick up the backside for "the industry" too.

PS: I'll be round at 09:30 tomorrow, with that showreel I made for you... on floppy. Hope your Mac can handle floppies?

 

[NAG]

I'm really justa prosumer when it comes to video editing 'n such. I love doing it (on the side mostly) but don't make my bread-and-butter doing it. With that said I need to give FCPX a full test run before I give my full thoughts. But for now I'll say I'm still adjusting to the whole iMovie kinda feel to it, it may be "simpler' seeming, but it actually feels a bit more frustrating. I'm sure I can get used to it and adjust but for now that's how I feel.

My real disappointments are still now real Shake replacement, Soundtrack Pro, and DVD Studio Pro. (In short, with the apps being all separate we're missing parts of the suite) In the case of DVD SP, I didn't expect Apple to keep it in its current form, but maybe evolve it into something that could product interactive quicktime content, and DVD's, etc.

I really would not hold my breath for anything relating to DVDs or BluRay. Apple has made it pretty clear that they think optical is a dead end technology and will no longer be supporting it. We're lucky that iMacs and Macbooks even have optical drives, frankly (and I wouldn't be surprised if they do disappear from consumer Macs in a year or two).

Yes, I know optical disks are used for other things than consumers watching movies or loading software. It doesn't change Apple treating optical just like they treated floppies.

 

[Imhotep397]

Time To Fire Randy Ubillos!!!

Ok, this is one of those situations where Apple has supported someone with a horrible and misinformed vision of how to create software for a profession he knows very little about. I understand more now after doing a bit of background checking on Ubillos. I now know why Final Cut Pro X feels like Adobe Premiere 4...it's because Ubillos designed the first 4 versions of Premiere before Adobe canned him and integrated real, and usable 3-point editing into Premiere. Adobe pulled him off of Premiere and now after a decade of being looked down on as amateur software, thanks to his handiwork, Adobe finally has Premiere looking and feeling like a pro application. Apple should learn a lesson from history and get Ubillos out ASAP.

 

[iphonepiephone]

I really would not hold my breath for anything relating to DVDs or BluRay. Apple has made it pretty clear that they think optical is a dead end technology and will no longer be supporting it. We're lucky that iMacs and Macbooks even have optical drives, frankly (and I wouldn't be surprised if they do disappear from consumer Macs in a year or two).

Yes, I know optical disks are used for other things than consumers watching movies or loading software. It doesn't change Apple treating optical just like they treated floppies.

Optical is well dead, ages ago. I keep telling my Blu Ray fan friend this, but he disagrees. Seriously, has the adoption of Blu Ray been even 1/10th of that which DVD was? Wonder why.

Ok, this is one of those situations where Apple has supported someone with a horrible and misinformed vision of how to create software for a profession he knows very little about. I understand more now after doing a bit of background checking on Ubillos. I now know why Final Cut Pro X feels like Adobe Premiere 4...it's because Ubillos designed the first 4 versions of Premiere before Adobe canned him and integrated real, and usable 3-point editing into Premiere. Adobe pulled him off of Premiere and now after a decade of being looked down on as amateur software, thanks to his handiwork, Adobe finally has Premiere looking and feeling like a pro application. Apple should learn a lesson from history and get Ubillos out ASAP.

Sulk sulk, blame blame... you are like Cleopatra - she was also "In de Nile"

 

[Oletros]

+3 and then +10 = +10, for the -3 ratings some gave you.



If you got hit by a truck tonight, would FCP be the first thing on your mind? Boo hoo, Apple have moved on from ancient formats... so? They LEAD the tech world, and I don't see anyone complaining that they DEFINED the Computer, OS *and* smartphone markets, do you?

Hard as it may be, as frustrating as it may be, you're either gonna have to accept the fact that technology is moving forward, and solid state media is the here and now of video, or cling onto legacy BS forever. There is never a "right time" - people would procrastinate into infinity, so Apple saved you the bother - BHAM! No more tape!! Done - and done MEANS done.

I recall all the complaints when Apple indicated they'd be making a touchscreen iPod... oh what a childish fuss...

Oh but "the industry uses tape" - well, maybe this is a kick up the backside for "the industry" too.

PS: I'll be round at 09:30 tomorrow, with that showreel I made for you... on floppy. Hope your Mac can handle floppies?

Uau, this is a lot of kool-aid drink.

What has to do tape or digital media with multicam support or OMF export?

 

[Oletros]

Optical is well dead, ages ago. I keep telling my Blu Ray fan friend this, but he disagrees. Seriously, has the adoption of Blu Ray been even 1/10th of that which DVD was? Wonder why.

Can you show me any digital download or streaming service with Bluray quality.

 

[skellener]

The basic problem as I see it is that this program is designed for a single user on a single machine.

Just like oh, say...an iPhone or iPad??? Sorry to get off topic, but it's the same issue. There are no user accounts on iOS devices. I guess in "Apple's World" people never share devices (or FCPX projects). They just buy more hardware.

 

[cpfoto2005]

Wrong quote

Experience, that is why I say to step aside and let the one who know do the talking. As Henry Ford said: if I ask my costumer what they want they will say "faster horses".

Sorry, but that wasn't the best quote for you to use. In this case, you are the
costumer[sic].

 

[manu chao]

A similar analogy would be Microsoft immediately cutting sales and support for Windows XP when Windows Vista came out, and the public didn't get what was thought to be a "decent" OS until Windows 7 three years later.

And large swathes of business still installing XP on any newly purchased computers five years after its successor was released is a good situation? No third-party programmer (nor MS itself) can make use of any advances in W7 because so many people still use XP.

The problem isn't with Final Cut, it's Apple's culture of secrecy. Not having roadmaps scares people that needs to plan months/years in advance.

Take it or leave it, if you value roadmaps over better software, stick with AVID. Everybody knows how Apple operates, they just think that by collective willpower they can change that. This is called self-delusion.

Here's a list of similar situations where Apple's secrecy was to their disadvantage:
1) "Antennagate"
2) iOS "location tracking" - heck, they had congressional meetings on that one
3) Lodsys patent trolling

Apple took about one week to ten days to respond to both the location tracking and the Lodsys event. That is not secrecy, that is taking the time it takes for any well-measured response. And I cannot see how Apple's general secrecy facilitated these two incidents in the first place, both could as easily happened to any other company.
Same is true for 'Antennagate', how did Apple's secrecy lead to this? You seem to confuse secrecy with not responding daily to events unfolding.

 

[skellener]

Thats like saying Apple took the system out of operation system in OS X.

FCP 7 was on a path to a dead end and needed a rewrite (technology-wise).

Yes, they screwed up by doing what I assume they thought would be a clean break as far as discontinuing the old version. But isn't that a completely different matter than Apple taking the "Pro" out of of Final Cut? You can't really support your claim that this 1.0 will never gain any features that are missing by saying Apple discontinued the old product and the new one doesn't have backwards compatibility.

Oh, I agree with you. A clean break, new code, absolutely. There is just sooo much missing for Pro's to use it right now. Hopefully we'll see the return of much of what is needed to deliver shows soon. There have been some really great articles so far about FCPX about what it will need to put the Pro back in FC.

 

[*LTD*]

Seriously? This is supposed to be a pro-software.

Who are the "Pros"? That's the first question you need to ask.

The definition is changing. Look at what's going on around you.

This is not just about a video editing software package. No way. It's about the shift happening in the big picture. The transition, baby. You dig it? Technology being taken out of the elitist realm of "Pros" and IT/tech tech types and being put into the hands of Joe Average. Same power. Different interface. Different modes of interaction. All simplified. The ultimate goal of engineering realized. FINALLY. This paradigm shift is being driven by Apple. Over a decade in the making. We skipped a few years in the 90s. But we were back on track soon enough.

This is all about the big shift. "Computer literacy" is like saying "walking literacy." Meaning there doesn't need to be any. What a waste of time, learning computers, when they should let you learn Dostoevsky, or Michel Foucault, or Renaissance Art. "Computers" will no longer be a subject to be learned. That's for coders and engineers. Leave users out of it, thank you very much. Computer devices are just pencils that let you do the actual writing - the stuff that matters. These devices are no longer ends in themselves to be studied and understood. They're becoming beautiful, enjoyable, amazingly usable tools. For everyone.

Big picture thinking. Cultivate it. Everything will become clear. Then you can work on your acceptance thereof.

 

[darkplanets]

I love reading all the knee-jerk reactions in here.

Time will tell the future, not your senseless pandering. In the meantime, enjoy FCP7, and if FCPX doesn't pan out, then you can switch software.

 

[manu chao]

Anyone who needs a new license of FCP 7?

I am sure there will be ways to get a license, for once everybody who is upgrading to FCP X can sell its FCP7 license since the new software is not an upgrade. Sure, most will hang to their old license for obvious reasons (legacy access) but some will surely be willing to shed at least some of their licenses if they own several of them.
And when push comes to shove, Apple will also find a solution (they did with iMovie '06).

 

[arkmannj]

I really would not hold my breath for anything relating to DVDs or BluRay. Apple has made it pretty clear that they think optical is a dead end technology and will no longer be supporting it. We're lucky that iMacs and Macbooks even have optical drives, frankly (and I wouldn't be surprised if they do disappear from consumer Macs in a year or two).

Yes, I know optical disks are used for other things than consumers watching movies or loading software. It doesn't change Apple treating optical just like they treated floppies.

Yeah I'm not holding my breath. but I thought maybe they'd rebrand it with a new name and transform it into something for digital distribution but that could still handle the old DVD burning. (like the old interactive quicktime movies we used to have) but maybe they feel a product like that would be to similar to Adobe Flash. I must be old, but I still like being able to make physical media, even if the final project will be all digital distribution.