New to After Effects CS5...my God this is slow..

[nateo200]

Did you think about maybe trying premiere?

I realise that it may seem totally against the gift of FCP X you were given but it can never hurt to learn more NLE you will also find that you can have more creative control over your images without the ridiculous render times.

If you have Magic Bullet do you have it for FCP X? That could be the other option. Whilst it's clunky it could be a better idea than round tripping.

Also have you thought about using Motion. I think there are some templates for plugins for FCP X that use some of Motions features for colour grading.

I actually have Motion 5 as well. Motion 5 and Compressor...I love Compressor too, its really a win with a few exceptions (i.e.: No 64bit support).

I'm trying the trial with magic bullet...its for After Effects/Premiere Pro....cant figure out how to try it out for FCP X...I know it has directs for FCP 7/Premiere...Ill look into the download again and see if I misread something. But yeah I have to agree, learning more than one NLE platform is like speaking multiple languages...And since Premiere Pro for the most part is taken more seriously than FCP X from the get-go (although a few editors ARE embracing FCP X for TV shows and even features). I know FCP X is "iMovie Pro dumbed down" by allot of accounts but I can't be that wrong using it to edit right?! I mean its effective, I've seen movies and TV shows cut with it. I respect Avid and Adobe, Ill most likely look into trialling Premiere Pro next....I have a few friends that have said they got Adobe products or Apple products from an extra serial key from a friend or whatever...I got lucky once and got thrown a bone like that with Photoshop on my old computer...didnt make it over to my Mac though!

One thing I do find important is being able to color grade without something like Magic Bullet Looks or plugins. I admire the ability of colorists who take footage and turn it into this beautiful work of colorful art with just the curves. I like to look at things like Magic Bullet Looks as a compliment and not a crutch...is this wrong? Sorry I've watched tutorials but Ive never scene an entire film workflow and whats right and wrong in every aspect...I can only go off my experience and what some generous others have shared with me (very grateful to be able to converse with some serious people if only for a short time)

I'm not sure you are in a position to give advice about proper social interaction. We have 1 person seeking advice, about a half dozen people trying to help and 1 person trolling.

Do I need to point out who's doing what?

Why the heck is everyone giving this kid grief. He is struggling with what he has and asking for advice. Cut him some slack he sounds like he's working and learning.

Glad to know I'm not doing something incredibly wrong...Usually this forum is great for advice...

I am working and learning the best I can! I've been reading as much useful info on various forums and then testing it out on the cameras I have access too. I swear I learn something new everyday just when I think I know "allot"! I don't think Ill ever stop learning or get to the point were I have a "More Holy than thou" attitude....

Yeah, you'll turn out just fine. I'd love to hear you talk to an EP with that attitude. And it's "you're". And I am.

Are you like the Angry DP/Editor/Director/Whatever on call? I'll talk to an Executive Producer in the appropriate way in the appropriate situation. Anyways your trolling so I'm probably just wasting time responding to you.

 

[Kevin Monahan]

However, my macbook (2010 13" 2,4 Ghz 8GB Macbook Pro) isn't fast enough to smoothly color grade. And I believe it converts all your material to a certain codec (one clip took ages on my macbook).

Right, if you do a send to SpeedGrade, it will convert your footage to DPX files. However, you don't have to go that route. You can also export an EDL and import that into SpeedGrade. Then, link to your original files. That way, you don't have to create the DPX files.

Send an EDL to SpeedGrade: http://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/speedgrade.html#edl_speedgrade

Loading and conforming material in SpeedGrade: http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-speedgrade-cs6/loading-and-conforming-material-in-speedgrade-cs6/