Simple Beginner's Question about Final Cut Studio 2...

[kdum8]

The Question:

Is Final Cut Studio 2 to iMovie what Aperture is to iPhoto?

Basically I am making some promotional DVDs for my company with footage we shot ourselves and iMovie doesn't offer all of the editing options we require. I made a similar transition from iPhoto to Aperture, and although it took some time to get used to Aperture's complexity, it was well worth the time invested. I would be looking to run Final Cut Studio on the latest MBP with 4GB RAM.

Thanks in advance. And forgive my rookie questions.

 

[miiles]

Final Cut Express can really handle a lot of the basics, so look at that too. Final Cut Studio 6 is really powerful and will be way over the top if you dont know how to use it.

 

[kdum8]

Final Cut Express can really handle a lot of the basics, so look at that too. Final Cut Studio 6 is really powerful and will be way over the top if you dont know how to use it.

Thanks I will check out FCE. Is it just a trimmed downed version of Final Cut Studio?

 

[LethalWolfe]

Thanks I will check out FCE. Is it just a trimmed downed version of Final Cut Studio?

It's a trimmed down version of Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Studio is composed of Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Color, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, Compressor and LiveType.


Lethal

 

[NeoMayhem]

For a beginner, FCE has almost everything you will need. It is a great way to learn about video editing before moving up to the pro version.

 

[P-Worm]

Watch it though. Final Cut Express doesn't have a way to make DVD's from scratch so you will have to use something like iDVD for that. FCE is just for editing. Unfortunately, you can't buy DVD Studio Pro separately.

P-Worm

 

[kdum8]

Watch it though. Final Cut Express doesn't have a way to make DVD's from scratch so you will have to use something like iDVD for that. FCE is just for editing. Unfortunately, you can't buy DVD Studio Pro separately.

P-Worm

That's worth knowing, thanks. Seems I will have to see what iDVD can do but from what I remember it is fairly basic. I have never used DVD Studio Pro but I imagine it is good software. If I want it I have to get the whole Studio package then?

 

[P-Worm]

DVD Studio Pro is bundled with Final Cut Studio and that is the only way to get it. You might want to look into other DVD authoring programs though I don't know any off the top of my head (DVD Studio Pro always did the job for me, and I saw no need to look into anything else).

P-Worm

 

[NRose8989]

BTW the learning curve from iMovie to Final Cut is much greater then iPhoto to Aperture.

Final Cut Express 4 itself has a 1100 page manual, and this isn't including livetype.

 

[tcgjeukens]

kdum8,

When making a choice between FCE or FCS do take a look at the video camera you will use for shooting your clips.
FCE has limited timeline-native-compression support. Meaning that your source material may me converted from camera native to Apple Intermediate Codec on import.
FCS support practically every (100+) codec, making conversion unnecessary.

If CONTROL over quality of your material is important to you and your audience, you contemplate the extra expenditure for FCS.
- No need to convert on import
- Full control in exporting final result to DVD (via Compressor)
- Greenfield creativity in creating DVDs (via DVD Studio)

Note: all that control does "consume" a lot of your time

Good luck

Coen