Maybe Final Cut Isn’t That Bad…

Final Cut Pro X setting up outputs to knock them out
Final Cut Pro X setting up outputs to knock them out

Now, I’m not really working in a “video house” per se where I have years of back catalogue and have to manage files between multiple coworkers, but I’d like to think I’m a bit more than a novice when it comes to ongoing video projects over the last year and a half (and 6 years in the previous aformentioned environment.).  It’s been interesting to see the backlash and hesitation on the upgrade to Final Cut Pro X over the last year from those who have done video for a good while.  Many throwing down over FCPX’s lack of features Fianl Cut Pro 7 had, or the lack of backward compatibility.

Man, are they missing out.

Since picking up the software, and keeping my old version Final Cut as a backup, I’ve been really excited about how much more productive I’ve been.  Right off the bat I streamlined my podcast editing with templates I just had to drop in and adjust the new footage and content and move on, prepping over 3 hours of content every Tuesday night after recording.

The synchronization option, when it works (read: I have the right content), saves me a ton of headaches throwing a couple of angles together for quick edits, especially those pro wrestling DVD shoots where I’m unable to get out there with my live switcher.

Little by little, we saw multicam editing come back, and other features trickle.

I haven’t had a chance to read up on a lot of what’s new in version 10.0.06, but I’ve had the fortune to stumble upon the updated output screen, which puts meta data front and center, makes estimating your file size on different codecs easier, and the ability to keep working as a file is outputting.  It’s no Batch Output from FCP7, but it can still serve to stack up a few renders so I don’t have to babysit to push my next project out.

See that “X” at the end?  Remember the last time Apple put an X on something?  Ok, that was Quicktime.  Similar, but I mean the one before.

Mac OS X was originally taken with a little bit of disdain since it completely scrapped the Mac OS 9 setup.  Instead basing on Unix and elements of NeXT computers.  Look at it know.  Completely competitive and stable upon it’s peers.  I wonder where Final Cut Pro X will be in the next few years.

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