Of all the questions I am asked each day, this is the most popular: “When will Final Cut Pro X be ready for professional use?”
Sigh… Right now! Final Cut Pro X is ready for professional use today. Editors have been making money with FCP X since the first week it shipped. But this is asking the wrong question.
A much better question is: “Why should I consider using Final Cut Pro X?” This blog is designed to help you answer that question, from my perspective as a trainer, editor, and businessman.
THE DAMAGE BEGAN AT THE LAUNCH
The Final Cut Pro X launch was not one of Apple’s best. In the launch, Apple introduced Final Cut Pro X, and killed the entire Final Cut Studio suite and Final Cut Server.
Normally, when new versions come out, old versions die. But, in this case, there were three missing elements:
The reaction was swift, bitter, and emotional; and instantly colored everyone’s perception of Final Cut Pro X.
So, in thinking about Final Cut Pro X today, you need to separate in your mind your reactions to the launch from your perception of the product.
Personally, I think the launch was terrible, but that FCP X is quite good.
IMPROVEMENTS BEGAN IMMEDIATELY
One of the promises Apple made at the launch of Final Cut Pro X was that they would be updating it rapidly. In fact, the software foundation of FCP X made these updates easier and faster to implement.
NOTE: One of the reasons Apple moved FCP X to the Mac App Store, at least initially, was that they wanted to take advantage of the upgrade mechanism built into the store.
In the year and a half since the launch, Apple released seven updates for Final Cut; a remarkable record for any company. All updates brought bug fixes, along with a variety of new features. (The following list of highlights comes from Wikipedia.)
By my very approximate count, Apple has added more than three dozen significant new features to Final Cut since it’s release. Final Cut Pro X is not the same product it was when it was released.
CAN I CONVERT MY FCP 7 PROJECTS?
Yes. However it takes a utility from Intelligent Assistance to do so.
The process is similar to moving an FCP 7 project into Adobe Premiere Pro CS6:
Just as with moving files between FCP 7, Premiere, or Avid (using the tools from Automatic Duck), some things won’t transfer to FCP X. Edits and media transfer almost perfectly. Some effects and retiming do not; check the Intelligent Assistance website for all the details.
NOTE: It could be argued that this conversion utility should have been available at launch. I would agree. However, these conversion utilities needed XML to work, which wasn’t available until later. The important thing is that conversion utilities are available now.
ISN’T FINAL CUT PRO X SIMPLY IMOVIE PRO?
Well, you can believe that if you want, in the same way that a Ferrari is simply a super-charged VW Beetle. They both have four wheels and an engine, but the results are totally different.
Just as you can not say that since a Ferrari and a Bug are both cars, therefore they must do the same thing, you can not say that because iMovie and Final Cut look similar, they must BE similar.
NOTE: By the way, have you compared the performance differences between iMovie and FCP X? My golly, iMovie is SLOW!!!
Yes, Final Cut Pro X imports iMovie events and projects. (On the other hand, with 50 million iMovie users out there, this was not a bad decision, as FCP 7 couldn’t import iMovie files at all.)
Yes, FCP X and iMovie have a similar look to the interface. (On the other hand, so do all the applications in the Adobe Creative Suite, or the applications in Final Cut Studio 3.)
Don’t judge the book by its cover. The question is not how it looks, but whether it allows you to get your work done.
ARE MY FAVORITE PLUG-INS AVAILABLE FOR FCP X?
Yes. In fact the development of FCP 7 plug-ins has essentially stopped.
This is for three main reasons:
Here are just some of the companies that have released new plug-ins for Final Cut Pro X:
And that is only a partial list. New plug-ins are announced every day.
One of the things I’m struck by is the number of new companies that are migrating to the platform and creating plug-ins for FCP X.
ISN’T IT BETTER TO BUY ADOBE PREMIERE PRO CS6?
Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 is a great application. It is fast, cross-platform, 64-bit, supports many GPUs and multiple processors and easily imports XML files from Final Cut Pro 7.
Adobe has done an amazing job bringing this application into the modern day. I enjoy editing on it and creating training for it. However, while there are some things that Premiere does better than FCP X, there are also some things that Final Cut Pro X does better than Premiere.
This gets to the crux of my argument: Buy the tool that best meets the needs of your project. (I’ll have more on that in a few paragraphs.)
SHOULD I BUY FINAL CUT PRO X WHEN I AM STILL ANGRY AT APPLE?
Well, that depends. This question moves the issue from picking the right software into areas of personal expression and politics. Only you know how to answer this question for yourself.
Final Cut Pro X is not essential to Apple’s revenues, that’s not why Apple developed it. They created it to set their direction for video editing in the future.
If you want to make a political statement, feel free. But don’t hide behind condemning the software when there are other reasons underlying your decision.
SO WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER FINAL CUT PRO X?
There’s only one reason to buy any software: because it can enable you to do things faster, better, or more simply than other software for the same, or similar, price.
WHAT IS FINAL CUT PRO X GOOD FOR?
Let’s back into this a bit, by looking at other software first.
If you are happy with your current FCP 7 system, you don’t need to upgrade. Keep on using FCP 7. However, that also means that you can’t upgrade your OS either, and can’t take advantage of future software or hardware improvements.
I would recommend editing all current Final Cut Pro 7 projects on Final Cut Pro 7. Stay with the system you know for an existing project, unless, for other reasons, you are forced to move.
Avid Media Composer with Isis is probably the best choice if you are doing feature films, reality shows with thousands of hours of media, or workgroup editing,
Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 also has many benefits:
However, Final Cut Pro X also excels in many areas:
The biggest weakness in FCP X, for me, is audio mixing. Here, FCP X is almost as bad as FCP 7, though with better audio filters. Currently, it is cumbersome to move projects out of FCP X into either Adobe Audition or ProTools for mixing.
THE INTERFACE IS A PLUS?
Yes, absolutely. However, not for the reasons you think. If you are a died-in-the-wool FCP 7 editor and just don’t want to learn something new, then move to Adobe Premiere Pro CS6.
Premiere has speed, power, and mimics the keyboard shortcuts and interface of Final Cut Pro 7. Adobe makes a very good product that is fast and fun to use.
However, with each passing day, FCP 7 editors are not increasing in number. New kids are tackling video for the first time.
Here, I think, FCP X has an advantage. I did a test this semester at the class I teach at USC in Los Angeles. I decided to teach FCP X to non-film students who just wanted to learn how to do video editing. I discovered that I could make them productive in about one-quarter the time it would have taken me in either FCP 7 or Premiere Pro CS6.
From a standing start and no prior knowledge, they were knowledgeably editing video and outputting in 90 minutes. It would take me far longer to achieve the same results with FCP 7 or Premiere.
In terms of interface, Final Cut Pro X is the wave of the future, because it appeals to people who are new to editing.
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU DEFINE YOURSELF
One of the byproducts of the “NLE Religious Wars,” earlier in this decade, was that we defined ourselves by the tools we used. We would say we were a “Final Cut editor,” or an “Avid editor.” Fist-fights would then ensue. (I plead guilty to supporting this dichotomy for many years, as I enjoyed poking fun at Avid editors.)
But, as the recession hit, I realized how misguided this was, because it costs us clients and money. We are not technologists, we are story-tellers who use technology.
Each of us is an editor who loves to tell stories using moving pictures. We hire a carpenter not because they own a particular brand of hammer, but because they can build us a house that looks beautiful.
We need to define ourselves by the results we create for our clients, not the tools we use to create them.
SUMMARY
This is no longer a choice of “either/or.” We are awash in excellent editing tools from Apple, Adobe, Avid, and others. This is truly a time when there are no bad choices.
This is my point: we have choices. I choose to use Final Cut Pro X as one of my major editing tools.
When it comes to my business, I am very cautious. I will learn and train on anything, but when it comes to the systems my business needs to make money and pay the rent, I change slowly and carefully.
I need to see a clear benefit before adopting a new tool. With Final Cut Pro X I can improve my workflow, do more work in less time, and meet my standards for quality.
Final Cut Pro X allows me to make money, and keep clients happy, which is the essence of professional use.
As always, I am interested in what you think.
Larry
LARRY’S HANDS-ON TRAINING
In February and March, I’ve partnered with Video Symphony in Burbank, CA to teach a two-day class in Final Cut Pro X for professional editors. If you want to learn how to use this software to improve your business, check out this website.
Larry Jordan is a producer, director, editor, author, and Apple Certified Trainer with more than 35 year’s experience. Based in Los Angeles, he’s a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America. Visit his website at www.larryjordan.biz.
67 Responses to Is Final Cut Pro X Ready For Professional Use?
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James says:
January 28, 2013 at 11:10 am
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Dan says:
January 28, 2013 at 11:38 am
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Marcus Moore says:
January 28, 2013 at 12:04 pm
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Bill says:
January 28, 2013 at 12:15 pm
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Larry says:
January 28, 2013 at 12:25 pm
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Craig says:
January 28, 2013 at 12:33 pm
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Marcus Moore says:
January 28, 2013 at 12:39 pm
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Eric says:
January 28, 2013 at 12:45 pm
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jon p says:
January 28, 2013 at 1:15 pm
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Erik Keller says:
January 28, 2013 at 2:02 pm
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Don says:
January 28, 2013 at 2:03 pm
← Older Comments Newer Comments →I cut corporate, music and event projects. I made the move Ruben FCP X came out. Larry was right it was missing a lot but I also saw the wisdom of Apple in the This is the future of editing. I’m also tired of the complaint that FCP X is not for “Pro editors”. Well I get paid for the editing I do and I believe getting paid makes me a pro! Yes, there are some things still missing but I’m sure Apple will add them. They have done a great job so,far. Larry’s blog on this one was right on! BTW, I used all Larry’s training along with Ripple Training to get up to speed when FCP X came out and have Continued using both Larry’s and Ripple as upgrades from Apple come out.
As a side note, o wish Larry had a subscription service just for Apple software (FCP X, Motion, etc.). At this point I’ll never use Avid and sure wont make the switch to Adobe).
This is a refreshing informative article and its just so nice to read the facts. This is the kind of article I wish was everywhere on the web. Just help me make a informed decision on what the best pro tool is.
Thats this article..
I thank you
Dan
@ Don. The name Final Cut Pro doesn’t have anything to do with relative crossover of ideas or core concepts, rather everything to do with who the intended market is.
Final Cut Pro X is intended for the same audience as legacy was, even if it hasn’t reintegrated all the features to make it ready for all the same workflows. With every update it scoops up more and more of that functionality- with the ultimate goal being feature parity.
“iMovie Pro” is a complete contradiction in terms. iMovie is for the consumer side of video editing, where Final Cut Pro is geared for working professionals.
Larry,
You have way more experience with FCPX than I do. If you say it’s ready for primetime, I won’t argue the point. However, to me, Apple is no longer a company that can be trusted. What’s to stop them from releasing FCPXI and saying FCPX is dead? Or saying FCP in ANY version will no longer be produced? Apple has already demonstrated they are very willing to do this.
Bill
Bill:
An excellent question and one that only Apple itself can answer.
Larry
@Don, You say “Apple software is risky.” I have to wonder if you’ve been in Post Production that long. Over 30 years for me.
AutoDesk has dropped: Media Cleaner, Cinestream (EditDV), Edit*, Combustion. With your reasoning people should avoid Smoke and Flame.
Avid very nearly dropped Mac support around 2000. They backpedalled due to the uproar.
Adobe Premiere was a long time Mac “home” NLE staple. When they rebuilt it from the ground up into Premiere Pro, they dropped Mac support for years.
As to a company’s primary income generation, Avid makes very little money from Media Composer. They are primarily a hardware company. While the Creative Suite is important to Adobe, they also generate a lot of their revenue from other products such as Flash Servers.
Apple’s software is no more riskier than any other company’s. Apple sells computers and FCPX is integral to that. Apple’s business model is often using software and service to sell hardware just as iTunes and the App Store are integral to the iPhone and iPad. BTW you might notice a significant number of professional video apps for iOS.
@ Bill. You only have to look back at the last 10 years to see times when each of the primary NLEs have in one way or another done something to cheese off part of their user base. One of the main reasons FCP was able to gain a real foothold in the industry was because some people were tired of AVIDs crap on pricing and hardware lock-in. And Premier pretty much walked away from the Apple platform for several years.
You wont’ find a harsher critic than me of HOW Apple released FCPX, but what they did was necessary (and in the end I think will be beneficial) for the platform going forward. Apple isn’t going to need to recode the entire app from scratch anytime soon, so your concerns about FCP XI are a bit unfounded.
But trust can only be gained again by steady work after it’s been lost. Continued FCPX improvements and a new MacPro will go a long way towards that end.
I was initially one of those who felt very betrayed when FCPX was released. I was just finishing my undergrad education and after pouring in countless hours to learning FCP 7, I was told I had to learn a new program and I was none to happy.
When I was hired for my first full-time job in October, they asked what the most affordable NLE option was. FCPX was the answer. I have been working in it for 3+ months now and I love it. I was doing a project at home this weekend on Premiere CS5.5 and it was like going back in time. FCPX is definitely the way of the future. It’s far from perfect and there are plenty of little bugs that need attention or could be done better, but it’s a fantastic way to edit (at least short-form) video.
I have lost my trust in apple to support pro software, just like I would not trust a playskool camera for 4k pictures. I would have lost about 5K just in plug-ins alone had I migrated to x. All of my plugs worked better in after-effects anyway so it was natural to transfer my software needs to a professional software company. I trust adobe. I don’t trust phone companies. I do like apple hardware but must say no to the software.
2 cents
I completely agree, FCP X is ready for prime-time. Just don’t forget: It is just a tool! (Which happens to be my favorite NLE, period.) For the time being, the “traditional” NLEs just “feel wrong” which doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t use MC if the need arises. My main purpose is two-fold, get everything done in a pleasant way, and tell a story, it’s that simple.
Granted, FCP X has some features one has to get used to, but compound clips allow me to concentrate on telling a story instead of making sure I didn’t mess up anything without noticing until it’s too late. 😉
@Marcus: yes I agree, whatever you call a product, it is what it is. I was just following Larry’s logic — if you can’t call it iMoviePro, based on degree of similarity, you can’t call it Final Cut Pro either. Love it or hate it, FCPX is not FCP. And there’s nothing wrong with calling it the ‘pro’ version of iMovie. Of course, that would be a marketing boondoggle. But it’s a more accurate name in my opinion (:
@Craig: excellent points. I’m only in video since FCP made it possible for ‘the rest of us,’ and it’s been a money maker for me since 2005. In the larger scope, yes, software comes and goes all the time, and any time we invest in technology we’re betting it will pay off in the long run. But that payoff is never guaranteed, so point well taken. To clarify my point, I’m more comfortable purchasing software from a company that produces software, and makes the bulk of its money from software, rather than a company that makes the bulk of its money from cell phones and has a track record for summarily dropping products. But I’m sure you’ve seen worse in your career, so I defer to your experience. However, my bet today is that Adobe is the best choice for my needs, and that’s how it’s working out.