One of the problems of being in the middle is that I can see both sides. I don’t necessarily agree with them, but I can appreciate their point of view.
My blog this morning – Who’s Accountable – touched a nerve because, in addition to the people that commented directly on the blog, I’ve also had several private conversations with Apple and people who are very, very upset with Apple.
What’s become obvious over the last week, is that the way the Final Cut Pro X launch was handled has totally overshadowed the features of Final Cut Pro X.
Over the last several days, I’ve been consumed with trying to decide what to do – stay with Final Cut or move to another platform. If I switch, what do I switch to? What advice should I give to others trying to make the same choice?
As my office will attest, all this internal debating has not made me a pleasant person to be around.
Let me share my thinking with you — then, you can decide for yourself whether you agree or disagree.
First, let me say that I think the launch of Final Cut Pro X was very badly handled. As I’ve written, I don’t think Apple needed to cancel Final Cut Studio (3) as abruptly and coldly as they did. They should have given us more time to make an orderly transition. They were thinking as a technology company, not as editors managing a decade of assets.
Canceling Final Cut Server, even though it was incompatible with Final Cut Pro X, has unnecessarily jeopardized companies building a business on that platform.
Apple never does things accidentally, so they will disagree with me. Probably strongly disagree… I remember a remark one of the people at Apple told me before the launch, in that they were expecting a lot of controversy over the new version of Final Cut Pro.
Well, we can certainly agree about that.
I also think that Apple seriously erred in not providing a conversion utility between Final Cut Pro 7 and FCP X. The one-two punch of canceling FCS (3) and an inability to convert old projects dominated the discussion far more than the merits of FCP X.
Apple will disagree, but the launch did not take the feelings and passion of editors properly into account. And damage was done.
On the other hand, there are some very cool new features in Final Cut Pro X. Some editors are writing and telling me how much they are enjoying the new program. (Just as other editors are writing to tell me, at length, why they are moving to Avid or Adobe.)
There’s a lot of passion on both sides. And both sides have some truth behind them.
But, let’s look at a few more points:
* Apple said in their presentation at NAB that FCP X redefines video editing for the next ten years. There is lots of additional development planned.
* Apple told me that because FCP X is distributed via the App Store, they can update the program much more frequently than when it was sold as a package on DVD.
* Apple wrote in their FAQ that they are already working on adding new features, such as XML and multicam, to the product and releasing updates quickly.
* Apple has stressed that FCP X is designed to provide a feature set for professionals, and not just as an upgrade for iMovie. (I am not saying they MET the needs of professionals, but a look at the architecture of FCP X reveals features that no iMovie user would ever need.)
* However, it is also self-evident that Apple needed to provide a clear and consistent upgrade path to iMovie users who were totally lost trying to understand how Final Cut Express works. Apple feels that it is possible for one product to meet both needs.
As I wrote in an earlier blog – Moving Forward – the first rule of business is to stay in business. All of us should keep an eye on our options. Check out what Avid, Adobe, and Media 100 are offering. If you feel you can’t wait, then switch.
But I would also suggest that many of us would benefit by taking a deep breath and giving Apple a chance to live up to their promises for the program.
Final Cut Studio (3) still works.
It took Avid, Adobe, and Apple many years to evolve their programs to their current feature set. I’m willing to give Apple a few months to get their act together and fix what’s broken with FCP X.
I’m going to stay with Final Cut Pro for a while. Work at learning the new version. Give feedback to Apple on what they need to do to improve things. And share what I learn with you.
Final Cut Pro X has a lot of exciting potential – but, for many of us, that potential is not yet realized.
The burden is on Apple to deliver on their promises, update the program quickly, and repair the damage they did during the launch. The proof is in the program.
If they succeed, great. If not, Avid and Adobe will still be around in six months.
Larry
89 Responses to What Will Larry Do?
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Pat (VET) says:
July 12, 2011 at 8:08 am
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Dimitri says:
July 12, 2011 at 11:38 am
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Steve says:
July 12, 2011 at 1:14 pm
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J.D. Wilcox says:
July 12, 2011 at 2:00 pm
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HBS says:
July 13, 2011 at 2:04 am
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Nivardo Cavalcante says:
July 13, 2011 at 7:26 am
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Nivardo Cavalcante says:
July 13, 2011 at 7:30 am
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Pat (VET) says:
July 13, 2011 at 9:56 am
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Caesar Darias says:
July 13, 2011 at 11:00 pm
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Leo Hans says:
July 14, 2011 at 12:06 am
← Older Comments Newer Comments →Steven we too teach FCP7 currently (and a number of other authorised Apple courses) We plan to continue to offer FCP “classic” training while there’s demand but that already seems to be dropping.
Luckily as we already run Avid as well we’re seeing more Avid take up.
The FCP to Avid Cross training is of course in much demand.
We’ve looked at Adobe but they don’t seem to want to deal with professional training at the level we offer (we don’t fit their educational model) and the tool still isn’t playing nice with the finishing options we have (Symphony and DS)
But both Avid and Adobe have exciting times ahead while FCPX will have a few years of development before we have to engage with teaching it I suspect.
Larry
Brussels’ callin’, Europe ! Why all this turbulence? FCPX is a revolution in videoland. FCP7 still works. And within a couple of weeks people can switch tot FCPX step by step with more and more features. Professional features. What they do with FCPX is making professional video editing more popular for more creative people in this world. There’s nothing wrong with it. All the professional needs will be there within a short period. Apple is smart. But a rebel … that we all know for sure (intel switch, iphone, ipad, itunes, Apps). From an European viewpoint : yes, I’m a believer, a follower, but I’m not stupid. Apple makes mistakes, isn’t perfect. Still .. stop complaining folks … be patient … within one year all the negative buzz of today will vanish …. a new professional and semi-professional generation will work together as never before, so creative.
Imagine if Adobe released Photoshop XX or whatever and it wasn’t compatible with CS5 or earlier.
This continuous griping is counter-productive.
#1 Rule of Life — Stop bitching about the way things should be, and deal with the way they are.
To Wit:
Apple is the big dog now. They make the rules, and the rules have changed.
From now on, other software/hardware manufacturers will modify their products to work with FCP X.
And Apple will only spend time coding the features needed by 90% of the FCP X user base, not the 10% that are broadcast professionals.
So in summary:
If we want the ability to sweeten the audio from your FCP X edit session in ProTools (I do) then we’d better start emailing Avid, to create a button labeled “Import FCP X Event” because that is something that the average user of FCP X will never need.
If we want Native Red file editing, we’d better get on the phone to Jim & Ted, and ask them to make it happen. Because unless they do the heavy lifting (and they will) FCP X will never support it.
And if you are a camera/deck MFR and you want your awesome new product to work with FCP X, it’d better shoot/record some flavor of ProRES.
And if you’re a storage company, you’d better put a Thunderbolt connector on your products.
And if it can’t be done on the iphone5/iPad HD, then why bother.
This IS Apple’s vision of the future.
And although we may not like it, we shouldn’t bet against them, or waste any more time complaining.
If you refuse to bend (good for you, fight the power) there are at least 2 other options.
But if you’re sticking with Apple, these are the new rules.
Well, FCP X is indeed a hiccup which is missing the x-factor… I do want to learn the software but even more, I am looking forward to the new updates or upgrades….
But as for now FCS 3 is quite sufficient for my work as for with the usual conventional limitations… I do a lot more of educational and also documentary and independent feature film. I am based in Bangalore, India.
I will be watching the Apple FCPX column otherwise I am ready to SWITCH to Adobe…
@Dimitri
I can not wait for something that will never be a program we use and video professionals need. See …
http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/335/10139
@J.D.
… Or switch to Adobre Premiere CS 5.5 and have everything FCPX we would like but do not have the FCP8 had.
J.D There already is a solution to get from FCPX to Protools Automatic duck has it available now. OK it’s nearly half as much again as the FCPX software but it’s there.
RED support? I can’t see happening. Who shots on RED to cut without tracks?
This question may seem like it’s out of the blue, but it’s actually related to the on-going discussion:
The news that Microsoft is opening more stores has me wondering if Microsoft has ever attempted to create pro video editing software? Every PC comes with Windows Movie Maker. Have they every gone beyond a very basic package?
Microsoft is so enormous. They have almost 90,000 employees. They are the leaders in business software. Perhaps there’s just not enough money in it for them to bother?
Caesar,
Microsoft owned Softimage years ago.