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Dan Hyman Author

Level 1

40 points

APPLE - GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK!!!!!

This is not a Final Cut Pro piece of editing software.

This is iMovie with some enhanced features, hence the ability to import older iMovie projects,

but not Final Cut Pro projects.

I HAVE SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY BEING BOUNCED AROUND FROM THE APP STORE PEOPLE,

TO THE ITUNES PEOPLE TO THE FINAL CUT PEOPLE.

Each time they tell me another department handles what I need to have done.

When you misrepresent a product as poorly as this, people will not stand for it.

This is a joke of a "pro" app and Apple should stand up and take the punch to the stomach.

Apple you built your rep on making great products, maybe this one made sense somewhere in the

test labs, but in real life it leaves millions of professional editors who rely on FCP everyday to make a

living.

Take FCP 7, add in 64bit and I'll give you $300. Keep everything else the same for all I care, but this

app (FCPX) is completely useless for any form of professional editing.

Posted on Jun 21, 2011 6:02 PM

247 replies

lazwell

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2011 3:13 PM in response to lazwell

For what its worth!, I think the big problem is the way APPLE let this loose. The hype went so high that this was always gonna let people down, a time bombed demo, say 30days, to test drive would have been way better. It's so radical for some that at least you could have a taste. I really like it ( I'm a 28 year broadcast now "new media" pro ) and it works for me but I see others point of view, however its $300 bucks, and fc7 still boots. It's a foundation product, bleeding edge, badly launched!

fearless

Level 6

9,538 points

Jun 24, 2011 3:18 PM in response to JohnSpirou

JohnSpirou wrote:

We dont use tapes anymore to output our footage.

We have network shares space , and we provide Apple pro res footage (and other formats from PC too) our master control .

Great that you're able to do that, we haven't got there yet. And we do a lot for international markets on HDCAM/HDCAM SR and expect to for some years.

Yes, the VTR Xchange path is worth exploring again - and thinking about it, we always need to make a QuickTime for something. Different workflow on these things when they get to tape, bit of a workaround but we'll cope.

I haven't figured out yet whether QT reference output is possible - self contained exports of hour-long shows can take time.

And best of luck there in Greece. Difficult times I know.

Jun 24, 2011 3:14 PM in response to fearless

I am proud for my country, not for my Goverment...

We have PRO users here too... maybe less civilized but PRO for sure !

fearless

Level 6

9,538 points

Jun 24, 2011 3:19 PM in response to JohnSpirou

It was a pretty civilised place when I was last there! Governments come and go...

JohnSpirou wrote:

I am proud for my country, not for my Goverment...

We have PRO users here too... maybe less civilized but PRO for sure !

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,356 points

Jun 24, 2011 3:20 PM in response to lazwell

When the product was first announced a number of people complained about the price. To me $300 seemed ridiculously cheap for a professional video editing application, but then after I looked at what we got, an iMovie upgrade, and iMovie is $15 in the App Store and has a 4-star rating, and really is this application 20 times better than iMovie? Is it even 10 times better?

phonax

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2011 3:37 PM in response to fearless

I don't live in America! I live in a country that makes sure that Greece isn't drown in debt but that was not the case (lucky shot). Its the case that in 99% of the cases people use multicams except in very poor productions where they only use one.

Jun 24, 2011 3:34 PM in response to Dan Hyman

I got my money back today!! Just email them through the iTunes store (a few loops to go through) and be courteous and explain your reasons why iMovie Pro is not for you. There's $300 towards my new Avid setup!!

Jun 24, 2011 3:39 PM in response to erbeaudry

Read something yesterday that made a lot of sense and hadn't seen it discussed here yet.

(from here... http://www.lafcpug.org/phorum/read.php?19,268849,268849#msg-268849)

I refuse to believe that Apple has completely forsaken the pro base. I share the theory that they're attempting to reach both markets (pro and not) with the same core software - FCPX. Gone are the days you'd drop $1k for the complete Studio box, and we're entering a world of a la carte FCP.

Need XML in your workflow (or whatever new thing they're reportedly developing)? Download it from the App Store for $29.

Need to open legacy projects in X? Download the wrapper from the App Store for $19.

Need layered PSDs? Download the Adobe plug-in from the App Store for $49.

Make sense? Under this model, hobbyists can purchase the core software for $299 and do their thing, while pros can purchase the same core software and then purchase the essential add-ons or "Apps" to upgrade the core software to their needs.

Of course all of your purchases are linked to your Apple ID, so if you find yourself freelancing in a bay without something you've already purchased, just log into the App Store and re-download it, or grab it from "the cloud".

Jun 24, 2011 3:39 PM in response to phonax

Phonax,

Wow, I don't want to sound like a bore but can we keep this off of the EU politics of bailouts? Please do not reduce a country to 'lazy buggers'. It may make you feel righteous and rich but it's really not very nice to diss a whole country.

Jun 24, 2011 3:58 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom, in your opinion how does this new product compare with the latest FCE. Is it an "upgrade" from that for working in the formats available in FCE?

Jun 24, 2011 4:04 PM in response to JohnSpirou

I refuse to believe that Apple has completely forsaken the pro base. I share the theory that they're attempting to reach both markets (pro and not) with the same core software - FCPX. Gone are the days you'd drop $1k for the complete Studio box, and we're entering a world of a la carte FCP.

There's still a problem with that. By the time we are nickel and dimed by Apple to make FCPX a complete product, we'll be close to or over the original price fo FCPS3. The plugins and add-ons are all BASICS of a proper NLE setup. It's a cool idea, but why sacrifice the CORE features of what FCP 7 had already? I wouldn't buy a car without wheels, seats, headlights, to only later purchase them and make it a working car for me. I want to drive it now. If they want hobbyists to go the a la carte route, call this "app" what it is, iMovie Pro.

And the whole idea that this is an introductory product for hobbyists and YouTubers to finally experience Final Cut Pro is a bit sickening. Watching the David Pogue video on the NY times kept me up last night.

Take this analogy. iMovie Pro (FCPX) would be like saying to someone, "Hey, you've always wanted to be a Surgeon right? But you don't have the time to train and learn the skills to be a proficient and trusted Surgeon? Well, we've got a solution for you! Introducing Surgeon X! Based on our successful iStich Kit you can now operate on real people and work in a real hospital! Did you need that scalpel? Purchase at this tool for $49.95. Forgot that spreader? That'll be another $29.95. Now you're a complete and trained Surgeon after only 6 months! Disclaimer - Surgeon X is not responsible for complications, illness, or death associated with this product due to a lack of experience and an "incomplete" Surgeon X kit."

Jun 24, 2011 4:23 PM in response to Dan Hyman

I got a refund. Plus, I downloaded Adobe Premiere trial and just successfully opened a FCP7 project via XML. Loaded up great! Videoguys are jumping all over this debacle with $300 discounts!

RIP FCP - 2011

Jun 24, 2011 4:31 PM in response to Dan Hyman

I'm still going around with the support people. I feel like the Capitol One commericials

"Hello, my name is Peggy" .. :-)

I mean ... you would think he would know it's not resolved because I haven't received

the refund.

I guess they're scrambling over there with the "response" FCPX has gotten.

jeff

Follow-Up: 157232567

Hello again,

This is just a quick follow-up to your previous request. I wanted to ensure that your iTunes Store issue has been taken care of. I am looking forward to your reply so that I can be certain it has been fully resolved.

Sincerely,

Mervin

iTunes Store Customer Support

Please Note: I work from Monday - Friday, 4:00 AM-1:00 PM CST

Jun 24, 2011 4:39 PM in response to JohnSpirou

I'm a long time lurker on these boards and have been using FCP since 3.0. I think the level of outrage here regarding the new release is beyond reason. I won't debate the merits of the feature set of FCPX, but I have to say that I think all of you asking for a refund are completely out to lunch. Who buys a piece of software the morning it's launched without reading any reviews and then cries about getting their money back within hours. There was an abundance of reviews posted and hitting my inbox within hours of the release detailing its strengths and short comings. I don't want to insult anyone personally but really, a lot of you are acting like your girlfriend (Apple) just dumped you. If going forward FCPX doesn't work for you, use something else that does. If you are such a huge influential and important market, get Apples attention by not buying it.

My only other observation is the group speak about the app not working for "pros". This seems to mean broadcast people here. I've been shooting and editing boring corporate stuff for some time now and making a very decent living doing it. I am a pro, I just don't work in broadcast. I use a couple of Panasonic cameras with P2 cards and frankly I think the app will work fine for me. If not now, than at some point in the future.

Jun 24, 2011 4:51 PM in response to Richardsonic

Great points Richardsonic,

But the issues the professionals are delineating isn't limited to Broadcast. My shop also specializes in interactive video and digital content (think Flash, HTML5, as well as viral content) -- and our post-production workflows for digital production is identitical to that of our broadcast workflow.

The outcry has mostly been due to the fact that FCPX does not support any of our workflows.

As for getting refunds, that's really between the consumer and Apple. I'm of the opinon that if the product you purchased is not what you needed, then you should have the option to refund it or get store credit. I think it's quite generous of Apple to provide their customers with full refunds.

On that point - I applaud Apple.

FCP -- RIP 2011

APPLE - GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK!!!!!