Transitioning from iMovie to FCP -- which version?

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Level 1

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Transitioning from iMovie to FCP -- which version?

Hi--

I work in production (with ProTools), but on the side I produce stop motion animation. I don't have a lot of spare time to learn new software, so for a number of years I've used iMovie, since it closely emulated the physical assembly of film I learned back in the 80s (Moviola, sync block, rewinds, etc.)

And because I work with images sequences shot with a Canon EOS 7D & Dragon Stop Motion software, 99% of what I work are still images NOT video--and I can work very fast in iMovie.

Back in the day I purchased Final Cut Express HD, but never had the time to learn it. I also purchased FCP X when it came out--same scenario: no extra time to learn.

Recently, I purchased the last version of Final Cut Studio to get my hands on DVD Studio Pro, because I'm frustrated with the limitations and hiccups I keep getting with iDVD.

So now I have FCE HD, FCP 7 and FCP X -- I've decided that I'm tired of the limitations of iMovie and want to devote some serious time learning FCP. Since I'm literally starting from scratch--what would you recommend spending the time on? I've played with FCP and FCP X--they look like they work very differently, and I'd like to know what the pros think about FCP X--I have friends (independent film producers) that have stuck with FCP 7. In the end, i'm looking for something that easily handles sequences of still images.

I work exclusively on a Mac Pro running OS X Mountain Lion…any and all insights are appreciated..thanks!

Final Cut Pro X, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Dec 11, 2013 9:57 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 12, 2013 12:12 AM in response to Wrangler71

I am not a pro but here's my contribution.

FCS/FCP 7 have been obsolete/discontinued for nearly 3 years and may become unworkable with new Operating Systems.

FCP X is the future, at least amongst amateurs and most professionals. So it makes sense to learn something that has a future.

Most of the people who have stuck with FCP 7 have done so because that is the devil they are familiar with and suits their editing techniques and the habits they have acquired.

As you are comparatively new, hopefully you won't have to change many of your working practices.

FCP X is ideal for stills and effects like pan and zoom ("Ken Burns") can be applied automatically whilst still providing every manual tweak you may require.

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Answer 2

Jim Cookman

Level 7

23,435 points

Dec 12, 2013 9:03 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Well, Ian, I'm going to agree and disagree with you. FCP-x is an extension of imovie, and probably suited perfectly to the OP.

But for a lot of us still using fcp studio, we're using it because fcp x doesn't offer the features most professionals rely on. The ability to share a project across multiple users, for example. I don't know about "the devil you know" but I've found fcp to be really quite a stupendous bit of software.

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Answer 3

Dec 12, 2013 9:07 AM in response to Jim Cookman

and besides editing, I do consulting work for a number of editors in NYC. All of them are still working in fcp7. Having spent some time recently in both Premiere and Avid MediaComposer, I gotta say neither of them feel as flexible and solid as fcp7. But almost everyone understands that fcp7's days are numbered.

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Answer 4

Dec 12, 2013 10:51 AM in response to Jim Cookman

I am greatly surprised that you disagree with some of my utterances, Jim. 😮 ("Shocked")

I can't comment personally on your claim about an inability to share projects but I seem to recollect that Tom Wolsky and many others have said there is no problem in doing precisely that. (I hope I'm not misquoting them).

Anyway, let's see what surprises the next few days bring . . . .

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Answer 5

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,561 points

Dec 12, 2013 2:31 PM in response to Wrangler71

Wrangler71 wrote:

. . . so for a number of years I've used iMovie, since it closely emulated the physical assembly of film I learned back in the 80s (Moviola, sync block, rewinds, etc.)

Sounds like you have been using an early version of iMovie - say version 6? The latest iterations of iMovie have very little resemblance to sync block film editing.

Wrangler71 wrote:

. . . So now I have FCE HD, FCP 7 and FCP X -- I've decided that I'm tired of the limitations of iMovie and want to devote some serious time learning FCP.

Exactly what limitations are you looking to get around? In the animation projects I have worked on, the NLE is largely used to assemble the image sequences (as opposed to actual editing), since the animation sequences are pre-planned and created to conform to pre-cut pencil tests.

If you are familiar with any of the latest iterations of iMovie, you should have an easier time of moving to FCP-X, as the editing paradigm is very similar.

If you are used to working on a track based timeline, then FC Express or FCP7 will be more familiar to you.

MtD

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