Comments on: First Flight: Final Cut Express (Part 2)

By: Dave Bittner

Dave Bittner — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:06:42 +0000

The risk with any of these de-tuned version of pro apps, be it Final Cut Express or Photoshop Elements, is that sometimes the features they decide to save for the Truly Pro version can appear arbitrary, so you find yourself bumping into what seem like bone-headed limitations. “I just want it to do X!!!” “Sorry, feature X is only included in the Pro version.”

So, Andy, keep in mind that you’re driving the four-cylinder, base model version of that editing package. Final Cut Pro is the muscle car. :-)

When we switched our edit suites to FCP a few years back, it was extremely frustrating, learning a new system after years of editing on Media 100 systems. But soon the frustration shifted to respect and joy, as the power under the hood started to reveal itself and we found ourselves with a new level of creative freedom.

By: Andrew Gingerich

Andrew Gingerich — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:42:27 +0000

I’m a Final Cut Pro guy myself and I’m not sure what the exact differences between Pro and Express anymore, but you should have some kind of control over what video codec is native in your sequence. You want to match up your sequence’s codec and dimensions with those of your original footage, or Final Cut will keep trying to re-render your video in a new format.

It’s possible, though, that Express can’t edit MP4 natively, in which case you’re stuck with lots of renders. But depending on your system specs, RT Extreme may come to your rescue! Check and make sure it’s enabled, and you should be able to watch your edits (albeit at reduced quality) in real time without waiting for renders.

Yes, this is all very complicated and involved, and the learning curve from iMovie to Final Cut is very steep. That’s because you’re essentially going from a consumer software interface to a top-tier professional interface. It definitely takes some getting used to.

By: Fuzzy

Fuzzy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:18:49 +0000

Here’s my number 1 tip for someone moving from iMovie to Final Cut: learn to use the power of sequences. In iMovie you just have one sequence: the timeline. But in Final Cut you can have many sequences that all reference the same footage and you can embed them and so on.

In iMovie I can remember getting very nervous if I wanted to try something different in already edited footage. In Final Cut, just make a copy of the sequence and got to town.

It’s also great for anything over a few minutes long — you can divide it into scenes and then you can be sure that some change you make in the title sequence doesn’t ripple down and accidently push something out of sync in the end credits.

By: Blake Helms

Blake Helms — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:06:08 +0000

Sometimes when you drag audio in it defaults to the end of an existing audio layer (in this case the video’s). Whats worse is when it decides to put it in the middle of an existing audio layer.

P.S. Please don’t use “Springtime for Hitler” as the background music again. It has taken several days to get it out of my head.