Anyone use FinalCut Pro?

[microchip]

I'm thinking of using FinalCut Pro. Has anyone had good experience with it?

[eSDee]

Final Cut Pro is the best affordable video editing software there is. Much better than Premiere.

[Bires]

Isn't FinalCutPro an apple program?

I've been using Ulead Video Studio...and I hate it. I need to invest in some better video editting software, but can't spend too much.

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by EsDeeLoco
Final Cut Pro is the best affordable video editing software there is. Much better than Premiere.

EsDee, can you explain why Final Cut Pro is better? I've never used either program, and though I'm planning on going into video editing, I'm not far enough into it that I couldn't go with a Mac.

Oh, hehe, and do you have any experience networking PCs to Macs? ;)

[eSDee]

For one thing, Final Cut Pro doensn't need any special capture card to capture video. You can do it straight from firewire. Although I have heard that the newest premiere does this as well, I cannot verify it. Secondly, FCP has real time effects on it, which means no rendering time. If you are familiar with DV editing then you know that when you try and do any effect like a fade in/out,wipes, or anything else that isn't straight up cutting and editing, the software requires it be rendered. Depending on what kind of system you are using rendering can take from a few minutes to several hours. Final Cut Pro 3 does not require this. Oh yeah, FCP is an Apple software, which is a big reason why it can do real time effects. Macs kick ass with digital video. In order to do real time effects on a PC, you need a good capture card like the DV1000, which will cost you over a grand.
I have networked PC's and Macs before. Actually I am doing that at home. Right now the only thing I am doing is running Virtual PC on my Mac in order to transfer files from one to the other. However this takes some time so I want to set up a linux box with a fat hard drive, so serve as an intermediary.
Let me know if you have any more questions.

~EsDee

[Ladogaboy]

Thanks, EsDee. Right now, I'm just trying to master the art of capturing video onto my computer through a video-in connection. I've run into a few bumps, here and there, but that is mainly because my system is a little slow- mainly on the hard drive side. Also, I need to get Win2k before I go much further.

As you've already stated above, DV editing is very expensive, and I think I'm just going to fool around with what I have before I really get into it. With what you and others have said though, when I actually do start investing large amounts of money on DV hardware and software, I think I might go with a mac.

The thing that I was really leery of was not being able to newtork pcs and macs together. Now that I know I can, macs are looking much better.

Also, just so I have a place to start and some numbers to work with. How much is Final Cut Pro, or would I expect to just beable to get it in a bundle when buying a GF tower or what not?

[eSDee]

You can get the educational version of Final Cut Pro for $299 from any university. Also your best bet for getting a Mac is by purchasing the ones that are being phased out. There was a bunch of 677 mhz G4's being sold at our Bookstore for right around $1100. Of course you would want to get a bunch of RAM for your machine, which you can get a hella cheap here: http://www.thechipmerchant.com. One Gig of RAM is $170. That should get you started. Good luck. :thumb:

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by EsDeeLoco
You can get the educational version of Final Cut Pro for $299 from any university. Also your best bet for getting a Mac is by purchasing the ones that are being phased out. There was a bunch of 677 mhz G4's being sold at our Bookstore for right around $1100. Of course you would want to get a bunch of RAM for your machine, which you can get a hella cheap here: http://www.thechipmerchant.com. One Gig of RAM is $170. That should get you started. Good luck. :thumb:

Yeah, well it will probably be a year or so before I start messing with macs... by then, your system will probably be phasing out. ;)

Hopefully, if I get into some money, I'll start sooner than that, but I doubt it. Thanks for the info! :thumb: