Does anyone here use Final Cut Pro? Anything I should know before I get into it? The last time I actually edited, it was using an Elmo 914 viewer and a Hervic tape splicer.
I use FCP, but I’m a newcomer to video editing so I can’t offer you any perspective on how it differs from the old-school way (except “radically, I’m sure”). When I need informed help on a camera or editing issue, I usually stop at the DVInfo.net forums.
Mind if I jump in with some questions? Does anyone have opinions on the capabilities and pros/cons of Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, Adobe Premiere & After Effects, Premiere Elements, and (at the very low end) iMovie and Windows Movie Maker? Home videos is the product (and thus I doubt I’ll go for the high-end software, but I’m curious nonetheless). The only thing I’ve played with is Windows Movie Maker, but Macs aren’t being ruled out.
My fav so far is Media 100. After using Avid, FCP, Adobe. Mostly for it’s intuitive ease of use. I’d say that FCP and Premier are pretty much neck and neck right now as far as features, onboard effects, learning curve.
After Effects is great if you have some power to speed up rendering time. Boris seems pretty similar but I haven’t messed with it enough. Love Combustion. Not real intuitive(mega levels of menus) but the skys the limit. What you can imagine, it will create. Broad learning curve but well worth it.
Oh, and Johnny, NLEs are just the modern version of old school editing.
Editing to tape, you can’t just slide everything down to insert a clip you overlooked or decided should be added. To a certain extent you can with digital tape and pre-reading but Non-Linear is like electronic film editing. It’s never too late to squeeze something in. Well, never say never but close. It’s really hard to go back to tape.
You’re gonna love it.
The who keys you’ll need to learn are to lock and unlock the sound, and to make the timeline skip to the ends or act continously (n, I think). It’s all pretty intuitive, and after a few days of editing you’ll be an able user. It’s more power than a casual editor really needs, but in able hands there is nothing it can not do.
Premiere is less stable and a little less powerful. It’ll work, but almost everyone would rather use Final Cut Pro.
I’m partial to Sony Vegas myself, but it’s expensive and likely overkill for what you’ll be using it for.