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10 Things Every Final Cut Pro User Should Know

maclife.com — The sheer depth of Final Cut Pro features can intimidate new users. In order to shake Avid from its high horse, Apple had to cram an unbelievable amount of features in there. We've assembled ten features that will help you master FCP and create the next

Who dugg this? Made popular Apr 24, 2009

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  • luke374, on 04/24/2009, -2/+20If you didn't know these to begin with then you're not a "Final Cut Pro User".
  • GreenChaos, on 04/24/2009, -2/+13Title correction, "10 Things Every Final Cut Pro User DOES Know"
  • DemiRonin, on 04/24/2009, -3/+13This is like suuupper basic stuff. But its nice to see a fcp article on digg
  • bigthree, on 04/23/2009, -4/+13great tips..my wife just picked up this software and this will be very useful
  • DeathJux, on 04/24/2009, -2/+10Most of the tips are pretty basic, but good stuff in there.
    The color-corrector tip is the most beneficial, IMO. as most of the other stuff is pretty intuitive, especially if you use Photoshop or other creative apps.

    However, the little jokes and crap were all groan-worthy.
  • jhug, on 04/24/2009, -1/+7What? No love for the roll, slip or slide tools? I am disappointed.
  • SilasTomorrow, on 04/24/2009, -2/+8Aw, don't be such an elitist. Of course you should know these. Thus the title "10 Things Every Final Cut Pro User Should Know", not "10 Hidden Tricks & Tips for Final Cut Pro."

    Everybody's gotta start somewhere, brother.
  • lowfalls, on 04/24/2009, -2/+7Rule number one: any cut you make...WILL...be final.
  • macnogeek, on 04/24/2009, -5/+10If you don't know these already and you call yourself a Final Cut Pro user go back to iMovie. These are the most basic features of FCP and FCE.
  • srg13, on 04/24/2009, -0/+5"I tend to support successful and functional technology that can get the job done in a more timely fashion with the results I want."

    I think that you are being quite arrogant there. It's good that you are experienced in a particular piece of software, and that obviously will mean that _you_ are able to work efficiently and easily with it. But this does not in any way mean that Final Cut or Premiere Pro are not professional, functional, successful or efficient...
  • kirualeorio, on 04/24/2009, -2/+6Andrew Kramer and After Effect FTW!!!
  • randmcnally, on 04/24/2009, -0/+3I don't get it is the whole paragraph sarcastic?
  • Emilio8605, on 04/24/2009, -1/+4I don't know if you're saying <Final Cut Pro> User, or Final Cut <Pro User> (emphasis for word grouping). Because a beginner user of Final Cut Pro might not know these.
  • Phych, on 04/24/2009, -2/+5soft or hard core?
  • joessandwich, on 04/24/2009, -4/+7These are BASIC tips.

    I work at a major talk show. We switched from AVID to FCP this season. We're going back to AVID next season. It has been the most horrendous experience ever. FCP is not at all ready for major, multicamera editing... it's a nightmare to work on. Some functions are nice and all, but overall it needs a major revision before it'll beat AVID.
  • randmcnally, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2"I work at a major talk show."

    oh it's MAJOR, better listen up everyone. dude, just say you work on a TV show, point made.
  • roxgod666, on 04/24/2009, -1/+3If you're gonna keep repeating the same thing, someone is bound to say these comments suck.
  • ShiftyBizniss, on 04/24/2009, -2/+4you have a computer in your kitchen??
  • MScrip, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2> "Avid systems don't cost that much any more"
    > "Hey ass, Get your prices right."

    Right... but *some* Avid systems do cost that much. MSRP for Avid DS is $60,000.

    My original question was why can't Avid and FCP co-exist? Some people like Avid, some people like FCP. It's personal choice. Just because Avid is better, should Apple have never created FCP?

    And what do you say to the people who use FCP every day?
  • pathouston22, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2I've been to NAB and also edit video professionally. Each program has its pros and cons, FCP, Avid, Edius, Premiere, Vegas, VelocityHD, etc. I've used them all, theres good and bad things I could say about each.
  • macslut, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2You certainly have a right to your opinion and preference, but many of us FCP users have used many other systems as professionals including Avid, and haven been given the choice, chose FCP.
  • factsahoy, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2Too bad about Compressor's ***** UI.
  • JEH225, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2learning the program is easy, learning how to properly edit something and managing delivery specs and frame conversions is another story.
  • peters1023, on 04/24/2009, -3/+4Did you see how he used the acronyms. Definitely pro.
  • svensksvamp, on 04/25/2009, -0/+1What's the difference between Avid and FCP multicam in detail? I have never had any problems with FCP. But I haven't worked on any professional level.
  • Poweroft, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2Well I don't mean to brag that much, but I thought all of these were pretty elementary. How can we learn more if we've learned all there is?
  • DeathJux, on 04/24/2009, -3/+4I edit video on a Macbook Pro, both on the internal display and hooked up to a 24" LCD, and I have set different window arrangements to maximize my working area on each.

    I highly recommend resizing your windows and timelines to get something that works for what you want to do, and then saving it as an arrangement preset.

    For example, I set my windows so that my timelines were almost minimized so that I could view SD footage at 100%, as I don't tend to layer tons of stuff when I edit, and the full-resolution view was more useful.
  • lucidmotion, on 08/12/2009, -0/+1Despite Apple's attempt to make me consider my perfectly decent G5 Quad Core Obsolete...FCS3 does indeed work on my machine.

    the first test:

    http://vimeo.com/6049124
    or
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsHptTM9q7A

    This is where I'll post any further info on what does or doesn't work based on peoples specific questions:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread....12102&t ...
  • superharris5, on 04/24/2009, -2/+3Yeah, there are all super basic, but they're helpful if you don't know them. I'm taking a FCP class right now, and the only thing I didn't know about here was the paste attributes.

    I'm solid with Avid and Premiere too, but I like Final Cut more simply because the file management is simpler. Avid's color correction is nicer for me though...
  • xGORDOx, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1I'm dugg down for being a fan of Andrew Kramer?
    Serioulsy?

    Ok then, link me to a better tutorial site on the web.
    You can't do it.
  • bobdance, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2Linear editors, not non linear editors....I assume.
  • peters1023, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2I hate this guy.
  • bobdance, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2I tend to stay away from color corrector plug-ins. I send all my files from FCP to Color (the app) for all my grading needs. Much more precise and gives better grades imo.
  • joessandwich, on 04/25/2009, -0/+1I'm a little hazy on some of the specifics because I don't do the major editing, but I know that every time our editor tries to do a moderate to large tape piece or a show edit, he ends up screaming and swearing at the edit bay. The basic problem is when handling multiple streams of footage, the system simply doesn't run smoothly. When you're at a daily show and on tight deadlines... that's a problem.
  • JEH225, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2the final cut color corrector is pretty crappy in my opinion, although their standalone program Color is pretty decent and it is pretty easy to send stuff between the two
  • Emilio8605, on 04/24/2009, -2/+3Have you played with the Multicam feature. It's brilliant. I'm a student filmmaker and our last short was shot with two cameras. Multicam made editing all that footage a breeze.
  • jordanlgta, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1That's all you've got? That's all you can come back with? Hahaha...fine. I love this. People that don't know how to respond to logic.
  • factsahoy, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2FCP is like a rickety toy.

    Avid has some serious UI problems, though, last I looked. Like controls hidden under plain text...
  • digitalpencil, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2Avid's great, but i wouldn't describe it as vastly superior to FCP.. They're both just different solutions for the same problem, i think preference has more to do with it than package superiority.

    That said i'm probably just jealous of your success of making a living out of your passion.
  • randmcnally, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1that's total BS MScrip.

    Avid systems don't cost that much any more, and you can run an Xpress or Media Composer system on a 2000 dollar MacBook Pro also.
  • MScrip, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2Can't Avid and FCP co-exist?

    You can use a $100,000 Avid system... or use FCP on a $2000 MacBook Pro.

    Right tool for the job, right?

    (Also... other people can make a living on FCP...)
  • Concotelli, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1Hey Jordanigta,

    I'm actually an Avid Editor myself. Have been for over 10 years. And while I have both systems at home, I prefer Avid hands down. Althought there are many things FCP does better (especially when it comes to handling QT's), I'm just faster on Avid.


  • xGORDOx, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1Yea Premiere is equally stable as FCP, in my experience.
    And my experience is using FCP at work and Premiere for my personal projects at home.
  • MScrip, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2Just curious... why did you switch to FCP in the first place?

    Being a major talk show, you should have some relationships with big pro-video retailers and other knowledgeable people in the business. Did you ask any advice? Or were you just unlucky?
  • Shigglyboo, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2Premiere is incredibly stable. I use it AND also FCP at work. We all hate how FCP won't allow you to keep all project data together.
  • non00b, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1They could fix that, I agree.. But it works none-the-less.
    People who dugg me down clearly don't do video work.
  • svensksvamp, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1yes. I would like to think so.
  • joessandwich, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2Ummm.... that's what I'm talking about. The multiclip feature is terrible compared to Avids.. it just can't handle multiple HD streams efficiently without choking and stuttering.
  • jchalmer85, on 04/24/2009, -0/+111. Buy an AJA Kona LHi card (or Matrox MX02). Seriously.
  • joessandwich, on 04/25/2009, -1/+1Actually, there is a difference. My show is professional and well respected, whereas most TV shows are pieces of *****. Trust me, I've worked at them too.
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