(Page 1 of 1 pages for this article )

Filed under: *VIDEO* •Apple •Final Cut Pro •CS5 •Editing •GentryMedia Sister Sites •Mac Coalition •ProVideo Coalition •Hardware •Post Production •Software •

How to pick Mac video editing software after the FCP X launch

After the launch of FCP X 1.0, Mac users can finally analyze which video editing software to choose depending upon key features. Now there is finally a recent version to compare from Adobe (Premiere Pro CS 5.5), Apple (Final Cut Pro X 1.0), and Avid (Media Composer 5.5). Since Apple has ceased to support FCP 7 as of the release of FCP X, the possibility of using FCP 7 under MacOS 10.7 (Lion) is unpredictable. [UPDATE: Apple has stated that FCP7 will run under Lion.] This article will cover three key features which may be critical to your current or upcoming projects: multicam (or the capability of auto syncing clips from multiple cameras, whether or not some of them have stopped recording during the event), full use of a professional i/o interface (like the ones from AJA, Blackmagic, Matrox, or MOTU), and the inboard capability of incorporating and viewing closed captions. Since as of October 2010, closed captions are legally required in the USA even for certain web videos (details ahead in this article), this will be of increasing importance to many editors.

Multiple cameras

Various sources have confirmed that Final Cut Pro X 1.0 does not include a multicam function, or even the XML export/import that makes the renowned third-party app PluralEyes work. I must clarify that I am referring to PluralEye’s multiple camera synchronization (which works whether or not some of the cameras have stopped recording during the event). I am not referring to PluralEye’s function of synchronizing dual-system audio, which is a standard feature in Final Cut Pro X (and in Premiere Pro CS5.5). Both multicam and XML export/import have existed in prior FCP versions, as well as in the current versions of two competing apps, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 and Avid MediaComposer 5.5. If multiple cameras (or multiple angles of a single camera, i.e. a musical video) are a must-have, then consider Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 or Avid MediaComposer 5.5, especially since FCP 7 may not even run on MacOS 10.7 (Lion), and it will not be supported by Apple. UPDATE: Apple has announced that FCP 7 will run on Lion, and that FCP X will (in the future) support both XML (or something equivalent) and multicam. See the Apple FCP X FAQ here.

Full use of a professional i/o interface

Prior to FCP X, all three Mac professional video editing apps I am covering here (Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro CS5.5, and Avid MediaComposer 5.5) have offered full and continuous use of its supported i/o devices, with the notable exception of Avid Media Composer, which supports the Matrox MXO2 Mini, but only for output… and the original MXO (with any supported app), which only has outputs, no inputs. (Avid Media Composer 5.5 works both for ingest and output with the AJA Io Express.) On the other hand, FCP X 1.0 offers extremely limited functionality with professional i/o devices (no capture or print-to-tape via the professional i/o interface), and even when used that way, FCP X’s output is considered not trustable for critical monitoring. AJA’s PDF states:

The quality of the output produced during editorial (with FCP X) should be considered preview quality.

I have contacted HP’s DreamColor architect to determine whether a directly-connected DreamColor monitor would be trustable for critical monitoring with FCP X. He is testing this and I’ll update this as soon as I receive his response.

Closed Captions

Per CPC:

21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act of 2010

On Friday, October 8, 2010, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 was signed into law by President Barack Obama. This new law expands the requirements for web video captioning and accessibility services. More specifically, it requires that any closed captioned television program be closed captioned when delivered over the Internet. The law also requires all devices capable of displaying video to be able to display closed captions.

None of the video editing apps covered in this article is capable of creating closed captions. However, all but FXP X can import them in one fashion or another and view them with the app. To my knowledge, it is not (yet) feasible to do this with FCP X for HD files/projects. Up until Final Cut Pro 7 and Avid MC 5.5, this has been possible with a rather elaborate importation, and with the use of a rather costly 3rd-party application. In order to view the closed captions within the NLE, 3rd-party hardware has also been required. However, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 can accomplish this with a simple importation from a file generated by at least one affordable closed caption creation application. Soon I’ll be reviewing at least one here in ProVideo Coalition magazine. Stay tuned!

Read Allan Tépper’s latest book

Read Allan Tépper’s latest book, Unleash GoogleVoice’s hidden power. More info about both the print version and the new ebook version at books.AllanTepper.com. The ebook version is DRM-free and now available from the Amazon Kindle store, Apple iBooks store, Barnes & Noble NOOKbook store, and other popular ebook sources.

Allan Tépper’s consulting, articles, seminars, and audio programs

Contact Allan Tépper for consulting, or find a full listing of his articles and upcoming seminars and webinars at AllanTepper.com. Listen to his TecnoTur program, which is now available both in Castilian and in English, free of charge. Search for TecnoTur in iTunes or visit TecnoTur.us for more information.

Disclosure, to comply with the FTC’s rules

None of the manufacturers listed in this article is paying Allan Tépper or TecnoTur LLC specifically to write this article. Some of the manufacturers listed above have contracted Tépper and/or TecnoTur LLC to carry out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations. Many of the manufacturers listed above have sent Allan Tépper review units. So far, none of the manufacturers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur programs, although they are welcome to do so, and some are, may be (or may have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition magazine. Some links to third parties listed in this article and/or on this web page may indirectly benefit TecnoTur LLC via affiliate programs.

(Page 1 of 1 pages for this article )

Might want to add one more at the end:
Did you say “No” to any of these but there is a chance you may say “Yes” on a future project?—> Just to be safe: Adobe PP CS 5.5

Posted by Gautch  on  06/23  at  01:14 PM

---

Hi Allan,

I’m keenly interested to see where you personally end up: Adobe or Avid?

Or will you stick it out with FCP 7?
Thanks

Posted by wsmith  on  06/24  at  10:07 AM

---

I think you should also include Media 100 (http://www.media100.com) in your list. For most of the features you compare, they have a great solution. Media 100 does support video I/O via Kona, Blackmagic and Matrox MXO2 devices, they have a great multicam mode (much better than Premiere, in my opinion), and support XML import of FCP projects plus XML export to Apple Color or DaVinci Resolve for example. They even support native RED editing in the latest release, and the system is rock solid and easy to use.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  06/25  at  03:22 AM

---

I agree with Floh. People should really take a very good look at Media 100 Suite. 30 day free trial. It really is rock solid with a very short learning curve. It’s come a very long way. All flavors of ProRes and 4k Red. Also incredible support, not just a phone call to India or nothing at all.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  06/25  at  05:28 PM

---

Media 100 is indeed an option. But is it as good an option as Adobe? Adobe’s support is and has long been consistently excellent.

Does media 100 really have anything Adobe doesn’t?

Does Media 100 have the tight workflow integration of PS, AE, PPro, Encore, etc? No.

Posted by wsmith  on  06/25  at  05:40 PM

---

Media 100 does have a tight workflow with PS and AE with direct import and export. And a great interface. The trial period is 14 days BTW. No one else offers that. Make up your own mind. I have CS 5 Production Premium and am using them both, but I much prefer to finish in Media 100. I really like CS5 ability to take formats natively, and mostly use it for that, offline if you will. Exporting in ProRes for finish in Media 100. Media 100 also includes Boris 5.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  06/26  at  01:13 AM

---

JimWi,

I’m sure but when I say “tight workflow integration” I refer to not having to export and then import comps, and do it over and over again.

I really don’t know much about Media 100, Does it allow you to have a PS comp open in one monitor and see changes to it automatically happen in AE, which is open in another monitor?

Posted by wsmith  on  06/26  at  05:40 AM

---

Thanks to Gautch, Wsmith, Floh, and JimW1 for their comments. I will take them into account.

Allan Tépper

Posted by Allan Tépper  on  06/26  at  07:34 AM

---

I have updated the article to reflect Apple’s commitment to support multicam in FCP X in the future, as well as to support XML (or something equivalent). Apple has also assured that FCP7 will run under Lion. See the Apple FCP FAQ here.

Allan Tépper

Posted by Allan Tépper  on  06/29  at  10:38 AM

---

Good news in Lion. BTW, Media 100 has a $400 temporary discount to $595 for the latest version of Media 100 Suite 2.0.1.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  06/30  at  08:52 AM

---

I’m a long time Media100 user who was forced to switch to FCP about 2 years ago.  Do yourself a favor and check out M100.  The system just plain works and works intuitively.  Hopefully, the Boris people will do themselves and the video world a favor and really push M100, especially now that it sounds like FCP may have jumped the shark.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  07/01  at  11:46 AM

---

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Smileys

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Submit the word you see below: