[Joshua]

In my job as an editor I work on many varying projects. For the big shiny projects I prefer to use Final Cut for it's sheer power and flexibility, however if I am editing local commercials that need to be pumped out very fast Final Cut just doesn't work for me. In these cases I use Avid Liquid on Pinnacle systems, usually HP desktop machines. I just can't seem to achieve the output speed in Final Cut that I can in Avid Liquid. Sometimes up to 15 - 20 commercials a day are edited to completion on Avid, a speed that is currently only a dream for Final Cut.

Both systems are set up very well, Logic Keyboards, Jog shuttle pads, dual edit displays and both connect seamlessly with HD video decks and cameras. Both systems are very similar in the way that they are operated but for workflow reasons I would really like to give Avid the flick and be able to work exclusively on Final Cut.

Seeing as I use Photoshop, After Effects and Lightwave and Maya exclusively on my Mac system I would like to be able to pump out the sausage factory stuff on Final Cut also. But like I said, Avid is the power horse when it comes to quantity.

What I would like to know is, has anyone here had any success with Final Cut for massive output, and if so do you have any tips to speed up the bashing out process so that everything can be done on my Mac systems?

I'd also like to hear anything regarding Final Cut vs Avid, as I use both systems and can appreciate both for their strengths and weaknesses.

[lumeswell]

I'd also like to hear anything regarding Final Cut vs Avid, as I use both systems and can appreciate both for their strengths and weaknesses.

I can't really compare as I don't use Avid. I have worked regularly at a facility which used to be Avid and is now FCP, and there are general grumblings from the people who have been there since Avid. I tend to find that people prefer the system they started on - so people who started on FCP and then go Avid don't think Avid is as good, and people who started on Avid see FCP as a toy editor because of its price point.

Im glad to hear someone who appreciates both - I like FCP, but Im also happy to accept it has shortcomings (some more than just short!) that other tools may do better.

Its also hard to know what the bottle neck is that you are experiencing when you go to FCP. I am assuming in some way there is a common theme between the 20 tvs you churn out in a day, and that there are groups of commercials which are basically the same but have some slight variation. If they are all distinct productions your head must be splitting at the end of the day.

I have done promo work in FCP, so you may have 3 or 4 versions of the same promo (next week, this week, tomorrow, tonight) and a shorter 'up next ' version. I have had days where I might get through 5 programs in a day, so that could be 20 individual promos. One of the things which speeds this up is the integration between Motion and Final Cut. If you set up your BOFs and end frames etc as Motion templates then it is really quick to reversion things in Final Cut. You cut the first bed, but all the BOFs etc on, then just copy and paste down the timeline and just edit the templates for different days etc. Keeps everything in Final Cut.

I should add I have the advantage that generally I'm not worrying about audio for these productions, thats is usually done separately. I know for other projects I can spend more time balancing the audio than actually cutting the sequence.

[Keith White]

There's the first part of a two-part interview with a Final Cut Pro in the next AMW Podcast which may be of interest

[Joshua]

I can't really compare as I don't use Avid. I have worked regularly at a facility which used to be Avid and is now FCP, and there are general grumblings from the people who have been there since Avid. I tend to find that people prefer the system they started on - so people who started on FCP and then go Avid don't think Avid is as good, and people who started on Avid see FCP as a toy editor because of its price point.

Im glad to hear someone who appreciates both - I like FCP, but Im also happy to accept it has shortcomings (some more than just short!) that other tools may do better.

Its also hard to know what the bottle neck is that you are experiencing when you go to FCP. I am assuming in some way there is a common theme between the 20 tvs you churn out in a day, and that there are groups of commercials which are basically the same but have some slight variation. If they are all distinct productions your head must be splitting at the end of the day.

I have done promo work in FCP, so you may have 3 or 4 versions of the same promo (next week, this week, tomorrow, tonight) and a shorter 'up next ' version. I have had days where I might get through 5 programs in a day, so that could be 20 individual promos. One of the things which speeds this up is the integration between Motion and Final Cut. If you set up your BOFs and end frames etc as Motion templates then it is really quick to reversion things in Final Cut. You cut the first bed, but all the BOFs etc on, then just copy and paste down the timeline and just edit the templates for different days etc. Keeps everything in Final Cut.

I should add I have the advantage that generally I'm not worrying about audio for these productions, thats is usually done separately. I know for other projects I can spend more time balancing the audio than actually cutting the sequence.

I do the same thing with promos and TVCs as you. I generally have a bed for most. Usually since our market here is so consistent, a client will stick with the same themed TVC for even up to a couple of months so basically all that is required is the alterations of supers, images, overlay footage etc. Most days I'm Lucky to start more than 3 TVCs from scratch and I also don't have to worry about audio aside from that which I am specifically cutting with video tracks. So as you mentioned the way you pumped out your promos, hitting 15 -20 TVCs and promos a day sometimes is not at all impossible.

But for some reason, even though I started on Final Cut as a newbie when it was a new product, and even though it is my preferred tool I find I can get more, as in quantity out of Avid. I have no idea why, especially considering they are almost the same tool. On the other hand though, Avid frustrates me when it comes to the very expensive and delicate productions that require a little TLC, hence Final Cut leads the way.

I think it's safe to say I've found what I believe to be an all round perfect production solution in the combination of two very similar, yet so different applications, not to mention both run on different systems.

Where have you worked? And what was the production that REALLY made you feel as though you'd made it into the industry?

[lumeswell]

Where have you worked? And what was the production that REALLY made you feel as though you'd made it into the industry?

Haven't 'made' it yet, still working for a living

I started to write a reply to this, but didn't want to hijack the thread into being about me. Send me an email and we can carry this on there.

In the mean time, looking forward to the podcasts Keith - what topics are covered in relation to FC?