First mileage with FCPX

In about 1 or 2 weeks Apple released the long anticipated new version of Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) – the editing software of choice for many video professionals in the industry. Read more…

This is a big update. Editing software is one of the most vital tools you have as a video maker. And the new FCPX promises to be an impressive update: a completely re-written piece of software that changes the way editing on computers is done and that is up to par with modern requirements like multi-core processing, improved file-based workflow, vastly improved automated tasks, content management, built-in tools like color correction and more.

But my first mileage with FCPX will have to wait for a little while. Although I will monitor the release of FCPX closely, I think I will hold off for a couple of weeks.

There are a few good reasons to do so:

• Let’s see what the new FCPX can do, what functionality is included and more importantly: what is left out
• Let’s also wait for the first round of bug fixes before jumping in
• Wait to see what happens with software tools like Motion, SountrackPro or Compressor
• My current platform with FCP 7 on Leopard is still running good enough and gets most of the jobs done: don’t fix what ain’t broken
• I first need to upgrade to Snow Leopard anyway to be able to purchase FCPX in the App Store – the software isn’t sold separately (boxed)
• Better to wait one more month and directly upgrade to Lion as well
• Wait for the first online computer trainings and tutorials to get a solid understanding of FCPX

We will wait and see! We will not migrate to the new version.

UPDATE: Apple released it's new video editing software on June 21. It caused a storm of critique. Many long time FCP users felt left in the cold. The new Final Cut Pro X lacks a considerable number of important functions and options that are important to the professional market. Many reviews and comments on websites state that the software should have been rebranded to iMovie Plus and that it isn't ready for prime time yet. It was even the subject of a practical joke on the Conan O'Brien show.