Final Cut Pro 4: So what's the deal with it? at DVinfo.net

Heath McKnight · October 8th, 2003, 05:37 PM

I keep hearing not-so-good things about FCP 4; I don't know or think it's as bad as FCP 2.

But I want to hear from the users. What do you all think of it, honestly?

Also, I think Apple should release versions of FCP every other year at least, because it's getting expensive. If I buy FCP 4, I'm sure FCP 5 will be out...

Same with full new versions of OS X. Though, wasn't OS X version 10.1 only $20 - 30 when it came out in late Sept. 2001? Sheesh...

heath

Ted Springer · October 8th, 2003, 07:08 PM

Final Cut Pro 2 rocks! Never a single problem with it ever ever never ever. I think Apple needs to sit down and release an update for FCP4. Apple doesn't quite have the knack at programming that they used to, and you are starting to see a few more bugs in their products (DVD Studio Pro 2, iMovie 3, FCP4, Mac OS X 10.2.8, etc etc etc). Hopefully the dust will settle and they'll release an update before 5 comes out. I think most of the problems are coming from G5 systems, though, as FCP4 seems to be working well for me.

Rule #1: Don't update if everything is working fine for you. Let other people do it instead. Let them be the guinea pigs. When it is determined that it is safe, upgrade.

Also, to own an Apple, you must have unlimited funds. At least that's what Apple wants. It is not a budget computer. :) I fully agree though. Releasing upgrades to Mac OS X is not like going from Windows 98 to Windows 2000. It's going from 10.2.8 to 10.3.0. Apple of course claims it's a whole brand new OS. I'll pony up when they go to OS Y or OS XI. Fortunately I've never had to purchase Mac OS X.... it always seems to be preinstalled on the computers I buy.

Heath McKnight · October 8th, 2003, 07:18 PM

I've bought OS X twice--the day 10.0 came out and 10.2...

I have to buy OS X 10.3 because it has Pixlet in it, perfect for me with an HD10 HDV camera.

heath

ps-I had nothing BUT problems on FCP 2. 2.0.2 cancelled the 16:9 feature. I called Apple on this, and they were like, "WHAT?!"

I cut most of my movie (feature length) on a G3 blue and white 400 mhz with FCP 1.0. Never had problems.

pss-I'll wait to upgrade to 10.2.8.

Ted Springer · October 8th, 2003, 07:42 PM

Interesting about your FCP 2 experience. Up until I got FCP 4, I used 2 (including the updated versions like 2.0.2 and so on) to edit in 16:9 tons of times. I can understand Apple's reaction... I am having the same one. :)

Heath McKnight · October 8th, 2003, 07:44 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Ted Springer : Interesting about your FCP 2 experience. Up until I got FCP 4, I used 2 to edit in 16:9 tons of times. I can understand Apple's reaction... I am having the same one. :) -->>>

what version of FCP 2? just out of curiousity.

heath

Ken Tanaka · October 8th, 2003, 08:05 PM

I think you could post a question like this about darn near any software product and some will say "Oh, dude, like it really sucks" and other will say "It's fine".

Personally, I've been using it -REAL- hard for the past several weeks (5-9 hrs/day) on my G4 1GHzDP as well as my 1GHz PB and it's not hiccuped or crashed once. (Actually, it did crash once due to a defective filter set.) Slight but noticeable general performance improvement over FCP3. Certainly a fuller and richer set of tools.

So I'm happier than a piggy in poo-poo.

Heath McKnight · October 8th, 2003, 08:16 PM

Hmm, thanks for your thoughts.

heath

Ted Springer · October 8th, 2003, 09:34 PM

Heath, I just checked, and I have FCP 2.0.2. I'm not sure if it went any higher than that.

If you are on a G4, FCP4 should work fine. If you are on a G5 or plan to be, wait until you are safely working with 10.3.

Heath McKnight · October 9th, 2003, 12:05 AM

Funny, FCP 2.0.2 was the last version they put out. I was editing on it and capturing 16:9 shot footage and none of it was letterboxing. The Apple FCP techie freaked out on the phone, which meant things weren't so good for FCP 2. About, what, 9 months after it came out, FCP 3 was announced. Is that right?

heath

Denis Murphy · October 9th, 2003, 02:18 AM

16:9 (anamorphic) footage is not supposed to letterbox. You edit in a 16:9 anamorphic sequence, then if you want a letterbox version for 4:3 display, you drop your 16:9 sequence into a new 4:3 sequence and render it out.

Heath McKnight · October 9th, 2003, 09:27 AM

Right, but it wasn't even doing that. It was ignoring my 16:9 footage altogether.

heath

ps-along with all the crashes and such.

October 8th, 2003, 07:18 PM	#3
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I've bought OS X twice--the day 10.0 came out and 10.2... I have to buy OS X 10.3 because it has Pixlet in it, perfect for me with an HD10 HDV camera. heath ps-I had nothing BUT problems on FCP 2. 2.0.2 cancelled the 16:9 feature. I called Apple on this, and they were like, "WHAT?!" I cut most of my movie (feature length) on a G3 blue and white 400 mhz with FCP 1.0. Never had problems. pss-I'll wait to upgrade to 10.2.8. __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

October 8th, 2003, 07:44 PM	#5
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	<<<-- Originally posted by Ted Springer : Interesting about your FCP 2 experience. Up until I got FCP 4, I used 2 to edit in 16:9 tons of times. I can understand Apple's reaction... I am having the same one. :) -->>> what version of FCP 2? just out of curiousity. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

October 8th, 2003, 08:05 PM	#6
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	I think you could post a question like this about darn near any software product and some will say "Oh, dude, like it really sucks" and other will say "It's fine". Personally, I've been using it -REAL- hard for the past several weeks (5-9 hrs/day) on my G4 1GHzDP as well as my 1GHz PB and it's not hiccuped or crashed once. (Actually, it did crash once due to a defective filter set.) Slight but noticeable general performance improvement over FCP3. Certainly a fuller and richer set of tools. So I'm happier than a piggy in poo-poo. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

October 8th, 2003, 08:16 PM	#7
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Hmm, thanks for your thoughts. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

October 9th, 2003, 12:05 AM	#9
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Funny, FCP 2.0.2 was the last version they put out. I was editing on it and capturing 16:9 shot footage and none of it was letterboxing. The Apple FCP techie freaked out on the phone, which meant things weren't so good for FCP 2. About, what, 9 months after it came out, FCP 3 was announced. Is that right? heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

October 8th, 2003, 05:37 PM	#1
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Final Cut Pro 4: So what's the deal with it? I keep hearing not-so-good things about FCP 4; I don't know or think it's as bad as FCP 2. But I want to hear from the users. What do you all think of it, honestly? Also, I think Apple should release versions of FCP every other year at least, because it's getting expensive. If I buy FCP 4, I'm sure FCP 5 will be out... Same with full new versions of OS X. Though, wasn't OS X version 10.1 only $20 - 30 when it came out in late Sept. 2001? Sheesh... heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

October 8th, 2003, 07:08 PM	#2
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	Final Cut Pro 2 rocks! Never a single problem with it ever ever never ever. I think Apple needs to sit down and release an update for FCP4. Apple doesn't quite have the knack at programming that they used to, and you are starting to see a few more bugs in their products (DVD Studio Pro 2, iMovie 3, FCP4, Mac OS X 10.2.8, etc etc etc). Hopefully the dust will settle and they'll release an update before 5 comes out. I think most of the problems are coming from G5 systems, though, as FCP4 seems to be working well for me. Rule #1: Don't update if everything is working fine for you. Let other people do it instead. Let them be the guinea pigs. When it is determined that it is safe, upgrade. Also, to own an Apple, you must have unlimited funds. At least that's what Apple wants. It is not a budget computer. :) I fully agree though. Releasing upgrades to Mac OS X is not like going from Windows 98 to Windows 2000. It's going from 10.2.8 to 10.3.0. Apple of course claims it's a whole brand new OS. I'll pony up when they go to OS Y or OS XI. Fortunately I've never had to purchase Mac OS X.... it always seems to be preinstalled on the computers I buy.

October 8th, 2003, 07:42 PM	#4
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	Interesting about your FCP 2 experience. Up until I got FCP 4, I used 2 (including the updated versions like 2.0.2 and so on) to edit in 16:9 tons of times. I can understand Apple's reaction... I am having the same one. :)

October 8th, 2003, 09:34 PM	#8
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	Heath, I just checked, and I have FCP 2.0.2. I'm not sure if it went any higher than that. If you are on a G4, FCP4 should work fine. If you are on a G5 or plan to be, wait until you are safely working with 10.3.

October 9th, 2003, 02:18 AM	#10
Denis Murphy Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47	Letterboxing 16:9 (anamorphic) footage is not supposed to letterbox. You edit in a 16:9 anamorphic sequence, then if you want a letterbox version for 4:3 display, you drop your 16:9 sequence into a new 4:3 sequence and render it out.

October 9th, 2003, 09:27 AM	#11
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Right, but it wasn't even doing that. It was ignoring my 16:9 footage altogether. heath ps-along with all the crashes and such. __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog