Boris FX has released an upgrade to the dialogue search tool Soundbite. The free Version 2.1 update brings added Final Cut Pro X support.
Soundbite has had a chequered career. The Nexidia powered plugin started off as 'Get' before disappearing completely after twelve months and then reappearing as Soundbite from Boris FX a few weeks later. So it is good to see it getting an upgrade, especially for FCPX.
Soundbite finds words and phrases in recorded media by performing a phonetic search. Tap your words into Soundbite and it will automatically find each instance of that spoken phrase and present the user with a list of results.
Version 2.1 (which is a free upgrade to existing users) adds more support for FCPX and as we are not a user ourselves, we will have to resort to taking Boris FX's words verbatim.
"The new Boris Soundbite v2.1 includes the ability to import Final Cut Pro X projects. In FCP X, you can export any event via XML, and the XML can then be imported into Soundbite. Each event is treated as a FCP X project within Soundbite and all media from the FCP X event is indexed and searchable. In addition, all Soundbite functionality previously available for FCP 7 is now available for FCP X, including searching, previewing, grouping, and saving. Resources can be exported back to FCP X with markers using the “Export to FCP X XML” feature."
We must admit to being slightly confused by the line Each event is treated as a FCP X project within Soundbite. Do they mean a Soundbite project within Soundbite or an FCPX project within Soundbite? We suspect the former, but if there are any FCPX/Soundbite users out there then we would like to see the workflow clarified.
We also failed to find any video tutorials of the FCPX & Soundbite combo.
Soundbite V2.1 sells for $295 from the online Boris Store. Before anybody complains about the price, it has already been reduced down from the normal $495.
I am the Editor-in-Chief of FCP.co and have run the website since its inception ten years ago.
I have also worked as a broadcast and corporate editor for over 30 years, starting on one inch tape, working through many formats, right up to today's NLEs.
Under the name Idustrial Revolution, I have written and sold plugins for Final Cut Pro for 13 years.
I was made a Freeman of Lichfield through The Worshipful Company of Smiths (established 1601). Though I haven't yet tried to herd a flock of sheep through the city centre!
Current Editing
2020 has been busy, the beginning of the year was finishing off a new property series (cut on FCP) for Channel 4 called The Great House Giveaway. I also designed and built the majority of the graphics as Motion templates. It has been a great success and the shows grabbed more viewers in the 4pm weekday slot than any previous strand. It has been recommissioned by C4 for 60 episodes, including prime-time versions and five themed programmes. The shows have also been nominated for a 2021 BAFTA.
Although both were postponed to later in the year, I worked again on ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta. 2020 was my 25th year of editing the TdF and my 20th year as lead editor. The Tour was the first broadcast show to adopt FCPX working for multiple editors on shared storage.
BBC's Snooker has played a big part in my life, I've been editing tournament coverage since 1997. I'm proud to be part of a very creative team that has pioneered many new ideas and workflows that are now industry standard in sports' production. This is currently an Adobe Premiere edit.
Covid cancelled some of the regular corporate events that I edit such as trade shows & events. I was lucky however to edit, from home, on projects for Amazon Kindle, Amazon Black Friday, Mastercard and very proud to have helped local charitable trust Kendall & Wall secure lottery funding.
As for software, my weapon of choice is Final Cut Pro and Motion, but I also have a good knowledge and broadcast credits with Adobe Premiere Pro, MOGRT design and Photoshop.
Plugin Design & Development
I'm the creative force behind Idustrial Revolution, one of the oldest Final Cut Pro plugin developers. It hosts a range of commercial and free plugins on the site. One free plugin was downloaded over a thousand times within 24 hours of release.
I also take on custom work, whether it is adapting an existing plugin for a special use or designing new plugins for clients from scratch. Having a good knowledge of editing allows me to build-in flexibility and more importantly, usability.
FCP.co
Now in its 10th year and 4th redesign, running FCP.co has given me knowledge on how to run a large CMS- you are currently reading my bio from the database! Although it sounds corny, I am pretty well up on social media trends & techniques, especially in the video sector. The recent Covid restrictions has enabled live FCP.co shows online. This involves managing a Zoom Webinar through Restream.io to YouTube and Facebook.
The Future
I'm always open to new ideas and opportunities, so please get in touch at editor (at) fcp.co. I've judged film competitions, presented workflow techniques to international audiences and come up with ideas for TV shows and software programs!
