Idustrial Revolution started the ball rolling this morning with the simpler hashtag #freeeffectfriday. As everybody loves free plugin effects for Final Cut Pro X, we thought that we would carry the thought on. Lots to download!
A bumper round of free FCPX plugins for you for a Friday, well it is #freeeffectfriday after all!
Idustrial Revolution has just released two new free plugins for FCPX.
The first is called Flare Lights, it's a filter plugin that produces adjustable light streaks from the highlights on video. An on screen control gives access to the flare length and direction. More parameters in the inspector include the threshold for clipping, smoothness and the colour of the streaks. Go easy on the Star Trek look!
Also from Idustrial Revolution is Glow Darks. This effect plugin isolates low luminance within video and then applies a fully adjustable dark glow to the area. Exactly like the built in glow, but for darks. Uses for the plugin include adding 'some punch' to thin video without having to crush the blacks or alter the exposure curve. It can also help reduce noise in the blacks or be tweaked up to give a very stylised 'dark' look.
Both new free FCPX plugins from Idustrial Revolution use the Motion Template Tool for installation.
Next is a free pack of matte wipe transitions from Tangent FX. Called Matte Pack 01, there's 16 unique matte wipe styles with variable delay and echo. Simple, elegant and of course free!
Lastly we have a new free effect from Fox Mahoney. Called Spirotechnics, the generator plugin is a collection of pattens that draw on the screen. As Fox states, the timing with Mark Spencer's Siprograph tutorial is completely coincidental and the method used for the drawing is completely different. (Oscillator anybody?)
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!
