We have covered both MergeX and PostLab here on FCP.co. Now we can be the first to announce that they have joined forces! The app for merging FCPX libraries together is now part of Postlab.
We covered the MergeX app here in 2017. It is a way of combine marked ranges, favourites, ratings and roles from different FCPX users together.
We've also covered Postlab here in 2018 and also last year when Hedge acquired the FCPX collaborative workflow tool.
Today, Hedge, makers of Postlab, announced that the MergeX team is joining Postlab.
Paul Matthijs Lombert, Hedge CEO:
“Since launching Postlab, we’ve been looking for ways to make collaboration between team members even easier. Especially when team members have different tasks, but work on the same footage. In a typical AE workflow, keeping everyone’s projects up to date is quite labor-intensive. With Merge’s technology, we’re able to provide a seamless experience for multi-disciplinary teams working with FCP X.”
Perig Guinamant, merge.software founder:
“Postlab is a perfect match for MergeX . We want to take the Merge workflow further, and now we have a partner with the capacity to unlock its full potential, as we envisioned when starting with MergeX three years ago. There is a lot of synergy between our teams, and we all share the mission of having a profound impact on collaboration in the film, television, and video industry.”
This makes complete sense to us. Marketing for small developers is hard and with Perig joining the team it will lead to a greater awareness of his app.
If you haven't heard of MergeX before, it's an app that allows FCPX editors to merge events from different libraries. It's useful in a typical Assistant Editor workflow where the AE adds keywords and tags to clips, which the editor than can pull into the edit. In need of a specific shot? The AE jumps into the master library, adds keywords, pings the editor to update some event, without any interruptions.
As a result of the acquisition, MergeX will be integrated into Postlab in the coming months, making it unavailable for purchase as a standalone app. Existing users will continue to receive updates and bug fixes for at least another year, and can reach out to Hedge for a Postlab discount.
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!
