How would you spend $2000 on Plugins for FCPX?

So, I have $2000 to spend on plugins..
well.. where do I start?
what's on top of the list? and at the end..
most work is on promotions and documentaries.

Callouts
VolumeTrix

would be 2 things that pop in my head immediately.

Maybe Magic Bullet Looks.

CoreMelt Lock and Load X, SliceX, and CoreMelt Complete.

Irudis Tonalizer, great tool

www.irudis.com/

How about Sapphire or Sapphire Edge?

Magic bullet looks is eating up the performance, 'lock and load' is giving me a lot of trouble (crashes). If you take fxfactory, you have a big playground. If I only want to improve the image, I stay with Tonalizer all the time, if you want to go further, create a special look, go for fxfactory. Not as big as fxfactory is mlooks2, also affordable.

I wouldn't. IMHO most of the plugins for FCP X have been ok but certainly not stellar.

I would only spend that kind of money if the effect HAD to be used and the client was happy to pay for it.

+1 for Tonalizer. Just great at pulling detail out of almost-blown highlights.

TKY Split Screen Animator and PIPinator through FXFactory
NewBlue Titler Pro
Ripple Callouts
Slice X
Volumetrix

...all depending on your particular application of course.

I only buy plug ins when they are on sale.

So far I have got Mood, MB Looks (got it at half price sale), Mtransition, Xeffect 1, Laster color grade and two plugins from Pixel Film, coltmelt lock and load, crumple pop transmatica, bunch of FCP Effects stuff

And the rest are freebies. I find a lot of freebies can do just as good as some commercial ones

Do you have to spend it all at once or can you spend as you need them?

My personal Favorites:

Nattress Levels and Curves
Tokyo Split Animator
Ripple Callouts
All of the Luca Visual FX stuff
SliceX

I actually did a few demo videos if you curious... you can check them out here:

themovieswemake.com/tutorials/

I gotta get them all at once!

That'll be a fun shopping spree!

FxFactory has a lot of great plugins including the following.

MoType - Fantastic title generator
FxFactory Pro - Tons of different effects, transitions, etc...
mlowers - High quality lower thirds for different topics

CrumplePop's Suites - Great combo packs for some powerful plugins.

Of course I gotta mention the ones I made!
Block Pop - Block transforming transitions
Slide Pop - Viewmaster style transitions and effects

Go with Tonalizer, you won't regret it. I use it all the time.

Then X2Pro, an app not a plugin but it will get your stuff to protools

Since you have a big budget, IMX Suite from Hamburg Pro Media, will make you compatible with those broadcasters who ask for MXF and let you edit MXF natively.

Then you still have some to spare...

X2Pro and Tokyo Split are must have plugins as they will be used a lot.

I have a bunch of other plugins like FxFactory Pro (got it free when I worked at Apple retail) and some crumplepop stuff that I got for 50% off when I worked at Apple. But I rarely use most of them.

I say just put that money aside and buy the plugins when they are on sale or when you need a specific one for a job. The great thing about FxFactory is that you get demo versions of everything they sell, so you can always try it before you buy.

If you have $2000 to spend, I'd rather get a bad ass Thunderbolt drive.

And yeah, if you're getting into editing, try to get a job at Apple retail. After 90 days you get 25% off one computer + a $500 credit to that same computer and FCPX, Motion, Compressor and a ton of free and discounted plugins. Really worth it if you can get the job.

A lot of these suggestions are really specific for what you would be doing, so if you are looking for effects, then that is one road to take. If you are looking for color grading, thats another. If you're interested in templates (titling, motion graphics, etc) yet another avenue.

If you want some of it all, you could try:

Magic Bullet Looks 2 for color grading with lots of presets
Tiffen DFX3 Bundle with a variety of film, lens, camera, effects and gobo plugins
Motion VFX for a slew of excellent titling and motion graphics templates
Luca Visual Effects for outstanding grunge, sprocket, and other overlay effects

Spend the rest picking from Noise Industries FX Factory products as you see fit.

$2K is an outrageously insane amount of money to waste on plugins alone. Besides, only buy what you need when you need it, and make the job you're working on pay for it. Or make sure you have enough jobs lined up that the cost can be spread across several clients. But I would never suggest anyone just go buy plugins to simply have them.

I see lots of "must have" plugins that are things I'd never have use for. So "must have" is simply "personal preference" in truth.

Nattress Levels & Curves, SliceX, Motion, Resolve LITE would be my personal preferences at the moment. Then cruise all the free stuff here on FCP.co. Spend the money on vital things like training, networking (socially), RAM, T'bolt drives, etc.

Yes there are few must have plugins for FCPX.
I would say X2Pro, 7toX, Xto7 and Magic Bullets Looks.
Three of the four should be on the list if the software engineers at Apple would have listen to the users. And not that guy who made the iPod.