Worth moving from FCP 7 to FCP X?

Any opinions on this?

Yes. But you need to be prepared for a complete mind bend about how stuff is done different. I HIGHLY recommend (actually consider MANDATORY) ripple training's tutorials on this stuff. It's cheap, and VERY well done.

Once you switch and learn, you'll love it. I literally am doing projects in 1/4 the time it used to take me in FCP 7

Thanks much! I'm finishing up my documentary and got a new Mac mini. I have FCP 7 but it FCP X seems like it is faster and has more bells and whistles.

I wouldn't recommend switching mid-project. However for your next film, I think FCPX shines for docu work. I recently finished my feature length doc in FCPX Off The Floor: The Rise of Contemporary Pole Dance and found it to be amazing.

First, you need a very good Mac, one of the latest at least to have a good performance.
Second, do a list of all the things you do in FCP 7 and check if you can make them with FCPx + plugins before moving.

I'm telling you this because I was checking if we can move to FCPx at work, and I think we can't move yet. If you have time, take a look at this thread I wrote with my experience.

Sorry, I realized I didn't answer the question.

Worth? Yes it's worth. FCP7 Is dead and the last update was many years ago. FCPx is alive, creating a new user base, working at 64 bits and updated every 6 months (many times sooner, 1 time later).

What you need to know is when is the right moment for you to make the switch (if you are not considering moving to another platform).

Get the free trial, do proper, quality training at either macProVideo.com or RippleTraining.com. Then you'll know if its right for you.

Thanks everyone! I got the trial version, paid $10 for the converter Nd am up and running. Loving FCPX. Got Motion 5 and loving at too. Will look into the tutorials.

dehilster wrote: Any opinions on this?

final cut pro X is the future of editing. i recommend you update as soon as. now fcpx is ready. i think the important features are inroad.

It's great, but you're gonna need a lot of RAM.

FCP X is about the greatest invention since sliced bread. However, I miss STP, Color and Motion. FCS was a terrific suite with a high level of integration. Motion has become an effects generator for FCP without any possibility to send clips back and forth anymore. The Logic tools built into FCP and the color board don't replace STP and Color for me.

Grading can be done in Resolve, but what about audio mixing?

While I do most of my editing in FCP due to its speed, I also run CS6 on the side for real post production.

Don't just "look into" tutorials. Choose one from ripple, macprovideo, Larry Jordan, lynda.com
Don't rely on YouTube unless its from a credible source such as these. Most of the tutorials on YouTube are worthless.
Otherwise you will be very frustrated. I know a number of people who say FCP X sucks but never put the effort into learning it. And it does require learning. I've been using it daily since it came out and I'm still finding new things.

Get the trial version.

Then DON´t edit by thinking "how did I do this in FCP7" but by thinking "What do I want to do"!

FCPX is very intuitive, but so different it is mindboggling when you try to force your old workflow onto it.

Biggest advice: make sure you understand the concept of Events and Projects. I used Rippletraining and it helped me a lot to understand that.

What you called projects are now events. What you called timelines are now projects. This alone is a problem when you start.....so make sure you understand it. Then you will be fast up to speed....

Projects are timelines, but remember that Compound Clips, Sync Clips, even individual media assets in your Browser are their own timelines.

Databases, metadata, learn it, live it.

At the start of all of my classes, I tell the legacy users to simply throw it all out the window, there are no parallels. I never refer to parallels, I forbid my students from doing so when they try. They pick FCP X up really quick.