Underwhelmed

I love FCPX.

I use it every day personally and I teach it as well. I like all the changes in 10.1 too, but honestly, I was hoping for more.

The only major change seems to be with the new Library system. Yes, we got a few cool small changes, but I was really hoping for so much more: a scrolling timeline, roundtrip to motion, keyframing color, etc.

How long until the next update?

Agreed it's not the most whizz-bang of releases. BUT - and this is a big one - IF Apple have coded 10.1 to be rock solid with large projects and able to do shared workspace stuff easily then I think there's far more chance that it will penetrate the broadcast market, and that can only be a good think. I'm a broadcast editor principally, and I'd love more opportunity to use X on long form docs. But industry perception is generally against it - so if it proves to be a solid ground-up reworking then I'm happy. They can add the whizz-bang stuff later.

That's a good point. If this new Library structure helps FCPX grow in the industry - we will all benefit from that down the road.

I'm also disappointed.

I hear everywhere that this is an important engineering update. OK.
But wasn't FCXP 10.0.0 designed from scratch to be rock solid-modern-faster ?
Wasn't the App Store supposed to be a channel for fast updates ? We've been waiting 14 months, and except performance improvements that would be very welcome (and I mean not only with the new Mac Pros...) all I see is essentially bug fixes or FCP7 missing features.

2 years to have automatic backups, so maybe we'll have to wait 2 more years for a Timecode floating window.

The new media management is cool, but seriously, they changed their mind after 2 years. Many people will be lost.

Like you, I love working on FCPX but I'm kind of confused with this last update. I was really hoping for a big step forward. And we have 4K. And we have to buy those beautiful Mac Pros. Sorry but I'm not concerned with 4K. I can wait 2 more years... I would have preferred a radically rethought trimming mode, far superior than Avid one, and also a revolutionary solution for visual organisation in timeline (just look at Logic Pro X !).

Jason P wrote: Agreed it's not the most whizz-bang of releases. BUT - and this is a big one - IF Apple have coded 10.1 to be rock solid with large projects and able to do shared workspace stuff easily then I think there's far more chance that it will penetrate the broadcast market, and that can only be a good think. I'm a broadcast editor principally, and I'd love more opportunity to use X on long form docs. But industry perception is generally against it - so if it proves to be a solid ground-up reworking then I'm happy. They can add the whizz-bang stuff later.

Well put. I definitely was hoping for something splashier, but this new Library system seems to answer a lot of problems. I can finally stop using sparse bundle disk images, Yay! I don't work in a share media environment, but I am curious to hear about how the new system can be implemented. Even though it is not at the top of my list, I think an audio overhaul is the next last step to get a lot of people to take a second look.

I'm also disappointed given the 14 months or so wait for a feature update.

Given that, I'm sure the new Library structure was a massive undertaking.
I have a hunch FXPlug 3 is going to be a huge boon for plugin developers. I think that's where we're going to see big improvements to our toy kit.

My biggest disappointments are the lack of change in with Color features. They could have at least reversed the order so that Exposure is first. I really hoped for some major improvements with Roles since they are the mission critical functional replacement to tracks. I'm also disappointed, given the GPU "hype" of the new MacPros, that Scopes weren't improved so one could have Waveform, Vector, RGB Parade open at once. Also would have liked to seen the "Event Viewer" to open Timeline clips as well for comparison needed when grading. There's still no Replace at Playhead.

Given we'll probably see a bug fix in 10 weeks it'll be another 10 weeks or so after that for some features (maybe). We're looking at NAB or later for more features.

Sigh.

Not sure you guys will realize how big a deal this release was until you look back on it in a couple years.

As a person who's been dealing a lot with pro installs and group workflow with FCPX... the library is the single biggest thing to happen to this app since multicam.

This release, along with the Mac Pro, is going to be the turning point that allows pro editors to jump back on board the bandwagon... which means more freelance gigs and more money for editors that already use FCPX. There is no longer a good reason to hate on this app.

While nothing in this release is particularly flashy, Apple has laid the foundation for what this app is going to look like in the long term, and I think you'll start to see a lot of things still on your wish lists start to happen.

But it's like building a house... without a solid foundation, it's all just a house of cards.

I think with this release... they finished putting in the foundation. Next year is going to be really interesting.

I'm thrilled and disappointed all at once.
I think that the rethinking of the Event - Project system was absolutely necessary.
What they have done with the media management is astonishing when you think about how easy it is to convert your old databases to the new Libraries. The software does it all for you, and it works without a hitch.
The Library system is so much more facility friendly, and I'm so glad that they've included media management tools that will actually be of use to me at work. Before this, we could only use X on very isolated projects because I had to create Sparse Disk Bundles to contain my events and projects. This will allow for collaborative jobs, and will greatly improve our ability to archive and recover FCP X jobs.

All of the features are fantastic, and have been really well implemented.

I'm especially happy that the multicam editing in a timeline is all the way there now. Dealing with the audio from a multicam clip was difficult, and changing sync was a hassle in the timeline.

These 2 things alone make it (IMHO) the best platform for doing reality-based TV edits. I won't be sad to give up Media Composer for those shows that we work on.

However, I'm greatly disappointed that the effects, compositing, key framing, and- above all- Motion integration was not greatly improved. (The new time warping tools are really innovative, clever, and so very useful. Also, thank goodness that the Ken Burns effect has a linear interpolation option.)
Overall, I think my biggest frustrations with the software were never with the timeline editing, but were with the compositing tools.

I'm hoping that Motion gets a major overhaul soon, and that FCP X users can round trip (or whatever better thing Apple can come up with)

Overall, I'm more pleased than disappointed.

Yup my thoughts exactly Sam. All the flash doodads in the world won't amount to anything if few people are using X in a broadcast, large scale environment.

Currently I have 1 client using X, and that's only really because I recommended it for her needs. It's nigh on perfect.

The rest of my paid work is now 60% Avid and 40% FCP. I'd like X to make big inroads into that, but it'll only do that if its rock solid in it's handling of large scale projects. That database needs to be virtually bombproof. Then you might get people willing to take a punt on it.

I'm with you completely, Sam. I really hope that this is the update that starts to bring some more shops around to X.

I'm glad to hear about the training and pro installs that you have been providing. I'm in NY and I am the only FCPX editor that I know. Everyone else that I have met who uses it is someone I have hired and trained (sometimes with a pouty look on their face until they "get it"). I knew one other guy that was into it for a while, but he dropped it because EVERY freelance job he landed was Premiere Pro, so he just started using it for his own stuff too. When I do freelance, it is all PP and FCP 7. Sometimes I wonder if I'm that weird uncle who held out for Betamax to beat VHS and could only rent like 10 movies.

Support for growing media is huge for broadcast.
Being able to put a Library on a SAN volume is huge.
Those two alone will greatly expand what facilities are able to use it.

Better XML, FxPlug 3, and an API for Share will be huge for 3rd party developers and developers of other apps.


And if you're seriously that disappointed, there is always PPro.

I have to say, that this re-done Library would be great if you are just starting with FCP.
And I am not saying I won't be thrilled in few years from now, but this release - at least for me - completely changes my workflow and I am struggling heavily.

Upgraded my library ( 400 promos for a premium channel ), projects now collected in UPDATED PROJECTS which is now 1 folder, while all my events are nicely listed. Why its not X number of Libraries, and X-number of Projects . . .


And I absolutely agree - its been only 2 years when we all had to adopt to the new Projects workflow, we got a new Library now. What is going to happen in 2 years?

Sam Mestman wrote: Apple has laid the foundation for what this app is going to look like in the long term, and I think you'll start to see a lot of things still on your wish lists start to happen.

I hear you, but still, I feel like reading the same argument for two years and a half. All about foundations. When is it OK ? When can I say to a postprod manager : This is now, they won't break it anymore ?

BenB wrote: And if you're seriously that disappointed, there is always PPro.

Feel free not to answer to every negative comment about FCPX that clearly seems to hurt you personally. Just speaking out my doubts. Am I still in the club or should I go out ?

All I'm saying is that there is a lot of WILL, not so much of IS...

For a floating timecode window, why not just drop a generator on it?

Because as it is an effect it can affect playback performances

BenB wrote: And if you're seriously that disappointed, there is always PPro.

Really? Why do you have to go there?

I started by saying I love FCPX and I even like what they changed and added in the update - I just thought there would be more in this update - and apparently a few others agree.

Are we not allowed to express any disappointment over anything?

We are all allowed to express, including myself.

BenB wrote: We are all allowed to express, including myself.

I'm just trying to express my opinion about the release - you don't need to insult me or anyone else because you don't feel the same way.

Yes, you have a right to express your opinion, but I don't see why your opinion has to be rude.

No insult intended. But going on and on is, well... creates an impression. That's all. Wasn't being rude. Sorry you interpreted it that way, was not my intent. But you're posts didn't strike me as overly polite. I guess we're even, and can move on. Its not that big of a deal. PM me next time, please.

BenB wrote: No insult intended. But going on and on is, well... creates an impression. That's all. Wasn't being rude. Sorry you interpreted it that way, was not my intent. But you're posts didn't strike me as overly polite. I guess we're even, and can move on. Its not that big of a deal. PM me next time, please.

I'm sorry if I misinterpreted your post telling us "we should switch to PPro" as rude.

I can't imagine what I posted before that, that you thought was impolite, but I would love to know.