TOPIC:

Hi, everyone. I'm a pretty proficient FCP editor and I'm wanting to expand my skillset into creating motion graphics. Which way do I go: Motion or After Effects?

To provide more context, I use FCP exclusively; I don't use Premiere at all. I prefer the Apple ecosystem because in my experience, the software is more reliable (i.e. fewer bugs) and it tends to integrate tighter with the OS (Metal, etc.).

But Adobe is "the standard" and I'm feeling like I need to go in that direction because... well, because everyone else is doing it. Maybe they know something I don't?

To add to that, my company (Figma) is currently in negotiations to be purchased by Adobe. There's something in the back of my mind that makes me wonder if it would be a good idea to go in that direction, that a FCP/Motion editor wouldn't be in as high demand.

On the other hand, I'm old enough to know that fit is a big deal... if I'm being pigeon-holed into using tools I don't want to use, I'm going to be super grumpy.

So what do you think?

You provide compelling reasons for both options, but as a die-hard FCP user myself, I'm going to suggest starting with Motion. For several reasons.

1. You're already in the ecosystem
2. It's a one-time purchase for a very inexpensive app
3. You can (and likely will) make your own custom plugins for FCP
4. Motion allows you to work in real time - dev is quick once you get the basics
5. AE has a very steep learning curve, monthly cost, and is poorly optimized for Mac.

I've built a bunch of gfx packages, transitions, and text generators for my own use, and while it isn't quite as capable as AE, Motion is plenty deep for your typical editor. And it's fun! Should you decide (or be forced) to use AE in the future, it's not going anywhere.

Really appreciate the thoughtful response! The "fun" aspect shouldn't be overlooked or minimized, either... part of the reason why I went Apple and not Windows years and years ago was because I enjoyed the experience Apple offered. Same with FCP over Premiere (or AVID, or Media 100, or..., etc., etc).

So, in other words, what feels better often dictates long-term fit.

Once again, thanks for the perspective.

Hi,I have worked with both. It depends on what you want to do. I now do all my work in Motion for some of the reason explained by Dmetz.AE is a pain to work with if you need to see real time. In some cases you might have a few comps and you need to see what you are doing. In AE you have to use a target comp otherwise you only see the layer you are working on.
Visually everything is small when you have a bunch of layers.
I am far from being an AE expert but Motion is a lot more fun...which also helps to get things done.

Someone using AE extensively might shed better light on AE.

Hi Sapridyne. If you would like to see what can be done with Motion, take a look at Simon Ubsdell's magnificients tutorials (he is expert in AE, Motion, Fusion)
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeZvvhzFi_ZxWbzZ5bhJ45QWzPHQ3Y5qy

Thanks, @buhardilla! Those look amazing. Really appreciate it.

I have used AE for over 20 years. It used to be my favorite piece of software ever. It is incredibly versatile. Motion graphics, compositing and vfx, it can do anything. Its also a great option for stills editing. AE has always been my favorite Photoshop alternative. It is super customizable for any workflow, and has an extensive amount of 3rd party plugins to fill in any holes that the base program doesn't have.

Unfortunately, Adobe has let AE rot. It is slow and buggy. Adobe has seemed to prioritize slapping on a new coat of paint and adding bells and whistles rather than fixing it. Probably because it is built on a tower of old code that nobody now understands. It needs a complete rewrite.

I had high hopes that Apple was forcing a rewrite with the transition to Apple Silicon, and AE was one of the last pieces of Adobe software to go native. I don't have an Apple Silicon machine to test it on yet. Initial reports of M1 native version weren't encouraging, but there are some signs that it is getting better. The latest versions of AE seem a little more stable and Adobe has added a feature that I have been wanting for years (the ability to use any layer as a track matte).

I would be in love with AE again if it is fixed, but Adobe's neglect has left me scarred and had me looking for a alternatives. There are competitors (Motion, Fusion, Nuke, Cavalry, HitFilm) that can do some of what AE can do, but nothing beats AE as an all around Swiss Army Knife of video/effects.

Motion is good for relatively simple compositions but since it renders in real time, it bogs down when trying to do a more complex composition. Also there are a lot of things that I am used to doing in After Effects that just can't be done in Motion. So I keep returning to AE for my more complex motion graphics.

I do love Motion's integration with Final Cut though. My favorite use of Motion is to build custom effects that can be controlled within my Final Cut edits. I think Apple has treated motion more like a development tool for FCP plugins.

Motion has potential, and I would love to see Apple put more development into it to make it a better competitor to AE. I think it would help both Motion and AE if Apple would compete a little more in the motion graphics arena.

So no conclusion for you, just some ranting. Hopefully there is some information there that will help you make a decision on where to invest your learning time.

I was also an After Effects user (for 10 years) until I closed my audiovisual business some time ago. Now more an amateur than like a professional I have no hesitation in choosing apple motion because of its integration with fcp and how fast its renderings are. I also think that Apple should have some love for Motion because it has potential, but everything indicates that it's going to be a support for FCP plugins. Anyway, you can still get great visual compositions with Motion.
I leave some of my compositions
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="/" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="/" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>

Thanks for your comments and videos, @buhardilla! I especially love the Lighthouse in the night! 🙂

like others here I Iove FCPX and want to like Motion... but AE is such an all rounder with way more resources, plug ins and help online that in the end it ends up being the best tool to use ( in it's class).I like the Automatic Duck FCP X to AE exporter to do a basic move from a FCP timeline into an AE composition, but the return isn't as flexible as the way Premiere can do it.In my experience it's the integration between Premiere and AE that keep editors ( who these days have to handle bait titling, graphics and compositing ) in the Adobe ecosystem and working in Premiere.Apple clearly aren't interested in a similar Motion workflow! Although they'd be better off building us a true FCP-AE-FCP workflow. That would get some attention.Sadly I m losing faith Apple are very interested in FCP at all...

Hi Itf3.
You mention in your post the plugin (Duck Automation) to export fcp project timeline to after effects, but what is unfortunate is that you also have to buy a plugin (also by Duck) to do the same with fcp to Motion. The logical thing is that the exchange of projects between the two FCP/Motion applications (…ecosystem?) was integrated same as it is integrated in premiere or resolve apps. Where is Apple taking motion app?
AE has earned its standard in the industry, it’s perfectly understandable that it is the choice for professionals.

Buhardilla wrote:

Hi Itf3.
Where is Apple taking motion app?
AE has earned its standard in the industry, it’s perfectly understandable that it is the choice for professionals.

A "Pro Editor" at the tippy top level of the profession cuts video clips together in a way that best tells a story. Thats it. FCP is a great editor in that respect... very Pro.

However these kind of editors use others at the tippy top of their disciplines to do the same for audio, color, VFX, graphics.... everyone uses their own choice of tools but the ones that which tend to become "industry standard" are the ones which play nice with other apps and allow the media to move easily between each specialist. That's a "Pro Workflow".

90% of media creators dont work this way. They have to everything themselves. FCP does an OK job of providing features to take care of a lot of post production work ... but the tools DONT do everything. And it doesn't take long for one of the 90% to realize they actually do need a more capable Audio platform... or ... some detailed composing... or tracking .... these days the 90% are very educated ( re post production ) yet cant send work off to another specialist. However they need a "Pro Workflow" too.
BUT FCP/Apple Pro Apps ecosystem is very poor at providing this. Theres no round tripping to Motion or Logic... at least not without intermediated translation ( which I use and I'm grateful for ) but it is fiddly, and sometimes ... er, stressful! If you Demo it to a "Pro" whois considering an FCP based workflow, it's laughable compared to the Adobe version ( and increasingly Blackmagic ).

Like it or not in terms of pro workflow FCP is an Island.

I dont believe this is a concern for Apple. There's plenty of users who will get all they need inside FCP ( sometimes I do! ) and it will continue to sell computers. They've never even set up return tripping to Motion after a decade ( FCP Classic had it ) and the FCP integration with Logic is ... ugh.. "Workflow" just doesn't have a ROI for Apple to at least that's what they seem to believe based on their actions.

Motion Graphics, Tracking, Object removal, Shared templates, simple access to stock, are the reason all the Editors I work with ( who have to do all the post production ) live in Premiere. They've all moved from FCP in the past few years. For todays pro editor the Adobe environment is unbeatable. Over the past 5 years its left FCP in the dust. Just a fact.

To be clear the "Editing" in Premiere isn't terrific. But for 90% of us that's just the start ... of a Workflow! Thats what apple Pro Apps need.

To your actual question... where is Apple taking Motion? Nowhere. It's an Island too. A long way from the Island of FCP.

Been hoping I'm wrong for 10 years!