Final Cut Express

[machead]

My copy of FCE has just arrived and so far it does not disapoint.

Logged and captured some footage already and exported as a Qt movie no hitches (I've had this copy 1/2 an hour)

There's no manual instead a training DVD in it that takes you through set up, short cut key transitions etc. As a FCP2 in OS9 the first thing I did was to see if I could open an old project, I chose one which used some alpha chennel keying which faded to transparent amoungst other things and guess what opened it with no hitches apart from the Boris Plug-in couldn't be found as I hadn't loaded.

Green screen blue screen filters are present.

It looks totally awsome and a total bargain, What have Apple done. I;m off to work any question just ask.

I'll see if I can find a pdf manual

and included are 'FCP keyboard shortcut sticky labels'

as Mac user's have come to expect
THIS HAS ALL BEEN REALLY WELL THOUGHT OUT

[Generic Skinhead]

God dam I want a mac so bad!

[twister!]

So what are the main differences between it and FCP3?

[twister!]

Oh - just found this elsewhere on 'the net':

Some key differences between FCX and FCP:

1. Final Cut Express is DV only (NTSC and PAL frame rates only, no 24fps support).
2. Final Cut Pro supports 3rd party capture cards.
3. Final Cut Pro supports timecode, Final Cut Express does not present timecode information to the user.
4. Final Cut Pro allows you to LOG and capture.
5. Final Cut Pro includes support for RS-422 control.
6. Pro users can use OfflineRT, Express can not.
7. Pro includes three-way color correction and other advanced tools that Express does not.
8. The key-framing model is substantially different in Express. Only Motion tab items can be key-framed. Filters cannot.
9. Final Cut Pro has a Media Manager, Express does not.
10. Final Cut Pro supports EDL I/O.
11. Final Cut Pro can be extended with Cinema Tools.
12. Final Cut Pro includes Audio OMF export.
13. Pro supports Edit To Tape and Insert editing.
14. Pro can do a Batch Export.
15. FXScript is not in Express.
16. AE plug-ins are not in Express.
17. Undo: FCP = 99, FCX = 32

Shame about point 8 but it sounds pretty good!

[machead]

I use FCP2 on OS9, I can't tell you the differences between FCP3 sorry.

I've just been using the Colour Correction tools they really good. FCP2 did't have them.

The project set ups have been simplyfied. Its all DV. No HDTV setting etc.

No Longer able to Batch Capture.

I have a project which I logged all the footage but havn't batch captured I'll be interested to see how FCE handles them.

Got a FREE filter (DIFFUSE GLOW THINGY) for registering the software. and their should be a manual but Apple are getting back to me on that one (APPLE help lines are so easy to get through on)

I've also found the pdf manual. so any questions please.

So far what's missing from FCE I'm not gonna miss (Although I did like Batch Capturing)

[Generic Skinhead]

Hey Machead, I'm getting a G4. I can't afford fcp3 even though I love it. I've seen cinema tools in action too, which would be nice for me one day as I also shoot film.

I've used fcp2 alot. So dou you think express is a good alternative. Or should I find "another" way to get final cut 3. I'd appreciate some expert opinion.

Cheers!

[machead]

Greatings Generic Skinhead

A wise choice you have made.

Its really hard to give advice on this matter, FCE is a superb package, it does lack in certain areas. It depends on your requirements and experience.

FCE is far better than FCP2(having colour correction outways the loss of "8. The key-framing model is substantially different in Express. Only Motion tab items can be key-framed. Filters cannot".). So maybe when FCP4 comes out FCE2 will be better than FCP3, who knows.

By the way what G4 are you getting.

[Generic Skinhead]

Dual 1GHz PowerPC G4
256K L2 cache
& 1MB L3 cache/processor
167Mhz System Bus
256MB PC2700 DDR RAM
80GB Ultra ATA drive
DVD-R/CD-RW drive
ATI Radeon 9000 Pro
56K internal modem

Combine that with my Canon xm2 and I reckon it's a great combo, once I get the software sorted.

[machead]

Cool

That's a good Mac mid range DVD-R and all the rest..........Nice alot better than my 3 year old G4 350 mghz. Welcome to the club.

80 gig hard drive is good any bigger so I hear can cause problems. anyhow you have 2 additional bays for more HD space

Get on and enjoy

P.S. I'll email you direct with some info

[Actor]

I qualify for the educational discount.

Final Cut Pro : $299 w/discount.

Final Cut Exp : $249 w/discount.

If I'm going to edit MiniDV exclusively is Final Cut Pro worth the extra $50?