Differences between Final Cut Pro & Express?

Been using FCP HD 4.5 for a while & needing to upgrade. Curious what the primary differences are between the new versions of Final Cut Studio and Final Cut express.

inte wrote:
Nice.
Is there a comparison chart. Have used iMovie & older versions of FCP, curious if there's a side-by-side comparison of the feature set between the two.
Print the two marketing pages and hold them next to each other?
There must at least one review someplace on the Web that compares the two apps but, seriously, we're FCP users here; only a few of us have ever used FCE. Maybe they'll drop by and answer the question for you over the next few days. Patience.
If you posted on the FCE forum I think you'd find most of the power users have never used FCP.
Senior Wonk Tom Wolsky lives in both worlds, teaches classes and writes books for each application. You could buy one of his books.
bogiesan

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The difference between Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Studio 2

I'm looking at buying FCP. Can I buy Final Cut Studio 2 to get FCP or is that only a Upgrade and where would i buy it. How do I go about buying FCP and how much is it

Final Cut Pro v6 is only available as a component within Final Cut Studio 2.
What it is, what is included and how to purchase it is spelled out here:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MA886Z/A?mco=MTIxODk3Mw
x

Audio Levels Final Cut Pro Express

I have the latest ver of Final Cut Pro Express. The audio on the time line shows just a straight line indicating the audio level. I would like to see the actual audio waveform on the time line. I went into the preferences menu and checked the box that read "show waveform on timeline", but that didn't correct the problem. I still have a straight line audio level. Any ideas anyone?

Cmd is the Command key, the Apple key. It works if there is audio in the timeline that has a waveform, if the timeline is the active window, and if you wait a moment for the waveform to be drawn. You can also do it with the little popup triangle in the lower left of the timeline window near the track height buttons.

.avi files and Final Cut Pro/Express

A friend of mine, a PC users, has a Cinemate film to video converter <http://www.moviestuff.tv/c_15.html>, and has digitized some footage for me. He saved it using three different systems: Scenalyzer, Vegas and Pinnacle. Each outputs a .avi file, which he put an a portable USB drive.
The files import into Final Cut (Express), but with this 'warning':
'The following media files are not optimized for Final Cut Express HD.
It is highly recommend that you recapture the media to create new copies of the files to improve their performance for multi-stream playback.'
They seem to playback, and the images 'appear' bring and sharp, so I don't really know what the warning means.
He does have the choice, when he captures, to save the files not as .avi -- his systems default -- but as NTSC DV files.
Would that be the preferred option? Or, put another way, what would be the best format for import into Final Cut Pro or Express?
Thanks,
Hal

<<You may want to invest in a software converter (flip4mac, for example) that will ingest your avi files into FCP.>>
This may turn out to be an option, but it isn't that FCPro won't accept the avi files; it's just that it gave me this warning that I didn't understand. If, as a previous posting said, it's just telling me that this wasn't imported via Final Cut, then 'no big deal'. If it's telling me something else, that's yet to be discovered.
<<If your friend saves the files as DV NTSC, they will still give you that warning when you bring them into FCP. DV NTSC may mean DV stream, which will have to be demuxed (the audio & video are mixed together) and is not easily editable. However, QT pro can demux these files for you.>>
It'll be an interesting 'experiment', and I'll be sure and post the results.
Curiously enough, iMovie imports these same files without blinking, and seems to convert them on the fly as it were to .dv files, with no apparently loss of quality. These can then be imported into FCPro/Express.
<<About the only thing that doesn't give a warning are files captured using FCP ....>>
If that's all it's tell me, that I didn't capture these using FCP, then I guess I could say it's telling me something I already knew. <grin>
Thanks for the input.
Hal

Final Cut Pro Express (X)

Hi,
Do i have to have an earlier version for final cut pro x is it just an update or can i purchase this never having had final cut before?
many thanks
Crispian

Final Cut Express, which I referred to as FCE, is completely different.
FCE was a cheaper, cut down version of the old Final Cut Pro (FCP).
They were both discontinued on June 21st. 2011 when the completely new Final Cut Pro X (FCP X) was introduced.
There are no upgrades etc. to FCP X and it costs $299 or the equivalent from the AppStore from which you download it.
It is not available on DVDs etc. as the old versions were.
Before buying it you should test it out by downloading the free 30 day trial to see if it suits you.
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/trial/

Quality between final cut pro X and iMovie

Is there any one know that the final cut pro X has a better resolution/color quality than imovie? I have import my 1080p digital video to imovie, after processing, and found that the qualtity of color seems down grade to an unacceptable quality as special as some under exposure area. The color seems painting. No graduation change.

That is exactly why I went to FCPX (along with wanting more editing flexibility). The resolution and color quality are far better in FCPX than I was able to achieve with iMovie.

Color (not the new app) differences in Final Cut Pro vs Quicktime?

Ok, so I have noticed this before but I am now working on a project in which this is a really big problem.
See, here is a screenshot from the video after export and then opened in Final Cut Pro:
http://www.nathankboyd.com/Apple-Support/Final%20Cut%20Pro.jpg
And here is the same thing when opened with Quicktime 7.2.0:
http://www.nathankboyd.com/Apple-Support/Quicktime.jpg
Why is this, and can I fix it?
My current project is not being put on DVD, so when it is viewed on a computer, it needs to look good. It also seems that anything that is quicktime based has the same color problems, which is not too surprising, ie: Keynote.
Please help!

I have the same problem. The same movie look brighter in Quicktime than in Final Cut.
It's happen with H.264 and DV files. No problem with Pixlet files.
This guys have the same problem
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5136225&#5136225
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5005097&#5005097
But no one find the proper solution.

Differences between Final Cut Express HD 3.5 and Final Cut Studio 5.1

Hi, all,
Unfortunately, I didn't find a list of what the main differences are between those two products on the Apple website - only about the latest versions of the programs.
Since I consider buying a used version of Final Cut Studio 5.1, I would appreciate if someone could give me an idea of what the main features are that come along with FCP as compared to FCE.
I am shooting HD with Canon HV30, so I am primarily interested in the HD features. Thanks a lot!
Cheers,
M.

Filters in FCE process video on a field-by-field basis; in FCE, only Generators process video on a full-frame basis, i.e. in considering both fields of each frame. By contrast, FCP allows you to choose how Filters process video: field-by-field or full-frame. For interlaced playback (e.g., on an NTSC monitor), field-by-field processing may be best, but not necessarily; but for progressive scan playback (e.g., on a flat screen TV, as well as on a computer monitor), video that was shot in progressive mode needs to be processed on a full-frame basis in order to avoid getting artifacts -- at least when applying certain effects.
In short, depending on the mode in which the video was shot, depending on the playback mode, and depending on the effect that you are applying, you may need to control how the corresponding Filter processes video (field-by-field or full-frame), and you can do this only in FCP.
This is also true when applying certain effects that are not explicitly labeled as "Filters", e.g., zoom. For example, if you use FCE to zoom in, over time, on video, the second field of each frame will be zoomed in slightly more than the first (since in essence, FCE "assumes" that the footage was shot in interlaced mode and that therefore, the second field was captured later in time than the first). Consequently, during playback on a flat screen TV, where both fields are displayed simultaneously, the fields will be shifted left-right with respect to one another, which may be quite noticeable.

Will Compressor 4 work with Final Cut Pro Express?

I am not thrilled with encoding with iMovie. Any suggestions? Will Compressor 4 work with Final Cut Express
Thanks
Larry

Check out this link and see if that answers your questions. http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1234910

Final Cut Pro Express and IMac Grapics Card

I have final cut express hd and a new IMac, and when I try to run the program I get an error message that says I need an AGP Graphics card, however I was told that you cannot change the graphics card in IMac's and that there is a download to correct this problem. Could you please send me in the right direction.
Thanks

There are two things you can do to make FCE HD run on your ICD iMac.
1. Hit the <ESC> key when you get the error mesage. (I haven't tried that solution but here it works).
2. Edit the info.plist in the package contents. The Final Cut list explains this fully so I won't do that here.

Is there a difference between final cut studio and final cut studio upgrade

i wish to buy final cut studio and was going to buy from the apple store but they recently stopped selling i have found on amazon two final cut studios one call final cut studio and the other called final cut studio upgrade the upgrade one is cheaper so this makes me think is this just like an expansion and do i need the original but both have the same pictures, descriptions and specs so are they the same thing just with different names or what? please help

Final Cut Studio is the full install...where the UPGRADE means that it requires you to have a previous version. It is cheaper because it only works if you have a previous version.

Project File Compatibility between Final Cut Pro 6 and 7?

I have a group of three editors who are on Final Cut 6 while I am on 7. Is there any way to be able to share project files with Proxi's back and fourth?
Thanks...

What would be the best way then to have a group of editors work on the same project that is on Final Cut 7 but with some editors only able to work on Final Cut 6?
Thanks as always.

Real difference between Final Cut Express, FCE HD, Final Cut Pro, iMovie

I have used iMovie HD 6.0.3 to make a very nice 10 part documentary. Now I need something stronger - capable of producing more than 45 minutes of audio/video, with commentary and music, incorporating photos and transitions that I choose. I understand that iMovie 08 is more automated than 06 so I don't want that. What is the next best step up for my needs? I plan on buying a new processor for this work - one that runs at top speed.

Both FCE and FCP will do what you want ... obviously.
Both will allow you to do keyframing, have a wide choice of transitions (pretty much the same for both) can do basic audio mixing; both will allow you the same number of video and audio tracks.
FCE is a DV/HDV program only. If you are exporting to DVD you can use iDVD or toast and if your programs are not particularly long, say in the 90 min range you will get very nice results
FCP is a studio; comes bundled with some very powerful apps including DVD Studio Pro and Compressor which gives you far more control over your DVD creation.
FCP is also more suited to "broadcast" concerns with tools like Color and its ability to handle a wider variety of video imputs that FCE; FCE is DV/HDV only
FCP also has more tools like batch capturing and media manager that may make working with large projects with lots of footage easier
For the last four years I have used FCE to produce long form live envent videos and shorter corporate promotional pieces to DVD and it has done that work nicely.
FCP allows a wider range of export options but you can also acquire that with FCE by purchasing Quicktime Pro (it comes with FCP)
FCP is far more expensive. Yes, you get more apps with it but FCE comes with versions of two of them, Livetype and Soundtrack
Bear in mind that both these systems are VERY different from iMovie and there will be a learning cure. It requires some patience and the ability to put iMovie's workflow out of your head.
Switching just before any kind of deadline would not be a good idea

Difference between Final Cut Studio Software?

I recently purchased FC Studio through a university program at a discounted rate. Will there be a difference in the actual program or restrictions for use?

Mr. Gilmore is correct though I would point out the last statement is not always true. In the crossgrade madness from v5 to v5.1 (PowerPC to Universal Binary), Academic Versions were eligible for the upgrade and those users who took part ended up with commercial (aka upgradable) versions. This is not to say it will ever happen again, but, like pigs flying, who knows?*
ymmv.
x
'* Pigs may not soar when they fly, but, if launched with enough velocity, will stay airborne for significant distances.

Final Cut Pro/Express plugin compatibility...

I understand there are differences in how FCE and FCP handle plugins and as I don't have access to FCE, I wondered if anyone here might be able to test the demos here:
http://straylight.tv/pluginz/
and let me know if they work. Thanks so much - I want to do what I can to ensure compatibility.
Patrick

Hi Patrick,
I loaded all 3 demos both in FCP 5.1 (using the installer) and FCE 3.5 (just dragging them to its Plugins folder). They load and they seem to work. I say "seem" just because I haven't yet tried to go through all the instructions and to apply different values to the controls: I just tried a few to see some effect of the filter, and they behave the same on FCP and FCE.
In any case at this point I would be confident there is no problem.
Are they coded in fxscript or fxplug ? I wrote some myself for FCE using fxscript and they work fine in FCP as well.
Piero

Differences between Final Cut Pro & Express?

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