Upgrade to FCP from FCE

Can anyone give me an idea of the learning curve when upgrading from FCE to FCP. It looks as the the programs are quite similar on the surface but I have never seen this question directly answered. I am also somewhat intimidated by Compressor, DVD Studio Pro ect since I currently output to iDVD.
Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I upgraded from FCE to FCP last year. I used FCE for 5 years. I am not a professional but I do a fair amount of multicamera work for local ballet companies. I record and create the DVDs for their performances and individual dancers. I do it for fun and to help out the dancers.
I upgraded to FCP in order to obtain the multicamera feature in FCP. It has been worth it to me. There was very little difference in the learning curve in most aspects of logging, editing, compositing, etc. There are a ton of professional equiptment oriented input and output features that only professionals would need in FCP. I don't understand most of them but I don't need them either.
I use iDVD and not the DVD studio professional app because iDVD is so easy and the final DVDs are so beautiful. Someday I will learn DVD pro when I have some time.
Compressor has been handy, though. Sometimes a ballet will last longer than 2 hours.
Also, I bought a book about FCP which really helped.
So, I would say that you should upgrade to FCP from FCE if there are certain features that you need in FCP or the FC Studio bundle. Or if you have the cash and just want to have the top of the line program go for it. Otherwise I would stick with FCE because is is 98% of FCP and such an unbelievable software deal.
Brock Fisher
San Diego
imac Mac OS X (10.4.3) FCE 3.5
imac g5 Mac OS X (10.4.3) FCP 5

Similar Messages

Changing to FCP from FCE

I have used FCE for 2 years and for various reasons have just purchased the FCP Studio bundle. I have had a problem with FCE not printing to video and some problems with producing DVDs with iDVD--not picking up Chapter markers and DVDs not playable on many players. I hope that with this upgrade some or all of these problems will be eliminated.
Due to the problems with FCE I would like to remove it all before installing FCP. What is the best way to do this?
---but, I have a current project in FCE that I would like to transfer to FCP. What would be the best way to do this?

I recently upgraded from FCE to FCP as well and I used this article to remove FCE.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301182
I'm not sure about your project... you may want to keep the Final Cut Express Documents and not delete those since your project file is most likley there...
Hope this helps.
15 PB 1.67Ghz 1GB SuperDrive Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Currently have FCE 3.5--cost and benefit of upgrading to FCP, or FCE 4?

Hi
I'm getting ready to do some video production in earnest (youtube music videos mostly, some sketch comedy as well perhaps) and am wondering if upgrading to 4 is worthwhile, or even going to FCP.
I've got some footage already and am considering buying a Sony SR12 for further shooting...
Thanks!

Well, on a Mac that's running 10.5.2 and probably QuickTime 7.4.5 or later, I would lean toward FCE 4 for stability into the future. I'd remove all vestiges of FCE 3.5 from the machine and then install FCE4. (ps You don't have to remove SoundTrack if you are using it and want to keep it). And you only need to purchase the FCE4 upgrade; you will enter both the v3.5 and v4 serial numbers when you install FCE4.
The basic editing capabilities are the same and FCE 4 added support for AVCHD on Intel Macs plus some FXPlug filters.
As for FCP, if your target is YouTube videos, I can't imagine what you would need FCP for.

How to get printed manuals with upgrade to FCP from Motion?

I upgraded my standalone version of Motion to FCP 5.1 Universal through the mail and wondering how I can get the printed manuals. I realize it's not practical for Apple to mail 40 pounds of books and that the same text is probably on one of the DVDs but reading a physical book makes learning easier than reading on screen.
Has anyone been able to upgrade from Motion to FCP and get the printed books?
Thanks,
DAN
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

David,
Apple provides manuals with most of it's software. I KNOW THIS OCCURS FOR A FACT! Thanks for posting your doubts and other notes but I don't think they are really being crafted towards helping at this point.
I was actually hoping others might have found solutions rather than looking for salt to rub into the wound. But to help you and the others you have spoken with to understand possible solutions I'm hoping might remedy the problem here are a few that suggestions:
- Call Apple Customer Support and get them to exchange the misrepresented product through the mail for what was represented.
- Walking into the Apple store and confronting the sales people with the issue and getting them to exchange the product.
- Working through Consumer Affairs and getting them to eiother refund or exchange the product.
- Calling a local TV station to report the fact that Apple shows one product on their web site and in their stores while selling something different with a the same name that is incomplete.
- Working through the Better Business Bureau to file a complaint against Apple for the misrepresentation and getting them to replace the product for the abused customers.
- Emailing the support folks at Apple and getting a emailed voucher in return which will allow users to exchange the product int stores.
I can think of dozens of ways Apple or other organizations could help resolve the situation.
Printing a color manual at Kinko's seems like a ridiculous expense to me. I cannot afford it and I appreciate you not consistently saying it's a viable solution. I'm actually a bit surprised that you keep responding with no help, confusing unrelated comments, and insist on further irritating the situation.
I hope my multiple attempts to help you understand what my issue is and possible solutions that people might offer has helped clarified things for you. If you have any further comments though please reserve them so others who may have had actual experiences similar to mine with possible solutions might be able to read this thread without having to see me explaining things over and over.
Thanks,
DAN

Can you upgrade to FCP?

Hello all
I'm sure this question has been asked before
Are you able to upgrade to FCP from FCE?
An interesting point:
Apple's Logic (sound editor), will allow you to upgrade from Logic Express to
Logic Pro
Thanx
Mike

Hi(Bonjour)!
The idea is to give an upgrade path for the application itself to the pro version of the application... itself.
As FCP 5 and 6 are only available in the studio bundle, you cannot upgrade to the sole application. FCE is a stand alone application and his big brother is a bundle application.
That's sad but... c'est la vie.
Michel Boissonneault

Upgrading to FCE HD from FCE 2

Is there any compelling reason to upgrade to HD from FCE 2? I'll also have to upgrade my OSX to 10.4. Wondering if I should do it? Any problems I might encounter? Does HD have much better features than FCE 2 -- worth the time and expense? I am not doing any high def filming.
Thanks,
Daval

There's a couple of obvious reasons pointed out on Apple's FCE HD website. They are labeled NEW in the features section. Here's the link: http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/features/keyframe.html
That link will take you to the New keyframe description. People have been asking for this since FCE 1 came out.
Dynamic RT is also new.
And, this won't help your iMac G5, but FCE HD is now a Universal app for those who have Intel iMacs.

Upgrading from FCE to FCP

Is there any way to upgrade from FCE to FC studio or do I have to buy the whole studio suite?
Im running Final Cut Express 2 btw.
-Mads Meskalin

Hi
No as Ian R. Brown writes there are non. But sell Your FCE then You get something.
Why FCP ?
There are most probably many individual reasons. Mine was
• Ability to share a project with others haveing FCP
• The Multi Camera editing is avesome - but only if You got more than one Camera recordings.
• Color corrector - three ways with - white, black and mid tone drop tools
I really like this one.
Then there are so much more in the bundle
• DVD Studio Pro WITH HD
• Motion
• Color
• Soundtravk Pro
• Compressor
So much new to learn - AND STILL SO Familiar miljoe.
Yours Bengt W

FCP 5 Upgrade From FCE

I recently bought an FCP 5 upgrade (M9921Z/A) and the Apple website says that it can upgrade from FCE. I know it's old but couldn't afford to buy FC Studio 2 and couldn't find a full-up version of FCP5. I've tried it with both an FCE 2.0 and FCE 3.5 S/N and neither works. Has Apple caused me to waste money or is there some solution to this problem? Does anyone have an unused FCP S/N that I could use? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. . .

Larry,
The only "upgrade" from FCE to Final Cut Studio 1 was a limited time offer that was known as the Crossgrade Program. The program lasted for a bit over a year and expired back in March prior to the release of Final Cut Studio 1. This program allowed Final Cut Express and Pro users to obtain the Universal version of Final Cut Studio 1. This was a paid upgrade and only worked if you filled out a form, and mailed in your original install discs. For users that were already using FCS 1 (PPC version), they were sent back a set of Universal Install discs, which utilized their original serial numbers. For any other upgrades, (i.e. from FCP 4, or FCE), a set of install discs were mailed back along with a retail serial number, not an upgrade serial.
Apple no longer sells Final Cut Pro 5 at any of their stores. The only version of FCP available at Apple is FCS2. It is not possible to use an Express serial number to "Upgrade" to Final Cut Pro.
Where did you purchase this "upgrade"?
The only help you are going to receive here is basically going to tell you to contact Apple directly, or get FCS2. Discussion on how to illegally obtain Serial numbers is strictly forbidden, and is against the forums terms of use, as well as against the EULA.

Question on Upgrading from FCE to FC Studio2

I'm currently using FCE HD 3.5, which I upgraded from FCE version 1.0
I understand that no upgrade path exists from Final Cut Express to Final Cut Studio 2.
However I have seen on ebay someone selling an upgrade to Final Cut Pro 5 HD from Final Cut express.
I was wondering.... if I got this then could I then get a Final Cut Studio 2 Upgrade from FCP 5 HD?
Does anyone see any problems with doing this? It seems to be a way to save money.
Thanks,
Steve.

Tom,
One other question: assuming that my upgrade from FCE to FCP5 is successful. Then how does the upgrade package for Final Cut Studio2 work (If I decide at some future point to upgrade again)
Will it detect my FCP5 files or will I have to enter the FCP5 serial number, and if so then will I get into trouble at that point. Bottom line is will Studio2 accept the FCP5 serial number?
Thanks Tom,
Steve.

Just upgraded to FCP 5.1 and get no signal from Panasonic DVX100

Hello all.
I am an experienced FCP user. Just did a fresh install of 5.1 and now I get no connection with my dvx100 (the original not the "a" model). I get remote control, meaning when I go to capture I can play, rewind, etc, however FCP sees no image and I cannot import or export to/from video. When I startup FCP says it cannot locate the exterior device firewire NTSC 720x480.
What is going on? Is this camera no longer supported with FCP 5.1? It worked fine with 4.1.1
Please help!!

Welcome to the forum.
You will find by searching that this question (deck/camera not recognized after upgrade of FCP/QT/OSX) is asked (and answered) multiple times a day.
Searching before posting is a great way to utilize the forum and to gain much faster answers to your questions.
Since this is your initial visit - you get one free get out of jail card ....
The problem most commonly is the Quicktime installation becomes corrupted in some minor way during some upgrades. A full quicktime reinstall most often solves the problem.
Heres how:
Go to /library/receipts and delete any files that say Quicktime followed by a number e.g. Quicktime703.pkg
Go to the Apple quicktime site and download the appropriate version of Quicktime to your hard drive.
Run the Quicktime installer.
Repair Disk Permissions for your System Disk (Disk Utility > Select the system disk > Repair Disk Permissions)
Reboot
Good luck.
x

Upgrade from FCE?

So i got a version of Final Cut Pro HD (upgrade from final cut express), but when I type in the serial number from FCE (which i got from choosing "about FCE" from the menu bar) it won't highlight the OK button for me to enter the code... i checked the code several times and its exactly right... any ideas?

I got it. I had been using "about FCE" from within fce previously to find the serial number, but it actually hides the last three digits. I finally went in under library>application support> FCE support documents where i found the final cut express system ID. If you ctrl click it and open it with text edit, you get a little box with a short paragraph of info about the program including the serial number used to activate it and if its registered or not. Here you can find those last three "invisible" digits to the full serial code.
I dont know if this was helpful for anyone else, but im kinda proud of myself for thinking of going into the library.
Jordan

Upgrade from fce 1.0.1 to fce hd

I purchased fce hd as an upgrade to fce 1.0.1 I'm having trouble installing fce hd because the serial number for fce 1.0.1 is not being accepted. Any suggestions? Is it not accepting my serial number because I'm not upgrading from fce 2?

Are you typing in 28 characters? Case sensitive, after the first letter, groups of triplets that either letters or numbers, not mixed? Are you sure the 1s and 0s are correct? If you're sure, you have to contact Apple for installation problems.

Upgrading from FCE to FCS

Do I need to uninstall FCE in order to install FCS 3? Thanks...

Just checking, but did you purchase the FCS upgrade? If you did, it won't work as there is no upgrade path from FCE to FCS.

Upgrading to FCP studio 3 from 2.0

If i upgrade to FCP studio 3.0 for $300 do I need all my serial numbers or just the main one for FCP for all components such as motion and dvd studio to work?
Thanks!

When you insert the FCS 3 installer disc it will ask for the serial number. Enter the # that came with it.
It will then prompt: "You have entered an upgrade serial number. Please enter the original serial number. That's where you put in the serial # from the old full retail version.
That's all. If you got it right, the installer will proceed to the next step.

I just upgraded FCP from X to 10.1. Now I can't open my projects.

My projects will not open now that I've upgraded to FCP 10.1. What am I doing wrong?

I have updated all my projects and events. I can see all my events (footage and files) in the Libraries. But, I cannot find my projects. When I go specifically out to that folder that contains one of my projects. I can see a Backup folder, a Render Files folder, a Shared Items folder and an item titles CurrentVersion.fcpproject. When I try to open this Final Cut Project - it only open up a simple text file. What am I doing wrong?

Upgrade to FCP from FCE

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for