First it was the parody on Conan. Then came the forums, anti-FCPX Facebook pages and subsequent YouTube mashups of Der Untergang and Hitler’s reaction to the news. Despite slow but mounting evidence that some are beginning to more fully understand Final Cut Pro X, much of the professional editing community is still seething one week after its launch. Now it seems Apple, never one to react publicly to market pressures, may actually be listening to the furor.
A newly redesigned landing page on its main Web site goes deeper into the most misunderstood feature sets and links to a full, detailed list of technical specs. The app itself includes a short manual that users confirm, when read, helps them make quick sense of the initially confusing new workflows.
Too little too late? Across Vimeo and YouTube, a number of video tests cut on FCPX confirm that people are indeed getting their hands dirty and yes, folks, having some fun. One commenter on our site who tips his hand at how long he’s been in this business says, “I have been learning FCPX for the last three days and I can confirm no ill health effects and my head has not exploded.” He particularly likes how he can customize his effects, filters and transitions and the fact that it takes him about “80% less clicks to get results.” He also recommends reading the albeit “very brief” manual and admits, “It would be a shame if only new young editors had the balls to try this thing out.”
In the words of another who has spent the last week exploring the feature sets and is posting his early tests to Vimeo, “Stay calm and edit on.” For those who have neither the time nor the legroom with clients to teach themselves, clearly there is still room for more intensive, hands-on training. Larry Jordan, among the first to get an early preview of the software back in April, is offering on July 12 what appears to be the very first live Final Cut Pro X training event on the West Coast. Laura Peters, who handles marketing for Jordan’s training business, told me today that Jordan wanted to do a live event so attendees “can get their questions answered, get the facts and cut through the hype.” Several key companies, including AJA, Blackmagic Design and others, will also be on hand to answer questions about how their software and hardware works now with FCPX. Peters added that while the pro market is struggling to understand and use the new release, plenty more have given Jordan positive feedback about how the FCPX training he’s offering for sale on his site has helped them get back in the game.
Topics: Blog editing fcpx final cut pro General
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