In general human beings are resistant to change. We prefer to stick with what we know and understand. If often feels easier to deal with the problems we are used to rather than tackle new ones. In the world of video editing with the Arrival of Final Cut Pro X the decision has been made for us.
This new version of Apple's widely used video editing software requires a different approach to the process of editing. Ultimately the goal is the same, but a new tool requires a new way of working. This seems to be the key to getting your head around how to use the new software. Some of the old concepts are gone and trying to get FCP X to fit to your old working pattern will not work. It does a lot of things in a new way, to get the best from it you have to embrace that change.
Apple's seminar for Final Cut Pro Certified Trainers on Monday was very interesting. We were given a full demo of the new video editing software by one of the Mentor Trainers, showing us what FCP X can do. There was absolutely no information about Apple's strategy for the film and video industry, or what they intended to do in the future. I didn't expect there to be. Even if anybody there knew anything, they wouldn't have been allowed to say. What they were prepared to say is that this first release of FCP X is just the beginning.
What they have given us is different strategy to video editing. All the things that are on the rumour sites about single sequences in a project and other behaviours are all true. But they are only significant if if you stick to the old approach and workflows. The structure of projects and sequences is gone, replaced with Events and Projects, and the project contains only a single edit. Clips are arranged on the timeline without tracks connected to the primary storyline in what seems an impossibly loose way. These changes alone will present challenges to accepted practices but just because we know and understand how something works doesn't mean it can't be improved.
Is shiny and new better, if it wasn't broken did it need fixing. I don't know. But it is different and that change will throw up some new problems, but also some new answers and if those changes enhance your creativity and the ease with which you can edit then the change will be worth it.
