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Topic: Editing recommendations

Over my past few years of using iMovie and a few equally simple softwares to edit my films, I am getting increasingly frustrated at the limitations imposed. I am debating over getting Final Cut Pro, because I have experience with that software and as far as I can tell it can do the stuff I would like it to. It also has a really great price compared to the other sophisticated softwares I have heard of (like première and Vegas.)
However, I was wondering if there are any other softwares that are good for video editing. Ease of use does not matter to me because I already know a lot about this stuff, but because I am still an amateur price definitely matters. Also, if you can personally recommend any free softwares that would be just as good (or almost) as FCP? I am looking at the Free software list and am now considering Cinelerra, but does anybody have like personal experience with that or any other sort of softwares? (I am fine with either Mac, Windows, or Linux but prefer Mac)

Thanks! mini/cat

EDIT: I seem to ave posted this in the wrong forum...D:

Last edited by topit (December 11, 2012 (06:53pm))

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Re: Editing recommendations

Final Cut Pro X is kind of a giant leap backward for the brand; it's very simplified compared to Final Cut 7. Cheaper, too, though. I suspect they'll improve Final Cut Pro X in the future, however, so it may catch back up to FCP7's level of quality and ability in a few years.

I do like Final Cut 7 pretty well, though gosh is it finicky about file formats.

I also like Lightworks, which is free, but currently PC only. It's professional level editing software, used in real movies. On par with Final Cut, easily. It looks like they'll be releasing a free Mac version of Lightworks sometime in the next year.

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Re: Editing recommendations

Alright, thanks for the recommendations. I realize that I haven't actually used FCPX because it hadn't come out when I last used FCP... so thank you so much for saving me from buying a software that's not what I expected it to be!! mini/bigsmile
Although FCP7 is like, enormously expensive compared to the new one.

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Re: Editing recommendations

I have a question about Lightworks: it seems great and all, but based off of what I read on the features page, can the free version actually export a usable HD video file?

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Re: Editing recommendations

backyardlegos wrote:

I have a question about Lightworks: it seems great and all, but based off of what I read on the features page, can the free version actually export a usable HD video file?

Yes.

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Re: Editing recommendations

Okay, cool. Also, is it 1080p, and what file type, because I wasn't familiar with the ones listed on the website.

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Re: Editing recommendations

Sméagol wrote:

Final Cut Pro X is kind of a giant leap backward for the brand; it's very simplified compared to Final Cut 7. Cheaper, too, though. I suspect they'll improve Final Cut Pro X in the future, however, so it may catch back up to FCP7's level of quality and ability in a few years.

While this simplification was true when FCPX was released - over a year ago - it is far from correct at this present state of time. It is indeed correct that Apple will, and has, re-added many desired features (multi-cam editing, Final Cut Pro 7 support) - all with the bonus of an extremely clean, powerful and smooth new interface. It's far better than FCP7.

I personally believe FCPX to be superior to Adobe's offerings (Premiere Pro is actually following the layout of Final Cut), plus, it's received many extremely positive reviews.

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