By Lawrence Jordan
Steve Jobs e-mail reassurances notwithstanding, this is a question that’s getting asked a lot in editing suites these days, especially those with large Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Studio installations. While users of other software; Adobe CS Suites including Premiere and After Effects, Avid’s Media Composer, Sony Vegas and Square Box Systems CatDV just to name a few, get new features and powerful upgrades, Final Cut Pro editors are stuck waiting on the sidelines.
The fact is Final Cut Pro hasn’t had a substantial upgrade in more than 3 years. For the large base of editors who work with the software every day, that’s just too darn long. Sure, Final Cut Studio got an upgrade a year ago, but aside from Snow Leopard compatibility and RED camera workflow integration, the changes to FCP — the heart of the package — were negligible and most users saw it as a disappointment. (Raise your hand if you want to see it as a standalone product).
Here’s what’s making people nervous.
Software applications sold to, and adopted by, professionals need to have regular updates. I’m not talking about bug fixes, although that’s always great too; I’m talking about new features and improved functionality. It would also be nice to know the people making the tools you use to earn your paycheck are listening and getting feedback from many people across the editing spectrum. Not doing so is exactly one of the things that got Avid into trouble a few years back and I fear its starting to happen with Apple. The secretive nature of Apple’s product development makes many in the editorial world feel as their requests are just bouncing off the walls of an echo chamber. Don’t get me wrong; I respect Apple’s decisions to develop their software any way they want, and I still use Final Cut for certain editing tasks. But a cold, hard fact is that in the ten years since it’s release, Final Cut Pro has not gained as much traction in the feature film and television worlds as Apple’s marketing might have you believe. The prevailing sentiment of professional editors is that the lack of upgrades, feature shortcomings and, dare I say it, idiosyncrasies of Final Cut Pro make it a distant second to cutting on an Avid.
Why people are skeptical.
Apple is in a strange spot with Final Cut Studio; consider the situation. The company has had phenomenal success with their mass-market products, the iPod, iPhone, iTunes Store and now iPad and CEO Jobs has clearly stated his emphasis on being perceived as more of a “consumer electronics” company. Final Cut Pro is unquestionably a big success, but let’s face it, professional video editing software throws nowhere as wide a net as the company’s iGadgets or even products like Logic Studio and Aperture. Although Apple is the leader at creating software that’s incredibly intuitive and easy to use, pro content creation packages are inherently more complex and require a base level of technical knowledge to operate with confidence. Adding new features and functionality often magnifies this situation hence, I think Apple’s reluctance to do so.
Then of course there’s the sad story of Shake, the highly regarded visual effects software used on films such as The Lord of the Rings and King Kong. It’s still unclear why Apple, after buying the software from Nothing Real, essentially left it to languish for years without upgrades before finally killing it off last July. And don’t get me started with Final Cut Server…
Anyhow…
Apple’s quandary seems as follows. First, how do they refine the Final Cut Pro/Studio feature set and add some of the functionality the user base has been clamoring for without making the product too complex? Second, how much money and, more importantly, programming resources does Mr. Jobs & Co. divert from their wildly successful, profitable and growing line of consumer electronics devices to invest in a comparatively niche market product? Especially considering that Apple already has iMovie and Final Cut Express, two excellent editing applications, better suited to their wider audience?
In a cultural phenomenon that’s become akin to spotting the image of the Virgin Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich, an Apple customer recently received an email from Steve dismissing the idea that Apple is abandoning Pro Video. In a break from his usual one-sentence replies, the uber CEO was relatively prosaic in trying to allay the writer’s fears and clarify the state of Final Cut Studio development. Although he gave no indication of when it might happen, Jobs stated that the company “certainly is” committed to Final Cut and that the next release will be “awesome.” MacSoda, the blog that broke the story (and linked to above) claims it has it on “reliable word” this will happen “by the end of 2010.”
So I guess we’ll have to wait and see just how committed Apple is to pro video and to those of us who’ve invested time and money in Final Cut Pro. Maybe if we try real hard we’ll spot something in a tree, or possibly a Pizza pan. Even if we don’t get a miracle, any kind of indication would really be “awesome.”
Let us know what YOU think. Add a comment.
Good post, Larry. I think what I hear in your words is a wish that all the competitors keep competing. We all know that our tools can get better — and we love the excitement of seeing the companies leapfrog each other. Jobs knows that he has to inspire his audience to win. He’s said this at various times — they have to stay a year ahead in terms of slickness, integration, functionality and wow factor. They will always be copied so they have to keep reinventing their products. They inspired an army of media creators that didn’t exist a decade ago but right now they are not leading. I tend to take Steve at his word — they are going to take a shot at a big UI upgrade. The question is, what audience will it be aimed at? I think you make a good point that a lot of what makes a pro app effective tends to be hidden to newbies. Satisfying both audiences is the toughest thing in the world — a beautiful, powerful ap with an easy learning curve — that ain’t no easy task.
Exactly.
Competition from Final Cut made everybody bring their game up. We were all worried for long stretch that Avid was finished. I think inspiring is one of Jobs great gifts. I’m just curious about how and if they are getting feedback from real editors. Also, from a business standpoint, one would think a decision has to be made (or has been) to simplify the offerings in video software? The Shake thing really threw people for a loop. And I’m very curious to find out the level of satisfaction of any group with a Final Cut Server installation. Anyhow, of course I hope you’re right and that the next release really kicks ass.
Believe me, they have real editors working both inside Apple and have deep connections with editors in the “working” post community of LA and all over the world. I was fortunate to have worked inside Apple on FCS 1 and FCS ’09, so you can trust me on that one. Plus, they have some editing monsters working inside the company. These guys are incredibly smart and talented.
I fully believe the next version of FCS will be insane.
I think this article deals primarily in generalities… I would be much more interested in a real nuts and bolts discussion of what Final Cut Pro is lacking (and it does lack in some key areas… Media Mangler, anyone?).
“The prevailing sentiment of professional editors is that the lack of upgrades, feature shortcomings and, dare I say it, idiosyncrasies of Final Cut Pro make it a distant second to cutting on an Avid.”
Understand, I am no FCP fanboy. I use both FCP and Avid professionally. But the above is the type of windy generalization that really adds nothing concrete to the discussion. Yes, Avid MC5 was a major update that addressed several of Avid’s “idiosyncrasies”. In fact, several features (Drag and Drop editing, for one) were hailed as “game changers” when, in fact, these features have been a part of FCP for years.
Again, I think a real nuts and bolts discussion would serve us better. What are the “feature shortcomings” you see? I’ve mentioned Media Manager. The AVCHD workflow can be improved. Trim could probably be improved, as well as the anemic search functions.
Until Avid embraces open hardware, FCP will still remain the most flexible NLE in the market. Tell me, Avid MC 5 software-only user: How are you going to offload your HD project to tape? More workflow options means more potential users. Is FCP in desperate need of an update? Yes. But methinks rumors of FCP’s demise are greatly exaggerated.
Hi Christian,
Yea, it was really more of an editorial/opinion piece as opposed to a how-to. There are tons of those already all over the web. My intention of wasn’t to list all the “nuts and bolts” issues editors have with FCP. Anyone who uses the program professionally knows what they are. And it wasn’t intended to start a flame war.
I love editing. I must, as I’ve been doing it going on 30 years. Today I can use iMovie, Media Composer, Final Cut and a truck-load of other options. But like you, I’ve made a business investment in Apple and Final Cut, (and Avid) and I’m proud to call myself a fanboy of these products. And even though it’s only a fraction of what it used to cost, it’s still a chunk of our flesh. Particularly in these economic times.
I don’t think it’s too much to ask of any huge global conglomerate to give it’s customers an idea of what’s happening with the product they’ve purchased and where it might be headed. That’s how we get to make informed decisions. Did the owners of Shake see that coming? We’re not children, and we deserve more than “it’s going to be awesome.”
CEO’s need to be held accountable, even those running companies we love. Perhaps if we did this with the investment bankers on Wall Street or the likes of BP we’d be in better shape today.
I love your idea of a nuts and bolts article and If you write one, (and if it’s any good), I’ll be happy to post it.
Finally, if you want to go to tape from MC Soft just output a QuickTime and run it through a Kona card.
Thanks again for the feedback.
LJ
You know how Apple is not always first to market with the goods, but when they do come out with something it tends to outshine the rest. That is what I believe Final Cut Pro is going through. It is hard to be patient for a significant upgrade, though.
hmmm, I think that is Apple stopped supporting FCP (and FCS for that matter) and halved the price – like they did for Shake, then it will still be used for years because of the great product that it is. I don’t think that there is such a problem with the lack of new releases because it was not a long time ago that FCS3 was releases (besides I have not even upgraded, PowerMac issue).
My worry is the lack of Mac Pro releases, that gives me the impression that Apple is not interested in the high end creative professional/enthusiast. I probably won’t be able to afford a Mac Pro for years to come, but it bothers me that there has not been substantial updates.
Maybe Apple is just too focused on the iPad and iPhone? Maybe they should split their company up into mobile, creative (professional and hobby), OS and computer hardware. Then the mobile side can stick to the iDevices and the rest can do their job.
This is funny, a lot of users think AVID is roadkill!
Of course, I like and use both for different reasons.
You can bet your little purple booties FCP is going through an evolution. Why would Apple release 64-bit machines? You think they like Adobe scooping them with CS5 apps when we all know a 64-bit FCP will rock? I agree with Kevin here; competent folks at work, something neat coming down the pike, and they’re probably polishing it now. I do hope that includes Live JKL Trim and larger Frames views, but hey… that’s what makes a horse race.
But it is surely coming. Just as soon as they’re done with the iPhone version.
Is DVD Studio Pro road kill?
I see that Apple will not be including iDVD in the next iteration of iLife due in August
is that related?
could be since Apple wants us to only distribute and store online.
Well – that could be a problem if you’re outputting 4k and the like.