Do I need Final Cut Pro -- or is FREE software just as good?

[tsipos]

Although I've long written scripts and film reviews, I've never shot video. So I finally get a Panasonic DV camcorder.

My question: I keep hearing so many good things about Final Cut Pro. But my Panasonic camera already came with some free editing software called: MotionDV Studio 5.6E and another one called Quick Movie Magic 1.0E.

I also see that my laptop has Windows Movie Maker, another editing software.

So, what might Final Cut Pro offer that these programs don't? They seem to do the basics; trimming and joining shots, transitions and titles.

Why do so many filmmakers pay extra for Final Cut Pro (or Avid)?

 

[Billy1970]

For right now, the free stuff will probably suit you just fine. If you want to eventually become an editor, learning a software platform that is widely used has obvious benefits. If, however, you are just looking to cut together material you've shot, most of those rudimentary editors will do just fine.

Avid and FCP have a lot of features that have been designed into them from all the way back to the flatbed film editors of days past. Those features (like 'bins' and the layout and names of the editing tools) were carried down because they worked well and were familiar to the 'old school' editors. They have been retained in large part because they are a convention now, that has proven to be very time efficient. The freebie software will probably not have a lot of that time efficient functionality, as most of them are written by software engineers, not editors.

The effect on you will probably be minimal and will equate to you potentially needing to click a few places with your mouse where an Avid or FCP editor could just hit one key. If, after you've been editing for a while, you find that you need (or want) that extra convenience and potentially more powerful toolsets (like compositing, roto or keying) you can always upgrade then. In the meantime, save the $$.

Hope this helps!

 

[Evan2100]

i agree with billy1970, for now, at least your first few films, save the money and get some experience. Once youv egot some films under your belt you will probably want to consider FCP or Avid

www.HUNTERKANEMEDIA.com

 

[thunderdan]

Download a trial

Download a trial

Well this is speaking from experience as someone who just shot and edited his first project. I used Windows movie maker because that is what I had and it was FREE. It work and I accomplished a nice finished product.

I also researched other entry level programs, Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere, Pinnacle and Magix. You can download a 30 day trial version you can play with. So I actually recut my short film using the pinnacle program because I like the control it gave me.

I also downloaded a trial version of Sony Sound Forge to help with my audio post. All for free.

This may be an option before shelling out the big bucks for Avid or FCP.

I enjoyed editing my own film so much I am considering going into that field.

Dan

 

[BenB]

Remember that Mac's all come with iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, all very nice FREE apps for video production. I know wedding videographers using only these free apps to make a living with.

When you need to do more complex compositing and effects, FCP and Avid start to become much more attractive. For now, use something free, get your feet wet, then when you've done a few projects, you'll know for sure what sort of feature set you want in an NLE and will be able to choose more comfortably.