It was so bad that Apple broke one of their most sacred rules and offered cash refunds to the disenchanted.

Even yours truly, shortly after buying my own license, jumped onto the bandwagon.

However, I must now apologize to all my fellow professional editors, and say…

After using FCP X for several months, I’m ready to change my tune… mostly.

Though it's still not ready for prime time, Final Cut Pro X is pretty close.

Yes, it took some getting used to, but that’s only because I was conditioned to edit in the traditional “professional” way.

I’ve found enough powerful editing tools in this interface that I can achieve everything I want with even more precision than any other tool i’ve ever used.

I can definitely understand why other long-time editors would reject this software package.  It defies the time honored methods that have sustained our livelihoods for so long.  Change like this has always been met with resistance.  If your old enough you surely remember the same kind of push-back when Grass Valley Switchers became swapped out for Avid boxes.  It sure seemed like a huge step backward.

While AVR 77 AVID video looked like crap, it marked a milestone of change in our industry.

Those that did not understand the shift from linear to computer-based editing where missing the whole point back then.

I certainly didn’t embrace AVID 16 years ago when my employer switched over, but I respected the fact that things were going to be different.  I respected that I was either going to go along with the change, or I was going to be left behind.

Of course, I was young and bouncy 16 years ago.  The idea of paradigm shifts in time-honored work pipelines didn’t mean as much to me.  I was just thrilled back then to be editing.

This is the main feature of Final Cut Pro X for me.

I have done several projects on it, and I ‘m having fun again.  Storytelling is again, as it should be, my main involvement.

Don’t mistake the mechanics of injesting footage, transcoding formats, and logging clips for the joy of telling a story.

Apple has litterally brought the joy of story telling back to me.

There are problems with Final Cut Pro X, I mean let’s be real.

• It has miserable compositing tools. (I know Motion 5 is $30, but it doesn’t count)
• Timeline navigation is wonky – undoing often results in teleportation to nether regions of your show.
• Subclip? There’s no such thing.
• Still subject to random crashes.

Still, despite all the unbelievable oversights on Apple’s part- I love using Final Cut Pro X.  I’ve found work-arounds for all the above problems.  The crashes aren’t nearly as frequent as say Media Composer 3.  Also, unlike AVID’s earlier offerings, crashes never seem to result in any loss of editing work. (Thanks to the latest update, anyway.)

I’m sorry.  During the last revolution (linear to non-linear) I just wasn’t this happy, guys.

• Do you want crappy audio, kids?

Of course you don’t.  I’ll tell you right now how to dramatically improve your audio- without having to spend a dime!

Pay attention.

We’ll Begin With Audio Acquisition Tips- Record Better Audio To Begin With.

1. Put a homemade windscreen on your camera’s microphone.  This will prevent those annoying wind “pops” from ever being recorded.
   • cut a patch from an old cotton sock that’s the size of your camera’s microphone.
   • Do likewise with an old pair of pantyhose.
   • Layer the sock and then the pantyhose on top of your microphone and adhere to camera with gaffers tape. (You can use duct tape as well-but it may leaf adhesive on your camera body.)
2. Pay attention to the sound levels of your camera while recording.
   • If your camera has audio meters- turn them on.  Adjust the mic level input accordingly.
   • Many cameras don’t have this feature.  That’s ok.  Get a pair of headphones, and plug them into the camera.
     • Put the headphones on and start shooting the way you normally do- except this time you’ll hear what is getting recorded adequately- and what’s not.
       • Adjust your shooting style accordingly.
         • If you self narrate a lot- then you’ll know if you have to speak softer or louder.
         • If your shooting subject can’t be heard, ask them to speak up.
3. Avoid noisy shooting locations
   • Seems obvious, but sometimes you don’t realize just how noisy a place is because your brain will try to filter noise out automagically for you.
   • If you have to shoot your BFF at the food court next to the wishing fountain- make sure they either shout to camera- or they have a hand-held microphone.

Well Done.  Next, We Have Tricks For Better Audio in Edits.

4. Do An Audio Pass- for cryin’ out loud.

• • Once your done editing the picture- Your still not done-done.
    • Go back and use the audio gain tools to level out all the audio.
      • Adjust everything so each audio clip is the same perceived audio level when playing it back.  (Turn off the music tracks until all the spoken words are level.  Then, go back and adjust the music so it sounds good with the spoken word.)

5.  Double The Audio Track

• • If you’re using editing software, like Final Cut Express or Sony Vegas, then it will allow you to double up the audio segments.
    • Very useful for when you have cranked up the audio gain already to the maximum, but it’s not enough.

Do these 5 things for your next video, and people may actually watch it.

Now, get out there, and make an awesome home movie!

But before I lay down this media wisdom…

You know what’s weird?

Ehem– No.  It’s weird when you’re watching a video, and the scenes cut so fast that your eyes begin to bleed in their sockets, and you can’t tell what the sweet merciful crap you’re watching.

Rule #1, kids, is to Hold your shot.

Keep your shots on screen AT LEAST long enough for the average viewer to

• People in the biz would say a shot doesn’t have enough time to “read” if it’s not on screen long enough.
• The amount of time a shot needs to “read” is different for each shot.
  • It depends on how complex of an image it is.  Here’s things to look out for.
    • The more objects in a shot- the longer it needs to read
    • The crazier the camera movement is- the longer it needs to read
    • The less similar it is to shots around it- the longer it needs to read.
    • The more stunningly pretty a single composition is- the more you should let your viewers linger on it.

You know why this is tip #1?

If you don’t keep a shot on screen long enough, and pictures go by too fast- your intended audience will STOP WATCHING.

Also- you’ve made a stinky video.

Don’t make your videos stinky.

Hold your shots on long enough, and make your videos awesome!

Wrangle your home movie acquisition media before it gets out of control.

One of the easiest Home Movie projects to do is the Music Video.

Here’s how to make your own:

1. Pick a fun song from your song library and import it into your editing software.  (I like iMovie ‘09 on Macs or Adobe Premiere Elements for PC)
2. Import footage into our editing software.  I like to use shots from many different events that span a long period of time.  Be sure to grab a variety of different kinds of shots. (Wide Shots, Close Ups, Interior and exterior, etc.)
3. Start putting the shots together to the music.  Play around with it, and try to match the different visual cues to the various audio phrases in the song.

When there’s a big musical “hit” you should show a big camera move, a fast move toward the camera, or any other visual that has high “energy.”

When your music slows down and takes a breath, then your movie’s pace should slow down too.

Try to edit to the beat of the music, but it often looks good to make an edit on the down-beat of the music as well.

Have fun making your own music video!

This is the kind of work I do at my day job.

I enjoy making the home movies more.  I get to do whatever I feel like doing.  I get to explore whatever techniques I want to try out.  It’s a natural extension of my creative energy!