FCP X: The Aftermath 06/22/11

 

“Would you… like to be upgraded”?
“I had in mind something a little more radical”.

 

– Blade Runner, 1982

 
 
What can I say that hasn’t been said by now?  When the editing world makes the New York Times and CNN Money, you know something’s afoot.  And to be honest, I’m still kinda taking it all in. I’ll give a more comprehensive take on it next week.  I need a week to explore FCP X – and a weekend to recover. 
 
But my week up until now?
 
When FCP X became available Tuesday I downloaded it along with Motion 5 and Compressor 4. While it downloaded I read the 86-pg “First Look“ document by Ripple Trainer Steve Martin.

 
I felt schizophrenic.
 

I alternated between, “That’s completely awesome!” and “WHAT THE $*%@”!   Nevertheless, I had work to do.  I had to do a write up for the Focal Press blog Mastering Film.  I dived into FCP X and began to flail against the controls of the alien ship, trying desperately to divert a catastrophic Earth landing.
 
At least that’s how it felt.
 
But somehow I managed to get some decent screenshot examples and get out of there as quickly as I could.  It was like being in one of those inflatable bounce houses that parents rent out for birthday parties.  A lot of screaming, disorientation and change flying out of my pocket – about $300 worth!
 
I keed…I keed…
 
But seriously, I stand by my tweet on Tuesday saying that FCP X will be ubiquitous a year from now.  I think most pros will still be running version 7 (if we haven’t fled to Avid or Adobe) but we’ll probably have an install of FCP X as well.
 
Why?
 
I’ll talk more on it next week.  Meanwhile, I’m still taking in Walter Biscardi’s thoughtful yet sobering point-by-point teardown of FCP X.  It’s hard to argue with a lot of his observations…

 

Thoughts?