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Final Cut express or Final Cut Pro??

hugemullens

hugemullens

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 15, 2002
604
0
Michigan
I am looking to make a little extra money this summer by doing a little bussiness of taking people's vhs home movies and moving them over to dvd. I know that many will want there movies editied as well as just changed formats. I am looking to move up from iMovie (which i am very profiecent with) to something better for the bussiness. On the educational discount Pro is only 50 dollars more than express. Is there any reason to step up? would i use the extra features doing what i described? and most of all can i actually use final cut pro? I know final cut pro is for high end stuff and express is the middle ground. So final cut pro would be useless if i can't use figure it out. Also any comments/reviews on the Dazzle Hollywood Bridge? thats what i intend to use for capture
 
If it is only $50 more, and you are in the market for it, get it. It works the same and has a handful of more features. You are making a large leap in complexity going up from iMovie..
 
I suggest that you get FCE because you are unlikely to need the additional features that differentiate FCP from FCE, such as additional capture methods or formats. But read the details of their specs first to make sure. If you don't need FCP features, why buy more complexity than you need?

The prices are roughly the same for you, but later upgrades may cost more for FCP.
 
Originally posted by Doctor Q
I suggest that you get FCE because you are unlikely to need the additional features that differentiate FCP from FCE, such as additional capture methods or formats. But read the details of their specs first to make sure. If you don't need FCP features, why buy more complexity than you need?

The prices are roughly the same for you, but later upgrades may cost more for FCP.
Click to expand...
I agree with the Doctor on this one, FCE will be sufficient enough for you and it will cost more for an update of FCP, plus you are only "supposed" to use Educational versions of software for, well, educational services.
 
Based on what you've discribed, my suggestion is to get Pro.

The main reason being that it imports a wider range of media types. FCE is limited in that regard.

Purchase the full version - don't cheat. If you're making money from it, you should be able to afford it. Most similar services would make back the $ on a full version in a days work (or less).

FCE is nice though if you're just doing MiniDV or something else that it can handle.
 
Originally posted by FlamDrag
Based on what you've discribed, my suggestion is to get Pro.

The main reason being that it imports a wider range of media types. FCE is limited in that regard.

Purchase the full version - don't cheat. If you're making money from it, you should be able to afford it. Most similar services would make back the $ on a full version in a days work (or less).

FCE is nice though if you're just doing MiniDV or something else that it can handle.
Click to expand...


I don't think hugemullens is going to be working in anything but DV 'cause getting anything other than DV onto a Mac will cost you a coupla grand for a capture card. ;)

I think you should grab the FCE version. It will give you more than enough flexibilty for what you want to do. I used to have the Hollywood Dazzle and didn't have any problems with it. Some people don't like it though. The Canopus ADVC-100 is probably the best converter out there currently but it costs $50-$100 more depending on where you shop.


Lethal
 
I am leaning towards the FULL version of Final Cut Express. I really dont need a whole lot of capture formats, and the full version is 50 dollars more and i can afford that. I just can't afford a grand for Pro. Thanks for all the input guys.
 
It's not even a matter of DV vs analog. If memory serves (it's been a month) FCE can only do certain types of DV - MiniDV for example. It can't do MicroMV and a couple of other formats. But the chances are that they're only the most popular which is what this guy will probably run into most. I'm just a guy who tends to over-prepare for situations like that.

On the Apple site it has some guidelines on who needs pro and who needs express.
 
Originally posted by FlamDrag
It's not even a matter of DV vs analog. If memory serves (it's been a month) FCE can only do certain types of DV - MiniDV for example. It can't do MicroMV and a couple of other formats. But the chances are that they're only the most popular which is what this guy will probably run into most. I'm just a guy who tends to over-prepare for situations like that.

On the Apple site it has some guidelines on who needs pro and who needs express.
Click to expand...

MicroMV isn't DV. It's digital video, but it's not part of the DV standard. MicroMV is just, ugh... It's like sony's memory sticks, "why adopt a standard when you can create a proprietary format that only works w/your devices?" Anyway...

FCE can handle MiniDV and DVCAM (which covers almost all the bases out there). Worst case he goes source analog out into the ADVC and caps the footage that way.

Being prepared is one thing. Spending $700 more in the off chance that you might possibly run into a format you can't capture natively even though you have a perfectly fine work around sounds a bit extreme to me. ;)


Lethal

EDIT: I love you sig! My gf had that episode on TV while we were eating and I practicaly shot Dr Pepper out my nose when she said that. :D
 
Originally posted by FlamDrag
If memory serves (it's been a month) FCE can only do certain types of DV - MiniDV for example. It can't do MicroMV and a couple of other formats. But the chances are that they're only the most popular which is what this guy will probably run into most.
Click to expand...
Since hugemullens was asking about transferring VHS tapes, I imagine he will use a converter or a DV video camera with an analog input. Therefore, we're only talking about a single input format so buying more capability (on his budget) doesn't seem necessary.

hugemullens: Do you already have a digital video camera to use for your transfers?
 
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