Final Cut Express 2.0

Rating:
Summary: A powerful upgrade from iMovie
Review: At first blush, Final Cut Express 2 (FCE2) looks very intimidating. The interface is much different from iMovie. I looked around and discovered that everyone recommend the book "Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop" by Tom Wolsky ISBN:1578202566. The book helped understand the interface and the power locked into FCE2. I have easily created several projects that couldn't have been done in iMovie and I did them quicker in FCE2.

I would highly recommend this product to any prosumer looking to edit video.

Rating:
Summary: Caveat Emptor
Review: Don't you hate yourself when you buy something when you know you shouldn't? I was persuaded by someone to buy Final Cut Express and an iMac computer. I had already purshased and learned to use Sony Screenblaster video software on my PC, without much trouble, but I was persuaded I had to go Apple and Final Cut if I was going to be serious about making videos. The Final Cut Express that came with my iMac last June (2004) had a bug that I did not learn about until after months of working on a project. The bug causes the sound to get more and more unsynchronized the longer you work on it. Apple knew about this bug as early as last Feb. when they released a patch. I found out about the bug on my own, the hard way. The patch will not correct work already done.

Learning to use FCE2 was extremely frustrating. Using it was not much fun. The results have been very disappointing. The iMac has not been much better. Crashes and glitches are no less than on PCs. Oh, yes, I could upgrade to Final Cut, and graduate from FCE2, for about $500. Only schoolteachers, their innocent students, and geeks could possibly think being trapped within Apple's proprietary world is cool.

Rating:
Summary: Digital Video Editing Becomes My Passion
Review: Storyboard to Final Cut Express

Final Cut Express Storyboard gives me a visual look at my movie. I control-click the Final Cut Express browser and choose large icon new. Then, I drag the clips into the order that I want them to be played. Next, I click on the projectÕs tab in the Browser and save it. Finally, I save the entire project.

Now to add my new storyboard to Final Cut Express sequences. Draw a marquee around the Storyboard clips. Next, I drag the clips from my Final Cut Express Browser to my Timeline and save the project. To protect them, I can lock them to make sure that they cannot be modified. I can lock and unlock them with the F4 key for video tracks and the F5 key for audio tracks.

Working with Final Cut Express

Creating titles and credits with Express is important. The key is the Video Generator. You can create synthesized clips that you superimpose over your existing video clips in the Final Cut Express Timeline.

For good-looking titles, you can use san serif fonts such as Arial, Futura, Gill Sans, Helvetica and Impact. I have found using bold, red or blue 30 point fonts effective for my titles.

You need to watch for the 20 percent factor. The 'Title Save Boundary' is 20 percent smaller than your television screen. To see the boundaries in Final Cut Express, go to View then to Show Title. Best to keep your titles within the safe zone.

Final Cut Express allows you to create rolling credits like the credits at the end of a movie. You can set the duration of your video clips plus set the in and out points for speed of the text and scrolls.

Pro Reaction

Final Cut Express is wonderful for making storyboards, titles, transitions and effects using software digital tools. Final Cut Express 2 supports up to 99 video and audio tracks. Express has various editing tools from Ripple editing, Razor Blade Tool, Pen Tool to Slip and Slide editing.

Express allows you to import iMovie projects. You can also import your Final Cut Express project to iDVD complete with special chapter marker. Express comes with an excellent hardcopy paper manual for learning how to use Final Cut Express 2. The manual is easy to follow without computer jargon.

Con Reaction

You have to work at learning how to use the Final Cut Express application. You have to spend the time to read and work with the Final Cut Express manual.

You cannot capture DV across time-code breaks. You cannot import your Final Cut Express project to iMovie or QuickTime with chapter markers and comments.

Final Remarks

Express is better than iMovie applications and gives you professional storyboard, title and video effects.