Re: Editing scenario

[Simon Ubsdell] "I did cut a small piece like this a while back in FCPX and I was amazed at how quickly I got in awkward spots once the client started picking at the edit and the music. "

I'm finding that when the client asks for the usual number of changes and wants to see you perform them, it's easy to get tied into knots with X. That's because you are trying to be expedient without necessarily keeping a "clean" timeline.

[Andy Neil] "First of all, I wouldn't edit the broll as connected clips. "

Actually that sounds like the best approach. Music would be connected clips. That makes it easier to move b-roll segments and soundbites around via the magnetic timeline.

[Andy Neil] "One of the workflows that editors use in a track system that is hardest to drop in X, is the notion that soundbites need to be in track 1, and broll shots in track 2."

Ironically I never edited this way until FCP. When I first started with NLEs (Avid), I'd come from years of linear. So, my Avid timelines were always only with clips on V1. In linear, you never had a V2 or higher track. Everything was a "primary storyline", though "magnetic" in a different sense of the word ;-) It's funny that X has put us back into a mindset that seems somewhat reminiscent of what we did 25+ years ago.

[Simon Ubsdell] "This does raise the question which most of the time seems to be the hardest thing to get right, namely what actually DOES go into the primary storyline"

That's been my point. I'm trying to develop a working strategy for how to tackle the timeline. Something that I've never had to do with any other NLE.

[Steve Connor] "There is a lot of debate about the Primary track in FCPX but for me use of the primary is something that became second nature after I spent time cutting in FCPX"

I think X's design is optimized for the sort of shows with soundbites and bridging B-Roll shots. Then add music and SFX that lay underneath. Doesn't work well with these sort of hybrid ideas.

[Bret Williams] "When hey demoed x at he super meet, Randy ( the designer) didn't mix broll in the primary. "

With all due respect, that was a demo and what was shown was designed to demo well. Same for every polished demo you've ever seen. I'd be willing to bet that any one of us could sit over Randy's shoulder and "play client" and turn that demo into a mess in 10 minutes or less ;-)

Good ideas though. Keep 'em coming. Thanks.

- Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com