Avid versus Final Cut

Time is winding down to the due date, and my group still has a lot of work to do, mainly interviews and editing. For the interviews we have seven scheduled so far, and have potential to schedule a few more, but after Monday, May 10th we are DONE interviewing!

Here is our week of interviews so far:

Monday, May 3: Bruce @ 4

Tuesday, May 4: Michelle: @ 10, Dr. Garvey @ 2:30

Thursday, May 6: Dr. Roessner @ 1-3, Earleen Glaser @ 2-4

Friday, May 7: Annette @ 1

Monday, May 10: Dr. Livingston @ 2

It seems like a lot but hopefully if we can go into the interviews with our questions planned out, we can spend about 30 minutes, and get everything we need.

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After we get all of the interviews done we are ready for the editing process! Now we have to determine which editing software we use, Final Cut Pro or Avid Pro.

Most editors are biased to one of the two softwares. Whether or not there are any real differences it appears that editors use one software more than the other and then they tend to prefer it because they know their way around it better. I personally prefer the Avid. This is for the simple reason that I have used the Avid plenty of times, and I haven't nearly broke the surface of FCP and what it has to offer yet. But because I have access to both of these softwares, I am going to look at both of the system's Pros and then make a decision.


Pros of Avid
I have used the Avid many times before.
The Avid editing system is located in the Communication Dept. Office, and I will have unlimited access to it.
I have the instructional manual Avid Editing: a Guide for Intermediate and Beginning Users
We have filmed the majority of our footage on Mini Dv tapes, and the Avid system can copy the tapes easily.
Avid systems tend to be able to handle more before crashing.
Avid has better multicamera ability.
Avid manages captured photos, audio clips and video clips better.


Pros of Final Cut Pro
Has much better graphic capabilities.
Is compatible with Flash Animator and Adobe Photoshop.
It can maintain more audio tracks.
All the cool kids are using Macs!

... except for me!!

Looking at the two lists it is easy for me to choose the Avid over FCP for these reasons:

I am more comfortable using the Avid.
I have unlimited access to the Avid.
Final Cut Pro does not have any game winning advantages that are enough for me to sit down and learn the new software for a 30 minute documentary.

In the future I hope to learn FCP, that way I can work for any editor/producer with no problem but for now I am going to stick with the Avid, and try and learn as much as I can about the system.

While researching which software to use I found a bunch of great links and blogs discussing the differences/pros/cons/etc of the Avid and FCP. If you would like to read more about Avid vs. FCP check out these links/blogs!

http://www.scottsimmons.tv/blog/the-avid-vs-fcp-articles/
http://lafcpug.org/feature_avid_vs_fcp.html
http://www.videosymphony.com/blog/?p=124
http://editingstandards.blogspot.com/

In other news I still have not decided on what additional clips I would like to use during the documentary, but I have added a poll on the sidebar, so you can help me decide! Please vote for your favorite programs, and you will see them in the Documentary!!