Magic Bullet Looks for FCPX

Yesterday was a great day for FCPX users. Besides releasing a new free version, although it looks like a major release, with relink (for me much more important than multi-camera), external monitoring, multi-camera and other features that the rest of the software already comes standard for years, the guys from Red Giant also announced that Apple software is now supported by their popular and useful Magic Bullet Looks 2.

This update is not only free for all those who already have Looks 2 but they have also decided to make sales and for five days Magic Bullet Looks 2 has a 50% discount for ALL platforms. If you are interested you can find it here

Obviously all these improvements are welcome, but I still don’t see clearly what Apple wants to do with FCPX. Do they want to make an ultra-fast and easy editing tool for simple and short edits? or are they preparing a Smoke-like finishing machine? It is clear that the traditional market of the editing industry (film and television) does not interest them (and if they are interested, it will be difficult to recover it, since Hollywood and big American TV production companies have migrated to Avid and I do not know if they will give them the vote of confidence again, I would not do it even if it costs me 10€ the software, because tomorrow they will discontinue it…).

If the target is the editor who assembles short and simple pieces and starts from 0 in this editing thing then I think they are on the right track. Let’s not forget that many of the criticisms of this software come from comparison with the way the others work, but what if you don’t have that preconceived idea? Then FCPX can be perfect for certain jobs. And on the other hand if Apple intends to create an all-in-one then FCPX still has a long way to go…next stop: Nab 2012!

Particularly you know how I feel, I do not criticize neither FCPX (poor thing that has just arrived and is already raining criticism) nor those who can or want to use it (the programs are tools to DO THINGS, that’s the important thing) But I do criticize Apple that leaves thousands of editors, colorists, composers, and professional sound postproducers stranded taking away their work tools (and as we all know it is not the first time they do it: Shake, Xserve, ect) flying the flag of revolution (or was it the flag of money, I don’t remember anymore) By the way that was the same flag with which a few years ago sold the FCP, and what about now of those who followed that flag?How old is the FCPX?four years like Color?

And for the record, I am writing from a Mac and I understand that a company seeks to make money (as is logical) but Apple is BRUTAL and I must admit that I will never recommend anyone to base their lentils (professional comes from profession) on software or hardware that depend on the apple (or was it the dollar sign, I do not remember) because tomorrow they could take another of those revolutionary decisions that benefit their customers? and remove the software from the middle.

That said, a year from now we will have to see if the industry continues to demand software that only works on Mac (in which case we will have to keep buying Macs) or if it is smarter to buy a PC. Time and lentils will tell, not any flag waving at the sound of coins.