Final Cut Pro X has ironed out many of its initial creases and is certainly worthy of the Pro’ in its moniker. We take a look at what else you might need for the ultimate workflow alongside this powerful editing platform
When Final Cut Pro X was first released, a large proportion of the professional videography and editing community was outraged at the radicalisation of such an iconic piece of software. The familiar track-based editing format was swept aside in favour of a magnetic timeline, organising via bins was abolished in favour of Smart Collections utilising metadata, and the whole package was available via the App Store for around a quarter of the price of its predecessor.
Over three years down the line, and with numerous updates under its belt, adding pro features like multi-cam editing, a library structure and Apple ProRes 4444 XQ support among many others, Final Cut Pro X has re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the pro videography editing market. However, if you're after a super efficient workflow and want to get the most out of this platform there are a few further accessories you should be considering investing in.
Learn and create
If you've been video editing for a long time, especially with previous versions of Final Cut, it shouldn't take you too long to get to grips with the redesigned interface and additional controls. To speed up this process though it could be a sensible choice to invest in some external support.
Whether you're an auditory, visual or kinesthetic learner, there's support out there to get you up to speed. We're particularly fond of online learning provider www.lynda.com, which offers countless tutorials on a wide range of software and techniques - the video section has 467 courses and 18,235 tutorials alone, with hours and hours of Final Cut Pro tuition.
If you're starting from scratch you'll love their Final Cut Pro X Essential Training course: seven hours of beginner-friendly tuition broken down into manageable topics averaging around five minutes each. These cover everything from import and organisation through to basic colour correction and custom exports, all the while encouraging you to work efficiently with the keyboard shortcuts - a silicone keyboard cover or, better still, a genuine Apple keyboard from the likes of Editors Keys will prove invaluable here. If you're keen to expand your knowledge away from the screen there are plenty of expert books on the software more specific to the DSLR shooter, like From Still to Motion: Editing DSLR Video with Final Cut Pro X published by Peachpit Press. Alternatively, if you've got a lengthy commute why not download one of the numerous podcasts on the topic?
Organise and protect
So you've got the theory, now put it into practice. The first thing you'll need to do is import your footage. Whether you always use the same camera or regularly rent out different systems, you'll find using a card reader can be a great time saver, especially if you're often switching from CF to SD cards. We're massive fans of the Lexar Professional Workflow products, which allow you to customise a four-bay hub to your ideal set-up. Mix and match drives for different purposes and different card types to achieve a personalised, professional solution that'll let you import media from up to four cards simultaneously or transfer and backup in an instant.
But even before you import your raw footage you’ll need to consider how you're going to manage your media. Working with multiple hard drives is the safest and fastest way - at the very least you’ll want your project files and media stored on a separate external hard drive to the software and Mac OS. If you want to invest in a system that'll offer additional speed improvements and built-in redundancy should a drive fail then a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives) configuration is certainly the way to go. Look no further than the G-technology G Speed Studio for the top offering in this department.
Export and deliver
If you're likely to have clients coming to you to sit in on the edit you'll need a decent pair of monitor speakers capable of honest sound reproduction. In a professional edit suite a lot of money is spent, not only on decent quality speakers, but also on the soundproofing and acoustics of the room. As most of us don't have the luxury of kitting out our home office to this degree we'd recommend a near-field monitoring system to avoid involving room acoustics as much as possible.
Always consider the sort of sound system that your audience is likely to be listening on, given that nowadays the majority of content is typically viewed on the web via mobile phones, laptops and computers. To get you started something like a pair of М-Audio Studiophile AV 40 monitor speakers should be more than capable of delivering pro quality audio given that they're built with the same precision electronics and materials as the professional studio speakers in the range. They're also magnetically shielded so can sit comfortably next to your computer without any magnetic flux interference.
Now that your client's happy with the final edit you'll need to promptly deliver it in a polished fashion. Head straight back to the App Store and download both Motion 5 and Compressor 4 to up your game significantly. The former allows you to customise FCP titles, transitions and effects or develop your own animations while the latter is your export best friend, offering powerful encoding and customisable output settings. Zena Toscani