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Final Cut Express 4.0

GREAT but very diffrent from what I am used to

Written by JK from Rossland

Jun 29, 2008

I got final cut and livetype and I have played arownd with final cut. It works very good and can do everything I need just its diffrent then imovie HD which was what I was using before. I don't know how to split a clip, save as audio etc. but I am sure it can do these things. And I know I will figure it out in time for the last cut and clipping of my movie. Live type is also very nice. The fontmaker thing is a bit teadeous though. It is hard to do. However all the Livefonts are very profesional looking and the font effects and backgrounds are too. I would advise this product to any young low-budget filmmaker like me. In the fact that it is diffrent,
you can get used to it!

52 of 88 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Better Than Everyone is Saying

Written by BM from Lexington

Jun 25, 2008

Final Cut Express is NOT intended for a professional who needs a video editing program for their job or who needs something really super powerful. If this is you get Final Cut Studio. More than half of these reviews would be better if people actually got what they needed instead of trying to go for the cheap version and expecting to get a full packaged deal.

For the price this is an amazing package and if you've ever done ANY video editing it's very intuitive. Don't expect to just buy a video editing program and it make the video for you. Also those who complain about Soundtrack Pro missing seem to forget to tell you that multitrack mixing, soft normalization, and gain controls are still a part of the Final Cut Express package and GarageBand is still an awesome audio editing application that offers video support. I have no problem using GarageBand for the projects that I do.

So be smart, think about what fits you best, and don't come on here and write bad reviews because you didn't get the program that fits you best.

165 of 203 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Not bad...

Written by SB

Jun 24, 2008

FCE isn't that bad, I'm able to create better looking videos then I could ever make with imovie or moviemaker. I noticed that there are a few more effects in this version compared to previous versions. Livetype isn't exactly the easiest program to use when making complex titles but it can be simple when you need a simple title. I don't have anything to say about soundtrack because I still haven't figured out how to use it, I have always used garageband because it is a lot simpler. Although FCE isn't as good as FCP and it's programs, it is worth the $200.

51 of 81 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Buy Adobe instead

Written by PL from Tukwila

Jun 2, 2008

While the editing abilities of Final Cut Express are okay, many of your projects will be destroyed due to FCE's badly designed file management system. It will not only put different parts of your project into different folders, making them very hard to find and rename into something useful, but should you rename or move even one file then Final Cut will throw a computer version of a temper tantrum and corrupt your project file, forcing you to start over again from scratch. And forget about archiving. I have worked on several projects using Final Cut and not once was I able to archive a project then open it again to do more work. Final Cut works on the premise that all video and editing will remain on your computer for all time, untouched, and that you will never need to archive anything in order to open up space for another project. It doesn't matter how good the editing features are when the file management part of the program is so badly made that projects self-destruct.

I'm demanding my money back and using it to buy Adobe video software, _they_ know the importance of archiving and user-friendly file management.

298 of 449 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Very disappointed

Written by JF from Palm Beach Gardens

Jun 1, 2008

The features of FCE4 actually led to my acquiring my first MAC. I had been happily using Adobe Premier Elements on my PC, but felt the need to move to the next level. My immediate problem was that the application could not "see" my relatively new Panasonic camcorder, no matter what source I turned to. The software specs should be MUCH more specific about its compatability limitations, and you should have your dealer go over these limitations with you. There should be some demo footage and tutorials included so it is easier to get some utility out of the program...as it is you are on your own, and it is not at all an intuitive program...even if you are accustomed to other editing software

197 of 308 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Do Not Buy This Until BUG is Fixed

Written by NM from Northampton

May 30, 2008

I bought this and it worked well for the first week. Then a BUG in the software stops you from opening projects. Loads of people are upset by this (SEE THREAD) and I have lost over 6 projects. Apple have fixed this BUG with Final Cut Pro but not with Final Cut Express 4. Why? Do we not matter?

The unreliability is shocking. I don't trust this software anymore. BEWARE!

235 of 357 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

where is Soundtrack ??

Written by ES from Carouge

May 28, 2008

Every update of FCE you do, less you have ? Where is Soundtrack.... I need soundtrack, I bought FCE because soundtrack was in, now it's out... the less Apple can do is a soundtrack update to Pro....

Thank you to provide this update (for free of course)

79 of 120 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

A Definite Disappointment

Written by DB from Wichita Falls

May 11, 2008

Having been a fan of Express since version 2.0, I have to say that 4.0 is definitely a downgrade from version 3.5. It is great for what it does but the loss of several functions and menu items from 3.5 is at best inconvenient. I guess Apple has accomplished what it probably wanted to do and that is make Express less an alternative for Final Cut Pro. In any case, I will be moving to Final Cut Studio 2.
I will say that Express 4.0 is a good choice if you have not used any previous versions and want to go beyond a program like iMovie.

214 of 299 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Outdated

Written by BG from Jacksonville

May 2, 2008

Support AVCHD? Not really.
a) The program crashes when I try to capture video AVCHD from my camera; I had to buy a second program just to import the video into my computer.
b) No support for 5.1 surround
c) No support for 1920x1080; 1440 is the best it can do.

226 of 329 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Very Good!!!!

Written by DS

May 2, 2008

Very Very Good 5 Stars. Ive been using it for 2 years now and have just upgraded. I use green screen alot.
I use it to also make videos and upload them to youtube
Very GOOD And BRILL Product and i recomend it.
Loads of people send me messages saying is it on PC and im like no mate. Another Good Reason to get a mac, Brilliant Software

140 of 258 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

A very good product to start with. Better than iMovie.

Written by CM from Bennett

Apr 30, 2008

I am very impressed with this product. It does more than I expected. Did some searching on the web and found a website (DVCreators) that helped out with the learning curve. I am still finding cool things to add to my videos from that site. Plus xcode has a very cool tool called quartz that is very helpful in making some very cool FX for video editing. Plus can't forget the other program that comes with FCE, LiveType. Also very cool, especially with the help of the quartz program you and make very cool looking titles with light rays and such. I am just having a blast using all that I am learning and my video project is looking very cool. In the near future I will be upgrading to FCP and I think the transition will be very easy. Anyway thanks for the great product and keep up the great work.

77 of 151 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Poor AVCHD support

Written by DB from West Chester

Apr 25, 2008

As a previous reviewer wrote. I should have purchased Vegas as well. Instead of import my camera's (hf10) true 1920x1080 AVCHD footage, it converts it to an anamorphic 1440x1080. Because of the impossibility of returning software, they should let people know this up front. To make a good software choice you need that info. I would have gone with Sony had I known.

Horrible work Apple.

170 of 219 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

SO much better than iMovie

Written by AC from Frisco

Apr 24, 2008

SOOOO much better than iMovie 08. It's perfect for someone with a small budget, but wants a powerful product. Gives so much more creative control of your videos. Works perfectly with my iMac.

63 of 100 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

AVCHD frame rate problems...

Written by CP from Amherstview

Apr 22, 2008

I bought this because it should work with my consumer level AVCHD HV20 or HF10 camcorder's cool 24p frame rates right? Wrong. In order to edit and export them, you'll need to buy Final Cut Pro... which for the same price, you could buy an entire brand new computer and Sony's Vegas editing software to handle those framerates! Wow Apple. Unless they release a patch that puts FCE4 on par with other current video editors, I'd hold off on this one. Come on Apple, for $199 a video editor should be able to handle framerates of todays consumer level camcorders.

154 of 193 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Pretty decent program

Written by KK from New York

Mar 27, 2008

Overall, FCE is much like FCP minus a few extras.

For new users, a fair amount of time will be spent learning FCE. What Apple did was facilitate "ease" by making it mesh with the dreadful Imovie 08. Trading files between the two programs is somewhat simple, but really redundant. It’s far easier to capture footage straight to FCE vs. Imistake 08.

The weird stuff is:
• FCE cannot share files with Imovie 06! Bummer.
• The converting of non-FCE files can become a long process. I had some Quicktime files which took hours / days (?) to render! Mind you, the clip was only 4 minutes long.

In summary, it's a useful tool ; the creative options it gives you to manipulate both video and audio are terrific, but only as useful as the time you are willing to put learning FCE.

154 of 260 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Very Helpful

Written by DC from mission Viejo

Mar 22, 2008

I just recently made the step from Imovie to FCE4. It was a huge step but it was completely worth the money. It was a little complicated at first but if you get the one-on-one time with a mac professional ( which you can sign up for at the mac store) it is very simple. If anyone out there is hesitating to purchase this product I suggest you buy it! I am 100% happier with the quality of this product, although I suggest you buy final cut studio 2 if you love to make films as I do ( even though FCS2 is like 1300$).

127 of 235 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Not worth the upgrade

Written by WS from Devon

Mar 20, 2008

I recently upgraded from final cut express 3 on a powerbook to fce 4 on a macbook pro. i was looking forward to new features etc but was somewhat disappointed.

First off, say goodbye to soundtrack. they got rid of it. THIS IS NOT GOOD. i was angry to find out that i had to do all of my audio editing directly in final cut. not cool.

also, livetype is a little watered down. it can do all the same stuff but some of the templates, livefonts, and objects/textures are gone

all in all im not too pleased.

on the other hand, editing with multiple formats is excellent. it has saved me a lot of converting. definitely a plus, but still would recommend final cut studio 2 for those who know how to use it and can afford it.

221 of 316 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Making professional quality edits in a week

Written by BZ from Forest Park

Mar 8, 2008

I'm not a tech-y. I'm a 50 year old with no computer skills who needs to do professional edits-NOW. I have a 13" macbook that I don't know how to use. I bought a 500g external hard-drive and had at it. For newbies I suggest buying the "Final Cut Express 4"book (part of the apple pro training series $39.95). Load it, manipulate the included practice media- its a great overview. If you're close to an Apple store sign up for One-to-One. You get an hour a week with a Mac Genius to help you with specific problems and show you how to use FCE with Garageband and iDVD, .Mac, etc. After 30 days I'm turning out projects that I'm told are broadcast quality.

128 of 179 people found this useful