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Final Cut Express 4.0

Not for amateurs

Written by SB from Orlando

Feb 12, 2009

I normally don't take time to write reviews, but after reading all of the negative reviews I felt I had to defend Final Cut.

First of all, this software is not for amateurs. It is professional software. If you want something simple and easy to use, use iMovie. If you want complete control over your video and audio, an incredible amount of effects and filters, and a huge list of features that will help you create quality, professional looking video, and you have the patience and intelligence to learn something new, then get Final Cut.

At first it is overwhelming, but stick with it. Once you get used to it, it all makes sense. Just because it's made by Apple doesn't mean any idiot can use it. I had to resist the urge to go back to iMovie, and forced myself to do all my projects in Final Cut. After awhile I was so glad I stuck with it, because I have so much more control over my video. It makes manages video clips and scenes so much easier, and though it's certainly more time consuming, your final product is much better looking than in iMovie.

So please don't listen to these fools who don't have the competence to learn something new and tried it for a few hours then gave up. Give it a chance, and you'll be glad you did.

191 of 202 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Perfect Upgrade from iMovie

Written by SS

Feb 8, 2009

If you want the "next step up" from iMovie, this is what to buy! You can make great effects and edit like a pro. Livetype is easy to use, too. I've made Halo 3 montages with FCE, and people love them!

39 of 44 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Camera recognition

Written by NK from pottsville beach

Jan 23, 2009

I use the old sony mini dv cameras for my work and find this program doesn't pick up some of the later models, Also, some time the program refuses to let me put in an editing effect in some places without a lot of mucking around. Otherwise a good product for a novice like me and at least me computer doesn't crash like it use to with windows.

35 of 48 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

This is What i think

Written by EM

Jan 22, 2009

I think that the persons who write a bad reviwe about this product are the persons that are not prepared for use it. iMovie it's a simple softwere were you can edit easy your videos, but Final Cut Express have more Special Effects, Transition and more. I mean, imovie is for persons who just want to edit her family Videos, but if you want a better video effects and a better professional looking use Final Cut Express becouse i think it's a cool software. If you want to become a professional in video editing on the future, you have to buy final cut express, but if you just want to edit a short video, just use iMovie. I don't have a Mac, and i don't have Final Cut Express yet, but some persons that i known have it, and i think it's the best tecnology that someone can have. YOU ARE THE BEST APPLE!!!!!!!!!!

34 of 95 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Smoooooth as silk.

Written by CJ from Oakland

Jan 8, 2009

4.0 is perfect for me. I'm currently editing HD footage as well as traditional SD video on my iMac 20" and it is awesome. The ability to adjust my frame rate to enable full playback without rendering clips is huge. And this version also takes advantage of my super mouse's scroll ball which is a huge improvement in my workflow from previous versions. Love it, love it, love it.

54 of 63 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

AMAZING AND WORTH EVERY PENNY

Written by HG from chappaqua

Jan 2, 2009

I don't understand why all of these people are saying it's a down grade and that it is terrible. I went from IMovie HD to fce4 and all it took me was 1 day to learn all of the cool tricks. Im not going to lie when you first get it you will not know how to do cool things but all you have to do is go to youtube and find a video that explains it well and ur on your way! If there was more than 5 stars thats what this product would be!

52 of 59 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Destuction of work flow

Written by JB from Battle Creek

Dec 26, 2008

Wow,you cant even make the slightest move without waiting a hour to move to the next.This is how you make a movie in FCE.Add a video effect/filter,take a shower...it should be done now.Add another filter and move some clips around,then go to the store and do your grocery shopping.FCE should be ready when you get back.Play with some more effects,then go see your girlfriend or whatever.This way your not the only one getting screwed.I could make a whole movie in Imovie in the time it would take to edit and arrange 10 sec in fce.It does seem to be a powerful program,but whats the use if it takes a month to do a 5 min video.Im not a person that just pieces clips together,I am a mad man with effects and filters.And this app here just destroys my creative work flow.

60 of 114 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Its a great program for the price

Written by EG from chicago

Dec 12, 2008

It's only $200 and enables me to create accessible and professional looking videos. It has a slight learning curve, but it is a very valuable creative tool.

41 of 61 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Not worth the money & certainly not worth the HEADACHES!

Written by KP from Pinal County

Dec 9, 2008

I did NOT do enough research prior to buying Final Cut Express 4 - it should be
relabeled "Final Cut - DEPRESSED" - as depressed is what you'll feel when you find out just how little FCE can actually do!

And for all of the folks that say - "You just need to learn how to use it" -
Listen - In MY opinion - it should be WAY more user friendly than it is!

I HAVE worked with PC based video editing programs (AVID & Pinnacle) for the last 5 years,
and making the switch to FCE is like already knowing how to
drive a car really well, BUT THEN - You have a stroke!!
You already KNOW what you want - you just cant make the system DO what you want...or it takes 5 steps instead of one... FCE is a very frustrating program.

Hopefully, Final Cut Pro - or Studio will do more of what I WANT - for the price - it'd better!!!!

The old saying is SOOOOO TRUE!!!!

Ya Gets What Ya Pay For!!!

87 of 198 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Make sure you got what it takes.

Written by SR from Dayton

Nov 30, 2008

This is a great program, I am 20 years old and have used PC my whole life, I knew the insides and outs of how to get around something if pc said that I couldn't do this or that. But this year I have changed sides and i am now a hardcore MAC!!! fan, don't get me wrong there where times when I wanted to throw my MAC out the window just because I didn't know how to work something. Bottom line is if you've never used mac before and are thinking about changing side give yourself a couple of months to learn how mac works, it is very different from a PC. Don't buy a MAC if your in the middle of your school term and you thinking that this will make your life easier because it won't, you'll just be mad at everyone and everything.

FCE make sure your MAC can support this program before buying it. If you have a laptop, forget it, don't waist your money or time, you need a good IMAC or a good MAC pro desktop, I have a desktop that cost me around $3500 just so I could use FC but I understand that no one really has that kind of money nor should spend that kind of money unless they plan on working for living with your MAC.

PRO's ~ Big enough to keep you learning and gives you almost unlimited abilities if your willing to just sit down and learn.

CON's ~ You'll have to learn, get upset and mad sometimes because you don't know how to do what your trying to do. Little complicated, but once you learn it you'll love it.

107 of 138 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Upgrade form iMovie? Both are useful.

Written by AL from PHILADELPHIA

Nov 20, 2008

I have had Final Cut Express for a long time. It is much harder to use than imovie or imovie HD. I would get final cut for all of the effects. I also think that the layering tools are helpful. Final Cut Express is great but if i were you i would keep imovie too for quick editing such as a youtube video. Using Final Cut Express sometimes can take a while to create a great and amazing looking video.

77 of 89 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Be aware of what camera you use.

Written by JS from Antioch

Nov 17, 2008

I recently purchased the Sony HRD-SR12 which strictly uses the AVCHD format. I also purchased FCE 4.0 The program (as far as I can tell) only allows a firewire connection, the camera only uses USB. My only solution was to purchase iMovie 08 which allows me to connect to USB. I have to dump twice to get to where I want to go,but so far,everything seems OK. I'm still going through a slight learning curve with FCE, but so far so good. BTW, iMovie 06 doesn't get deleted with the install of iMovie08 and i've used both to do editing....so far so good

85 of 104 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Powerful, but doesn't work as advertised...

Written by MH from Anchorage

Nov 16, 2008

I purchased FCE in an effort to learn more about video editing, and to have some fun with family home movies/motorsport videography. It is a powerful application, and appears like it will do most anything you might want in terms of editing. However, it will most likely NOT work with your home video camera without having to purchase additional software (MPEG-2). In my opinion, if I pay $200 for an application that says it will import from your digital video camera, it should work straight from the box. Since MPEG codecs are an industry standard, a consumer shouldn't have to purchase more software to make an application like FCE work. Buy FCE with this in mind.

81 of 92 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

From a PC user.

Written by TC

Nov 10, 2008

Pros: First off, this program is smooth! my work flow is 5x faster than on a PC running Premiere (top of the line config: XPS/Duo/4GB G.Skill RAM/256 vid RAM)

Cons: I had to buy an Apple to use FC... but it runs XP via a virtual machine software called Parallel.

Afterthoughts: XP runs like a dream under Apple's architect. Weird and disturbing because the ultimate machine for XP is a Mac?

After 8 years of Bush... I mean PC, I'm an Apple fan now.

46 of 72 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

EXPERIMENTATION WILL MAKE THIS PROGRAM WORTH IT - NOT iMOVIE UPGRADE

Written by FA from Maricopa

Nov 6, 2008

I personally think that FCE4.0 and iMovie'06 is better than iMovie'08. If you feel the need to take your editing further past your limitations with iMovie -- FCE4.0 MAY be for you. Just keep in mind that you actually need to EXPERIMENT and learn different things with it. FCE4.0 gives you better control over your video editing -- especially with "chromakeying" (green/blue screening). I thought that it WAS a waste of money, until I learned how to use the program (on my own). Well worth the price. I suggest checking out videos on YouTube for FCE4.0.

49 of 54 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Easy to use

Written by MW from Hillsboro

Nov 1, 2008

This software is easy to use and makes for great student films. I am a freshman in highschool and we use this software in my Filmaking class. I love experimenting with the different tools and options. I definately recomend this to first time and experienced Filmakers!

46 of 51 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Very High quality!!!

Written by CC from Ottawa

Oct 21, 2008

I just dont understand how Apple can make products of this quality for an amazing price. If you compare this software to other products in this class, their is simply no comparison. If you look at all the transitions and effects you can add to your videos, you can produce a very high quality motion picture even if you dont have all the money to spend on a high end camera. Man, Apple keeps on making products that are like from the year 2012. Keep it up!!!

43 of 54 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Apple, I'm disappointed

Written by AT from Williamstown

Oct 21, 2008

Why? you have cut out soundtrack, one of my favorite parts of this bundle that i used very often. livetype is now pathetic, with few extras to make great titles with, and there are hardly any big updates. all this new software does is take away features. this is not an upgrade, it is a DOWNGRADE. go to ebay and buy final cut 3.5 if you think you've out grown imovie, don't waste you hard earned cash on this junk

76 of 101 people found this useful