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Final Cut Express 4.0

Professional Looking, and Moderately Easy to use.

Written by LY from Pinehurst

May 17, 2009

I go this just a couple of days ago, and I am already starting to get the hang of it. I've been reading some reviews saying it is too hard to use, and harder than imovie. Well, imovie is not for professional film editing. This program does take a bit of time to get the hang of, but after you do, you will love the way your movies look!

30 of 35 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

It's good and it is a tool

Written by JA from NIJMEGEN

Apr 23, 2009

Steep learning curve ahead. You can make great movies with it. Software has some quirks. HD editing on a mac mini with firewire works very well. Program plays nice with resources. De-interlacing is a problem. Less then perfect with HDV. General advice, not for novices unless you are willing to invest time and effort.

42 of 45 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Stellar Piece of Software

Written by GJ from Oklahoma City

Apr 14, 2009

My Partner in my Script-to-Screen Class is very adept at using Final Cut Pro. I like the program's flexible ability to help you edit and trim films in such a professional manner.
Of course, we can't afford Final Cut Pro, but I'm sure Final Cut Express works just as well with all the transition basics.

I'm not a film maker, but I learned a lot in my Script-to-Screen Class, and I love it and how you can make yourself an amateur movie maker by using Final Cut.

I say go for it. If you can't afford the $1200 Final Cut Pro, then it's worth getting the $199 for yourself, especially if you're a film student.

44 of 58 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Pretty good, hard to use

Written by LH from Arvika

Feb 20, 2009

This program is the little brother of Final Cut Pro.
If you cant afford FCP, then go for FCE. Downpoint of all of the FC products are that they are EXTREMELY hard to handle if your new to it. Making videos takes a long time, but the outcome is usually exceptional, and thats what counts!

80 of 100 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

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

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

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

Very Good

Written by TR from Lafayette

Aug 25, 2008

FCE 4 is very good for people who are just starting to make semi professional looking films. It's pretty easy to use and it won't take you long to master it. I highly recommend it. If you can afford, definitely go with Final Cut Studio of Adobe After Effects. There is only one problem. When importing AVCHD directly into Final Cut, it was very hard. It made the rendering really slow and it was very hard to work with. Just import it through imovie and it's fine. Livetype is great, too. This product is a 4.5/5.

44 of 52 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Buy a "Guide to..."

Written by CC from Cape Town

Jul 25, 2008

I've been using FCE for some time now: it delivers all I need. Yet I'm surprised some posts here complain about FCE not being "intuitive". Of course it's not unless you understand editing principles, how editing packages work, its interfaces and so on.

If you understand very little about editing, use iMovie - it's very simple. But if you want "semi-professional" options, buy a "Guide to..." with FCE and be prepared to spend a day or two working through its Lessons before you even try editing your own footage. You'll be rewarded in the long run and be all the wiser for not seeing FCE as an "upgrade" from iMovie. They couldn't be more different.

32 of 41 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Video art/Cinema

Written by SZ

Jul 2, 2008

yes I agree FCE is an amazing program for editing and for many other solutions in making short films or video art pieces in general. I used Imovie for one of my short films and I am selected in more than 10 Film festivals all over the world. Many people still asking me which software i used to edit my short film. It's all about being smart and creative.

Best of luck with your cutting!

31 of 47 people found this useful

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

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.

52 of 82 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

A must have!!!!

Written by SS from windsor

Jan 22, 2008

I do have to say that I was A little nerves to get final cut express 4 because it did not have sound track, But Once I got the software and loaded it I found that I Relay did need it that often. Most of the time I find myself using Garage Band for my loops and recording. My friend who has Logic teams up with me when I do a video and I use that software also, so I don't miss it but would of ben cool to have just in case. Where I work I use final cut pro studio 2 and find that FCE 4 has alot to offer for such low cost. I have the ability to print to tape export for web and use the same tools as in FCP. I would recommend this to any one who is ready for FCE and want to create professional videos at a low cost.

186 of 267 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Little Brother to Final Cut Pro

Written by AM from Miami

Jan 16, 2008

If you're looking for a cheap, limited version of Final Cut Pro, this is what you need. Sure, might take you some time to master it, like any PROFESSIONAL system. It's not for the faint of heart, but it is quite easy to get used to. The only real difference between this and FCP is the motion aspect, and that it might not bring Soundtrack, Motion or DVD Studio Pro. Oh well, For the money you can't get better.. Try Avid, see how well that goes. 400 dollars and nothing. USE FINAL CUP EXPRESS if you don't wanna spend 1200 on FCP.

88 of 116 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Quite complicated but powerful and at a great price for new users

Written by PG from North Vancouver

Jan 15, 2008

I've been after a trusted powerful video editor application for a while now. FCE 4 came out around the time I upgraded my system, so I felt with the new pricing that I was getting a great deal. The 'express' title doesn't really mean that you'll be left wanting additional features, unless you're very serious amateur or pro. It also doesn't mean that this application is easy to use.

As a new user I bought a couple of books to help learn FCE. At the time of purchase, no books had been released covering version 4, so I plumped for an editing workshop on FCE HD 3.5, and a guide to FC Pro 6. While using the 3.5 book, I often have to remind myself that I'm on a later version. I have got nearly half way through the course and everything seems identical so far. Perhaps that's because I've covered the basics, and these don't often change, but I'm wondering if users of 3.5 will find enough value unless there is a must-have feature unique to version 4.

I bought the book on Final Cut Pro 6 as well, although don't own this package. I wanted to see how different FCE is. So far I'm struggling to find too many differences, although, again, I'm covering the basics. The point of this, is that from what I can tell, FCE is an easier learning curve step to the pro version, as many of the basics are the same.

Some people criticize FCE 4 for losing some of the previously included features (e.g. Soundtrack). This only really impacts new users, but I find Garage Band is adequate for basic sound editing.

With the new pricing level of FCE, nobody is going to pretend this is aimed at any market other than amateur / enthusiast, and for that you're getting a very powerful package for very few bucks, with a relatively smooth upgrade path (learning wise) to the pro edition if you need to go there.

FCE 4 may not offer enough value to version 3.5 HD users, unless some of the unique features of 4 are must-haves. For users new to the Final Cut family, who want something a little more serious than iMovie, FCE4 steals the show!

90 of 116 people found this useful