Home

Final Cut Express 4.0

The Coolest Software

Written by CS from Marshfield

Nov 14, 2009

i just bought final cut express for my new macbook pro and i love it a lot so far i've done a lot of my high school projects with it for high school digital media and hope to use it in college too!!!!

8 of 12 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Put in effort to get the rewards

Written by FD

Jul 13, 2009

Having changed from PC to Mac a few months ago, I had to decide which NLE software package I would use to edit my (mostly windsurf action / road trips) videos. On the PC I used Adobe Premiere Elements, which I found very user-friendly and provided sufficient possibilities for the stuff I was doing. Of course, this package is not available for Mac (only the Pro version, which I considered too expensive and probably too complex). Putting Windows on my Mac was no option for me, as you lose the possibility to share media in between different programs.

A lot of reviews of the FCE software were quite negative, which made me doubt to actually buy it, but as some reviewers recommended, I bought a proper training book (Diana Weyand, Apple Pro Training Series) when I decided to get FCE.

After I finished the book and it's exercises my conclusions is: What a great NLE software package is FCE! It offers so many more options and control over your editing and yes, it's not as intuitive as some other Apple programs, but this is professional grade stuff.

I highly recommend this to anyone who's made editing into a serious hobby / professionals on a budget and DO get some sort of training right at the start to avoid any frustrations.

231 of 251 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

I'm A Pro Now

Written by EL from westlake

Jul 11, 2009

I am the school computer geek and have been making movies for my school.I was so great to jump from imovie to final cut.I love the overall look of it and it is fun and easy to edit with. Because of final cut in the professional world,I now want to be an editor.
Keep It Up Apple!

36 of 50 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

AMAZING!!!!

Written by MH from Broomfield

Jun 14, 2009

This product is amazing. I like iMovie 09, but I wanted a program that would give me more editing freedom. After a few hours of playing with the software, I have learned most of the basic features ... this is a VERY powerful program. If you liked iMovie HD, you will LOVE this software. Don't let the other negative reviews steer you away from purchasing this software. Most of the reviews are negative simply because the person could not figure out how to use the software. If you have a couple hours to spend looking at Apples online tutorials, you will easily get the hang of this great editing tool!

68 of 73 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Very powerful video editing software, Worth every penny!

Written by JR from Williston

May 27, 2009

I was originally going to upgrade to imovie 09, but for about $100 more I chose to go with FCE. At first I thought, "what did I get myself into" it is a little discouraging at first. But once you get the basics down, you will learn very quick. It is a pro app in my opinion. You are only limited by your imagination. I used to use microsoft movie, and this blows it out of the water. Get it, you'll be glad you did in the long run. Cause you can grow into this software. make your videos look professional with FCE. Go out and get it.

95 of 111 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Great Product!

Written by SM from Acton

May 18, 2009

I bought a macbook with final cut express 4 and it took me about 2 days to get used to it. I had been using Adobe Premeire Elements, but final cut works like a dream, it recognized my firewire the first time around. It is such a compatible interface, although if you have movie files from final cut pro the codec isn't the same, but other than that, I highly recommend this product for editors on a budget or for people who make good edits for youtube. Get IT!

74 of 81 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

FIVE STARS

Written by KE from YPSILANTI

Apr 24, 2009

Great software Final Cut Express is all that and more plus live type, And for the price you can't beat it. If you are into video's Final Cut Express is your soft ware.

33 of 43 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

FCE is great!

Written by JR from West Islip

Apr 7, 2009

I am an event videographer. I had been using Adobe Premier Elements for years. Although I liked the program I had nothing but trouble with it for years. I recently upgraded my PC to a Vista machine with quad core processors, 4 gigs of ram and terabyte hardrive. I also purchased Premier Elements 7 thinking all this upgrading will solve my problems running Premier. Well if anything it made it worse. My PC constantly crashes while working on my videos. Vista stinks and Premier has it's own issues so the two combined makes for a hair pulling experience. For years I was thinking about buying a Mac to do my video work with Final Cut Express. I had enough of Vista and Premier and purchased a 24" iMac. To make this story a short one I'll just say I love my new iMac and I love Final Cut Express 4. It is very similar to Premier, but better, so learning how to use hasn't been that difficult. But the best part is that I have had a total of zero PC crashes while working with multiple videos at one time. Buy FCE and take the time to learn how to use it and you won't be dissapointed.

86 of 89 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

Just Get It

Written by BH from Plain City

Mar 28, 2009

I'm a bit ticked at the people that gave this negative reviews. This product will pay for itself in less than a day. After that I can double my wages and my clients will never know the difference. I upgraded from iMovie '09. It's the ability to edit the audio in the video that is saving me so much time. I spent two days learning iMovie, and it just didn't do it. After watching the video tutorials and an hour in Final Cut Express, I'm literally twice as fast. That's no stretch, my time clock doesn't lie.

101 of 107 people found this useful

Final Cut Express 4.0

WOW! Big Bang for the Buck!

Written by GW from Federal Way

Feb 13, 2009

Unless you are a professional digital video production studio, FCE is all you will need to produce first class, broadcast ready movies. If you can't, it isn't the software's problem. This $200 scaled down version of the full FC Pro is missing some soundtrack and more powerful filters that you would need in a studio setting. But you can green screen and just about any transition you can think of are all included for a stupid low price. If you need help there are tonnes of tutorials. I have produced three documentaries so far with FCE. And the Live Type that comes with it is really fun to play with. You can create some amazing credits for the beginning and end of the project.

110 of 122 people found this useful

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.

184 of 195 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

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!

50 of 57 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

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.

48 of 53 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