Still stuck in an old editing package like Final Cut Pro 7?

Are you still hanging on to Final Cut Pro 7? Should you consider using Final Cut X, or switch to Premiere, or something else? Really the answer boils down to: “Which editing software is best for you, your clients, and your end product.” But if you are still undecided, read on.

There are still a number of editors that still use Final Cut Pro 7. Apples launch of FP X left a bitter taste in early adopter’s mouths. Sure, if you upgrade to FP X there will be a steep learning curve, and it will be difficult to convert those FCP 7 projects into X. But that would be true of most all software packages. FCP 7 is no longer sold by Apple, it is a 32-bit application and the system it runs on can’t be upgraded to the latest Operating System. So switching to something else is really a requirement.

Adobe’s Premiere is a cross platform 64-bit application, works with many GPUs and multiple processors, has a familiar look to FCP 7 users and will easily import FCP 7’s XML files. It also is fully integrated with After Effects, Photoshop, Encore and more. So why wouldn’t one switch to Premiere?

Final Cut X has finally caught up and is getting better every day. Sure, it has an interface similar to iMovie and nothing like other editors, but it is designed to be more fun and appealing to new editors on the scene, not to appease some editor who has been working with some old package like FPC 7 for years.

So should you take the plunge and jump into Final Cut X or Premiere or something else? Well, that depends. It really does boil down to what package is best for the media you need to create. Your first project in this new sofware is going to be painful, but you will learn the ins and outs over time. The line between “professional” editor and “casual” editor are becoming more of a blur with content being created and edited from every device on the planet, now.

If you use After Effects, Photoshop and other Adobe product a lot, and want an interface that is more in tune with FCP 7, then Premiere is probably the better choice. If you are just working on your home movies and posting that next hot cat video to Facebook, then sticking with what you have may still be your best choice.

Try out the different packages – most offer trial version. Read testimonials, look at what others creating content similar to yours are using. If not known, then ask the creator if they will share some insight. Find software that works best for your content at your price and best for your audience.