Thread: Future of Video Editing

I think the iPad has a future as a professional tool for film makers, as it has for all professionals. As an editing tool, not yet and not in its current form.

A few years back it reached the point where the average computer user never needed a pc any more, the laptop had become more than powerful enough for most users. People, younger generations in particular have also got more used to using smaller devices for more purposes but the iPad still way to small and nowhere near powerful enough for professional video editing. But it has shown that the general everyday user doesn't even need the power of a laptop any more. As Marc said earlier, both iMovie and Avid are very basic on the iPad, but I have heard of directors throwing together quick cuts on iMove (full mac version) and handing over to an editor to take to FCPX. Recently I heard someone say that they experimented with doing this on the iPad version.

As for Apple abandoning video editing as a Prime market, it's become quite apparent, even to those who initially shunned FCPX that this is not the case. FCPX is way more powerful than FCP 7. It also has the potential to be way more powerful than AVID, but it still doesn't even attempt to challenge it's trimming toolset (maybe, I'll get back to that soon enough). There are still many bugs in FCPX's basic operation but it shows that Apple are looking to set the future in video editing.

What's happening with the MacPro is big at the moment. I don't pretend to know, but I do have thoughts.

For a long time I have done the majority of my computing using a wacom tablet, I'd use it 100% for graphics and general computer use, but not for editing. When working with graphics and checking something quickly in Adobe Premiere I stick with it, when editing in Premiere I change to the mouse/keyboard combination. When editing in Avid I never use the pen, but with FCPX I've found I stay with the pen/keyboard combination and don't even touch my mouse. As a long time preferred Avid editor, I'd love to use the keyboard more in FCPX, but the trimming toolset doesn't always make it the most sensible approach.

Over recent years people are becoming more familiar with touch screens and touch pads than with mice and keyboards. I think this is where Apple are going, I've heard of people doing tests and operating FCPX on their iPad (via a remote desktop). When I look at the FCPX trimming toolset I get the feeling a larger touch screen device is on route. Maybe an iMac, maybe a Mac Pro, maybe something new? Maybe even operating in this will rival Avid's trimming tools.

Here's something else that might make a difference in relation to the Mac Pro. Since the release of thunderbolt the next big thing is the external pci device, I have a little feeling these might affect Apples decision on where they go now.

David.