[oryx93]

Hi there,

I've been debating either going PC or Mac for my new video editing machine. I need your help comparing two solutions that I've narrowed it down to: Vegas 4 and FCP Express.

I've had a chance to use Vegas 4 for the last little while, and it has so far given me very good results. I have not had a chance to use FCP Express yet - how do the two compare feature wise, and with ease of use? The specs look comparable, however there are still some things that I would like clarification on:

1. I have used Vegas to transfer some VHS tapes to VCD and SVCD. Is FCPE capable of VCD and SVCD output&burn?

2. Vegas has the ability to real-time output through the fw cable and back to a monitor for precise previews sans rendering. Anything similar with FCPE?

3. I've really liked the built-in MainConcept MPEG-1/2 codec for encoding my finished product. How does this codec compare quality-wise to FCP? (And exactly what codec does FCP use for MPEG-1/2?)

Thanks in advance for your opinions/help!

-oryx93

[Axo1ot1]

Macs are really beautiful machines to work with when it comes to video editing. I have edited professionally and I'm a student at NYU film school. They don't really use PCs at all at NYU. Final cut will really blow your mind with how intuitive and fun it is to work with. It does an external monitor preview as well, it comes with excellent documentation. Final Cut doesn't do any burning from within the program, but if you get a mac with a superdrive it will come with iDVD which makes really excellent looking DVDs, or you can use Roxio Toast to make VCDs.

[hmurchison2001]

Buy Vegas at your own risk.

Vegas does have nice features. However FC Express is aimed at handling primarily MiniDV. As the poster said before you'd need to augment it with something else to support the VCD and MPEG1 files.