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FCP 4 or Avid Xpress DV 4?
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Feb 2003
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Avid has lowered it's prices and I was wondering which is now the better buy?
Given I will be shooting in DV with output to DVD and transfer to film and I have no need for LiveType or Soundtrack, which one of these packages provides the best solution?
Thanks.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: London, UK
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I don't know what workflow you are planning for film transfer, but Xpress DV has no 24fps (or DVX100) support. It doesn't do film cut lists either, or any of the film-specific tools which are included in FCP4. You would need XPress Pro for all that.
In which case, FCP4 is better value.
If you are looking at DVD output, the FCP/DVD Studio Pro combo is an excellent and reasonably well-integrated solution. Xpress DV has no equivalent DVD solution on the Mac (though the PC version does integrate with other DVD authoring software for the PC).
Also, FCP is scalable. So if you do ever progress to SD (e.g., using DigiBeta) or HD, then FCP will handle that - as long as your hardware can 
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Feb 2003
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No film input, so no need 24 fps. I'm shooting on DV (no 24 fps camera), planning to use a NLE to cut, and then export to DVD in order to get it to a film transfer house. I'm not planning on making DVD's for their own sake so have no need for built in DVD support. Bottom line, what is the best editing software, including the most post-production one can do? ie Color corrrection, sound mixing, etc.
It looks like FCP from your answer. Still the case?
Thanks.
(Last edited by jgift; Jan 20, 2004 at 05:31 PM.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: London, UK
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Avid Xpress does have a very nice colour correction tool. Wasn't enough to make me switch, though. Haven't used audio in Xpress DV extensively; I think the audio mixing stuff is much of a muchness between the two. They are both up to scratch, but if you want to do any really serious sound design, you are probably going to want something separate anyway (e.g. ProTools). FCP does come with a bundled version of Peak though, which is good for some things.
Actually, if you really don't need Soundtrack, LiveType, etc., and you'll only be working in DV, why not consider Final Cut Express? It's a lot less than Avid Xpress DV, which means more cash you can spend on your movie. Plus there's an upgrade path to FCP if you ever want to upgrade.
I'm not knocking Avid Xpress, it's a good tool. But FCP is cheaper than Xpress Pro, and FCE is cheaper than Xpress DV. So on the whole I think one of those will prove better value for you…
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Originally posted by jgift:
export to DVD in order to get it to a film transfer house.
Why wouldn't you send it on tape? Everything stays in DV format, so you only re-compress for transitions, etc. Converting your DV to MPEG is only going to add more artefacts.
FWIW.
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Dedicated MacNNer
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I think I have the picture now. Thanks for your time and advice.
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