FCPX 3 music vid techniques also good for horror

https://youtu.be/Rem-qu_5rgI

Some great shortcuts and additional tips also in this vid. 11mins long but even just watch and try the 1st one and you're getting these. This really does highlight the media c-word (yes, convergence!) in full effect - it's incredible what you can achieve now with FCPX and some imagination!

MAC Finder shortcuts

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/finder-keyboard-shortcuts-cheat-sheet-mac/

MAC creating flexible APFS container on hard drives

This is a useful idea to consider, for example to store all your FCPX Libraries. The native Mac file format, APFS (used to be HFS) is much faster than Windows-friendly compromises like exFAT.

This approach would see you split your HDD so you keep BOTH file formats. The container concept varies from a partition in that its size is flexible.

https://www.imore.com/how-add-volume-apfs-container-and-why-you-would-want

EDITING ON THE ROAD

This looks like an interesting series to follow - not so much the programmes being produced as the backstory to how a couple are filming and editing a series with their Mac editing setup in a trailer, and part powered by solar panels.

I'm seeing more and more often veteran editors proclaim FCPX for its clip/library management system. It's clearly rebounded from the huge tactical errors of the initial dumbed down FCPX displacement of Final Cut Pro 7, which many still clung to a decade after it was outmoded.

The story here may seem outlandish - 48TB of hard drive space! - but it isn't really. I'd estimate I've got about 40TB of HDDs myself (though I've mostly given up on the USB2 drives as just too slow).

Anyway, may be of interest to some of you

http://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/articles/2203-1-year-30-000-km-on-the-road-with-fcpx-part-1

Filmmaker explains switch from Avid, Premiere to FCPX

https://nofilmschool.com/switched-final-cut-pro-x-after-25-years

MACBOOK BUYING GUIDE 2019

I've done more detailed posts (including flagging up the 2nd hand market), but here's a simple summary

A frequent request is advice on buying macs, so I'll repeat some recently given advice (Q was: macbook Air or pro? 13" or 15"):

BEFORE YOU BUY ANY...

It ISN'T necessary to buy one, you have plentiful access to the Media Macs, but of course it will be helpful.

Try to buy in a country with Apple stores (as opposed to resellers like Linehart) so you can get the software bundle (FCPX + more) at a bargain price. Only available at the point you buy a Mac, NOT afterwards, and NOT from resellers, just Apple directly. Which is why I bought a mac Mini last Xmas when in the UK. See this post.

Its widely assumed Apple will release a 16" MBPro in the same chassis/frame size as the current 15" in Sept/Oct 2019. Apparently with a redesigned keyboard (a common MBP fault recently). See Techradar for good mac updates + reviews.

AIR OR PRO?

If possible avoid Air; much less powerful (but is still a decent computer)

Mac Mini (I have one) + iMac are arguably better value; you pay a premium for portability

13" OR 15" ... or 16"

15" is heavier + pricier, but its simply easier to work with more screen space. I've edited a 90min doc on my 2011 13" MBP - perfectly workable, but if I could've afforded it, I'd have had a 15". If possible, have a go editing on both, get a feel for the difference, even if just in a shop.

See what i said above about the new 16".

UPGRADES

Yes, horrifically expensive, but they'll make it work well for longer, + quicker when editing

Try to avoid the 128GB HDD (even with software only, that'll be hard to avoid running out) - see this post

If possible, go for higher CPU + graphics options (BUT later you can add an EGPU, plug-in graphics card)

APPLE CARE

You'd be foolish not to max this out. Macs typically last for years.

FCPX free plug-in bundle

Until now a $180 bundle this has some great retro features + split screen + counter + more...

https://www.newsshooter.com/2019/07/17/digital-heaven-makes-all-fcpx-plug-ins-available-for-free/

BUYING MACS Coping with 128GB hard drive

I did a detailed breakdown quite a while ago on buying Macs - my core points still apply, prioroy, in order, RAM (16GB+), CPU, graphics card. These days an eGPU (external graphics) can extend your Macs lifespan a few years down the line.

If you do buy a Mac with the lousy 128GB hard drive some start from, this is a great article for how to cope with that.

Of course, if you're a Media student here you'll get a loan of a fast 2TB portable drive, a basic requirement for this!

https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/07/15/how-to-cope-with-just-a-128gb-ssd-on-your-mac-mini-or-macbook

MAC APPS Pock puts Dock in touch bar

https://www.cultofmac.com/635714/pock-puts-your-macs-dock-in-the-touch-bar/

FCPX Chrome killing performance?

As the article notes, it's likely that a fix will be quickly issued buy until then it's worth being aware of this

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2019/06/google-chrome-final-cut-pro-x-slow-down-crash.html

KEYBOARD using a Windows keyboard for Mac

When buying a Mac Mini recently I tried to save a few £ from the already frighteningly high cost by getting an older 2nd hand wireless Mac keyboard ... which keeps losing its connection.

So, I'm forced to fall back on an old Windows keyboard for now. As it turns out, the CMD key is actually already coded in by OSX, just not in the expected order you'll be used to. This 9to5mac guide sets out quickly + simply how to change what the CTRL + ALT keys do...

FINAL CUT PRO X plugins

http://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/articles/1976-get-final-cut-pro-x-lens-filters-plugins-for-24

This site started to come up on my google news feed - a good way of discovering sites/info you weren't aware of. I often find stories/articles this way that are very useful for some part of GCSE or A-Level Media.

Some plug-ins are free, others aren't - my expectation is that you'd access any you want yourselves, but I'm happy to take suggestions for any free plug-ins I can install on all Macs, or paid-for, that I can install on one Mac.

FINAL CUT PRO X automatic beat markers for tracks

Read the comments below and it's clear there were a few bugs with this - haven't tried it myself so don't know how reliable it is now, but at 4 bucks sounds like a handy timesaver especially for music video

http://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/news/2094-automatically-put-markers-on-the-beat-with-beatmark-x-for-final-cut-pro-x

BeatMark X from Alex Raccuglia on Vimeo.

MAC APPS to consider

https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/06/mac-video-editor-4k-videoproc/

The new VLC alternative sounds interesting, CheatSheet sounds rather handy - some apps to consider

https://9to5mac.com/2018/12/31/modern-macos-media-player-open-source/

https://thenextweb.com/apple/2019/01/03/25-of-our-favorite-mac-apps-2018-edition/

Here's 9to5mac's blurb on Iina - RIP VLC??

A new open source, modern media player has launched today called IINA that’s made just for macOS. It includes solid features like a dark mode, picture in picture, customizable interface, and more and looks to be a nice alternative to VLC.

After leaving beta, IINA has officially been made available today as a free, open source macOS-only media player and looks to have both great design and functionality.

Here’s how the developers describe the media player:

IINA is born to be a modern macOS application, from its framework to the user interface. It adopts the post-Yosemite design language of macOS and keeps up the pace of new technologies like Force Touch, Touch Bar, and Picture-in-Picture.

IINA features include:

• Dark mode
• Picture in picture
• Customizable UI
• Music mode
• Touch Bar support
• Trackpad and mouse gestures
• Online subtitles
• Plugin system
• Plays anything

While VLC has been one of the most popular choices for open source video players for a while, IINA looks to be a compelling choice for Mac users with tight integration of both design and functionality for macOS.

IINA is compatible with macOS 10.11 and later, but the developer recommends using it with macOS Mojave (10.14) for the best experience.

The open source IINA macOS media player is a free download, and you can check out IINA’s GitHub page here.