How did I become a Final Cut Pro editor?
I remember it like it was yesterday, 2002; I was making mix CD’s from my PC computer. I wanted the CD labels silk screen, with a professional appearance. So I started asking around for this service. I remember going to a Christmas dinner party, where I was introduced to a music producer, I mention to him that I was looking for someone to do silk screening for some mix CD’s that I was putting together for distribution.
He give me a business card to a place that can do it. I called the number on the business card the next day, and set up a meeting with the studio. Every thing went smooth at the meeting, we discuss the artwork details and the time frame that I had. A week later I got a call from the studio, to pick up my CD’s, the silk screening labels looked great. I was shown a DVD that had music videos on it; I had never seen anything like that before, a music video DVD, with a selection menu to pick what video you wanted to see.
So I ask if the DVD was for sale, but it wasn’t, since I was a customer, they make me a copy. I took it home and was fascinated over the concept of putting music videos onto a DVD. Over the next couple of weeks, I studied the DVD closely to figure it out, how was it made. I remembered buying Ulead Studio Pro editing package, and DVD movie Factory for my PC computer. I tried to create this Music video DVD, but I failed miserably.
I remembered the first music video DVD I made, on my PC computer, was very grainy and the colors and sound was washed out. I eventually knew that this was not going to work with my PC system. I made a call to the studio that previously made the silkscreen CD labels for me, to get any information on creating a DVD. They told me that the music video DVD was made on a Mac computer (G4) to be exact. I’ve never heard about the G4 until now, so I went off in hunt to check out this G4 computer.
I had to go to an Apple store to check out the (G4) computer. The computer was very expensive, (3,000.00), more than what I wanted to spend on any computer, but after the demonstration on how easy it was to edit a video and burn a DVD, I was sold, I came back the next day and purchase my very own (G4) Dual 800 computer. I was ready to make DVD’s now, so I thought. In the days followed, I made my first DVD on the (G4) computer, and it came out ok, but not as good as the original copy I had gotten from the studio. There was an apple watermark on the DVD I made, and the selection menu couldn’t be customized. So again I called the studio for more information on making a DVD with the (G4) computer.
They told me that I will need two programs to make the DVD, one which was Final Cut Pro for editing, and the other, DVD Studio Pro for authoring the DVD, both programs were $1000.00 each, really expensive stuff. In a couple of weeks I gathered the money and brought both software programs. So as you can see, I cough up $5,000.00 for this new system. There was a learning curve with both software. I started to inquiring about classes for Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro. I found the Apple store had free classes on how to use Final Cut Pro, so I rush over to get in on it. It took me about two weeks to understand Final Cut Pro enough, where I was ready to import my video footage and edit.
The next step was authoring the DVD, another learning curve. I was able to follow a couple of online tutorials on how to author a DVD in DVD Studio Pro. I needed to buy an additional equipment to attach between the computer and my VCR deck, to import analog footage into the computer. This device is called a Dazzle; it converts analog footage to digital, when it’s imported into the computer. So, $150.00 dollars later, I had the Dazzle for my system to import all my analog videos. I finally made the music video DVD, and it was every thing that I had expected it to be and more. With this new editing system, I could do professional work; just like the DVD I got from the studio.
I since upgraded my editing system to a Dual 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5, which gives me lots of processing power, for my editing jobs. I’m editing on the MAC system, and would not go back to PC ever. You have full control in the editing and authoring programs, with this system. No limitations with Final Cut Pro, and DVD Studio Pro. The very best editing programs made by Apple for Apple computers. So if you are serious about editing movies and making DVD’s, I highly recommend getting a MAC system. It will be the best investment you can make. Go to your local Apple store and get a demonstration.
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