Avid Xpress DV 3

Has anyone heard anything about this program called Avid Xpress DV 3? There's a big ad for it on the back of my latest issue of MacAddict. It says that it's used to edit more than 90% of all prime-time shows. Has anyone used this? Is it better than Final Cut Pro? It costs like $1699 as opposed to FCP's $999, so I was wondering if it was that much better or if it has just about the same capabilities. From the ad, it looks like it's set up pretty much like FCP. If anyone has used this, please let me know, since I will be buying my major editing program within the month. Thanks.

 

Stick with FCP.

Avid is always making up figures like that.

 

Do you have the money for either ?

 

Yeah. My family's pretty rich, and since I want to go into either editing, directing, or special effects with a company like ILM, they look at it as part of my education.

 

ILM doesn't do editing or directing

 

I know that, but I also said that I might want to go into special effects. That's why I asked a couple of days ago what people thought were the best 3D programs for Macs. I want to try out all different aspects of film. If I go with editing or directing, naturally, I wouldn't work for ILM, but if I decide to go into special effects, I would like to end up at ILM. That's what I was trying to say.

 

i think ILM is the hardest effects house to get into...you can't expect to become good and work for them right away...they only take the best of the best you need college(for most of the jobs) and be profienct in the Unix Shell. It takes A LONG time to get good...just to let you know...

 

Yeah, when i applied for a Network Engineer position there, I didn't think i'd get the call back, because there is so much more they want you to know.

They only hire "everymen or everywomen" for permanent positions. Meaning very well rounded indivduals with much more expertise than the actual main job you have there, not to mention prior experience in a production studio.

And you gotta be a nice professional person

 

They mean that Avid's in general are used for most TV shows. This program was created specifically to compete with Final Cut Pro. The new Avid DV 3 doesn't utilize dual processors yet.
I use Final Cut myself and with Apple buying all these effects companies lately I think you'll be seeing some really cool versions of Final Cut down the road or some really cool effects software that works in conjunction with FCP.

But the Avid my not be a bad choice either, it's too new to tell.

Good Luck.

 

I've messed around with FCP and Avid, but I stick with premiere, since I think the Premiere/After Effects setup is much more well rounded than FCP, and with student discounts I got it cheaper.

And don't let anyone tell you premiere won't get you a job.

I have a full time job where i edit on a TGA3k (targa3000) system with dual 1.4 gig processors... it is run on a premiere platform.

Of course, the main reason is because of connections (I knew a guy who knew the guy who hired me) but having all sorts of experience can ALWAYS help, I love my job, it lets me crawl before I walk-- all before i even graduate from college.


And guys, you think this is insane (that his parents will buy it)

I know a kid that is in my little sister's grade-- 7th, his parents own HEB... his name is Jefferey Butt, sun of Howerd Edward Butt (the owner of HEB the giant grocery store chain in texas and mexico... maybe other places too) Anyways, he comes up to me in the hall one day (his sister is one of my friends and a year younger than me) and he says "hey Mike, do you know Final Cut Pro" I go "yeah" he says "yeah, well I just bought it... I'm not sure what it does, but I've heard it's pretty cool"

I wanted to smack him.

Cya
Mike

 

wix, i would've done worse than that

 

heh heh, you and me both wix

Premiere was the only editing system i knew when i got hired at a production studio about a year and a half ago. Same story as you, I knew somebody who knew somebody and i happened to be at the right place at the right time. gotta love it

now that my duties as a network engineer have slowed down (after putting servers in place and a switched network)

i'm editing on a discreet smoke* and really love my job these days.

we're dumping off our Avid Media Composer for a balls to the wall dual proc Final Cut Pro system.

 

regarding employment at ILM.
some guy came in to talk about computer related careers, and it ws mentioned that people working at ILM get half the pay for the skills and work they have and do (respectively) just because it's such a famous company. and plus, they've got on the scale of 10,000 applicants that can be considered (already)

 

AVID XPress is a big ol' pile o' crap.

AVID machines aren't used purely for TV shows, a lot (a helluva lot) of films are cut on AVID machines.

FCP is by far a better program than AVID XPress.

anyway,

Nick "Shorty" Long

 

avid was use to edit, i know for sure TPM but i'm sure it was the mose expensive one

 

it would've been either an AVID Film composer or AVID Media Composer.

anyway,

Nick "Shorty" Long

 

Stick with FCP. Of course I love the Media 100 setup but that's a bit on the expensive side...

 

<<Of course I love the Media 100 setup >>

Don't lie, NO-ONE likes Media 100.

anyway,

Nick "Shorty" Long

 

I know I don't. I'd rather edit on a linear system than use media 100

 

I'd rather put up with unedited rushes than use Media-100


anyway,

Nick "Shorty" Long

 

About 3 years ago, I used to work at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, in their Digital Editing Department. The department focused on Feature film editing, and they used nothing but Avid Suites. Universal Soldier II and Wild Wild West were edited solely on their Avid machines. I suppose it's still the industry standard. For the average home editor, it'd probably be too expensive to get into. Adobe Premiere seems like the best choice for someone on a small budget, which is what I will be doing soon. This is such a great forum; God bless SW fan films!

 

I'd rather put up with unedited rushes than use Media-100

Wow I had no idea there was such an Anti-Media100 sentiment on these boards or I never would've brought it up. Just so we're clear on this I use FCP anyway so give me a break.

 

I have Avid Xpress DV 3.0, and we are going to use it for AQOFII, its a very good program, very easy to use, once you get used to its quirks, and does a great job of posting back to DV or DVD.

As for Dual Processors (PC), 3.0 supports them, and has no problem using it to full advantage, but I dont have my dual processor set up yet. I'll re-post when I do. http://www.avid.com/products/xpressdv/features.shtml

The whole AXDV vs FCP, seems to be more in the realm of Mac vs PC again, and I dont want to get into that, but I'd suggest, if your gonna use a PC, use Avid XDV, if on a Mac, I see no reason to switch from FCP. Only for the reason that I havent seen it for the Mac, and have use both programs on their respective platforms, and both were equaly as powerfull.


The question about film editing with Avid, I believe most of the post houses are using Symphony used with Avid Media Composer.


As for the Media 100 remark... LMAO!!! I fullyy agree!!!

 

I sat through a long demonstration of Avid Xpress DV3 at a Digital Media World show earlier this year and found it to be very disapointing. Sure, it's quite customizable, but in my personal opinion, Vegas Video 3 kills it. All the big exciting new features that Avid DV had like real time previews were things that Vegas Video has always had.