should I start on Final Cut Studio 2?

I have been messing around with iMovie and I have become interested in taking the next step in editing.

My options are FCE or FCS2 which I can get with my student discount for $180 and $700 respectivley. I really want the Smoothcam ability in FCS2.

Should I just get FCS2 or should I save my cash and get FCE?

I would recommend FCE. It is still leaps and bounds ahead of iMovie and should serve your needs just fine.

the only thing steering me away from FCE is the lack of Smoothcam.

I guess I could always get Shake for $250 if I really need Smoothcam.

Does FCE and Shake sound like a good combo?

Shake is a very pro app and im not sure if its as integrated with fce as it is with fcs or fcs2. Please dont forget about the 1st fcs. Its on ebay from 300-700 and it lacks nothing you will use.

brian67 said:

I really want the Smoothcam ability in FCS2.

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Check out iStablelize. And via the MacUpdate promo, you can get it cheaper than regular price with a bunch of other apps.

D3v1L80Y said:

I would recommend FCE. It is still leaps and bounds ahead of iMovie and should serve your needs just fine.

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Exactly.

I suggest getting FCE. It is far more advanced from iMovie. Then once you get used to FCE and you are ready to be challenged more, move up to FCS2.

That is what I did.

xstep said:

Check out iStablelize. And via the MacUpdate promo, you can get it cheaper than regular price with a bunch of other apps.

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I've used iStablelizer before on my brothers MBP. It does a pretty decent job.

The thing is. I wont be a student after less than a year and I will not be able to get the discount.

FCE - Final Cut Excel???

By the way, can I download a trial version of this?

FCE= Final Cut Express. A pro-sumer version of Final Cut Pro

I did not find any trial

EuphLlama said:

I suggest getting FCE. It is far more advanced from iMovie. Then once you get used to FCE and you are ready to be challenged more, move up to FCS2.

That is what I did.

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Not to be rude but, why drop money on FCE and then use it for 6months, get used to it, and then buy FCS2? Why not just jump straight into FCS2 and get used to all the great pro apps right away. Thats just my thoughts.

FCP6 is great and Motion isn't all that hard to learn and the templates are great. Soundtrack Pro is just as easy as any audio program. DVD Studio Pro is fairly easy to start with and the templates work well until you learn it in and out. Color and Compressor well, you can take a tutorial or seven and learn all you need to.

My opinion, skip FCE and go straight into FCS2 (or FCS1).

But then again, what are you doing with this. Are you going to try and do editing for a career or just as a hobby? If you're going to try and make money with this, make the right investment in the beginning. If its just something your doing for fun, I still recommend FCS2 because by using all the bundled apps you can have something that looks just as professional as someone who is really good with FCE without much training or effort on your part.

Ohh and as far as the Smoothcam thing goes well, learn to control the camera better. Steadier footage beats the heck out of footage that has to be smoothed out in post. If you need to, pick up a shoulder mount and take great steady shots with no need for Smoothcam.

Thats all some good advice and just what I was thinking. As for the Camera control, its only an issue when I am zoomed out. Im only using this for a hobby, but I like the idea of having everything I could possibly need without upgrading later.