What is it about Macs Final Cut Pro that makes it better than PC programs?

[johnharlin]

I use a PC. Why is it that most all video editing companies use something called Final Cut Pro which only runs on a Mac.

There are dozens of video editing programs for PCs that have been recommended here.

What is it about Final Cut Pro - what does it do that makes it so much better - that people have to go out and buy a Mac computer so they can use it because apparently there is nothing comparable to it for the PC?

[edDV]

I use a PC. Why is it that most all video editing companies use something called Final Cut Pro which only runs on a Mac.

There are dozens of video editing programs for PCs that have been recommended here.

What is it about Final Cut Pro - what does it do that makes it so much better - that people have to go out and buy a Mac computer so they can use it because apparently there is nothing comparable to it for the PC?

FCP is intended for DV or uncompressed formats used in production house or broadcast environments. AVID on PC or Mac is more often used for the highest end projects. These products fit the workflow of these facilities but are less suited to home projects unless you mostly work in DV format.

The reason FCP is popular in post houses is the training and freelance user community Apple has helped develop over the past ten years. Sort of like union training to be a journeyman pipe fitter. You need the certificate to get the entry job.

Premiere Pro (PC or Mac) is popular in corporate media departments and agencies that use the full Adobe Suite for a variety of prepress and video projects.

Vegas has been popular with independent video producers although SONY has added the features to let it go after FCP in post houses and TV stations such as XDCAM/HDCAM support and SMPTE 259M/292M uncompressed server interface.

It really depends on the career you intend to follow. You basically use the program your future employer uses as house standard. If you work for yourself, you get to choose.

[lordsmurf]

Don't drink the "Apple-flavored kool-aid".

I've never worked anywhere (or even applied to work somewhere) where FCP was the dominant player. It's always been Premiere where I've been. If you leave Premiere, you go to something better, such as Avid or other specialized systems.

FCP has it's place, but it's not the only game in town, nor even the best choice, depending on your desired task.

One reason FCP was so heavily adopted is (in my opinion) due to DVD Studio Pro, and how advanced it was compared to Windows options at the time (unless you had a near-infinite budget for apps like Scenarist). To get to DVDSP, you sort of required FCP. In 2008, that no longer matters. Software like DVD Workshop 2 has a myriad of features (since ~2004), while Adobe Encore can almost go toe-to-toe with DVDSP (since ~2007). I've long been a "Mac defector" when it comes to authoring. It's one reason I've had a Windows system networked to a Mac of some kind since OS8. Between DVDWS2 and Encore, I don't even log onto a Mac much anymore, no need for it. Just one less box to suck juice from the wall outlets.