New to a Mac?
I bought my first MAC thinking that, even though I loved my previous editing software (Video Studio 11), Final Cut Express, with all of the positive responses to it, had to be as good or better. Now, before I move on, I want to let you know that I am not an editing professional. I make movies of my kids (each year of their lives, age 1, 2, 3) and have done a few other projects such as a 40 year anniversary DVD for my inlaws and a DVD on my travels to various baseball stadiums over the years (17, but thats another story). So, as you can see, I'm a normal Dad who just wants to make personal home movies more exciting.

Two things really, really disappointed me about Final Cut Express:

1 - the inability to easily incorporate Text into my DVD. With Video Studio 11, it took all of about 1-2 minutes for me to type right into the timeline what I wanted and where I wanted it. If I had special effects to add to the text, it was very easy for me to do. With Final Cut Express, not so much. You need to go to an outside product (called Live Text) to create a separate text project and then import it into your project. While Live Text seems like an incredible text application, the whole process is just too time consuming and honestly, for the novice, very difficult to understand. This alone had me praying for Video Studio to release a version of its editing software for MAC.

2 - Pictures. With Video Studio 11, I could (very easily) bring my pictures to life with movement within the picture. What I mean when I say this is, I could easily pan across a picture, say from one person on the left side to another person on the opposite side. Or, I could start of by zooming in on my Sons eyes and then maybe easily zoom out to show everyone in the picture - again, very easily. With Final Cut Express - not so much. I attended a One to One training ($99 for the year at my local Apple store) and was told that this alone would be a full hour of training to master and even then, would take practice. Keep in mind, I bought this "Express" version and not the "Pro" version - thinking I was getting something made for someone who is not a professional.

Overall, I love my MAC. I really do! And I plan on going back again and again for the 1:1 training at my store so I can master this program. I only wish the people at Apple would have thought about ways to make this easier to use for folks who are not as technically savvy.

I am still praying that someday, Corel (makers of Video Studio 11) will make their products for MACs as well. I will convert immediately.

At Work: Final Cut Express
Working with Final Cut Express

Creating titles and credits with Express is important. The key is the Video Generator. You can create synthesized clips that you superimpose over your existing video clips in the Final Cut Express Timeline.

For good-looking titles, you can use san serif fonts such as Arial, Futura, Gill Sans, Helvetica and Impact. I have found using bold, red or blue 30 point fonts effective for my titles.

You need to watch for the 20 percent factor. The 'Title Save Boundary' is 20 percent smaller than your television screen. To see the boundaries in Final Cut Express, go to View then to Show Title. Best to keep your titles within the safe zone.

Final Cut Express allows you to create rolling credits like the credits at the end of a movie. You can set the duration of your video clips plus set the in and out points for speed of the text and scrolls.

Looking at Final Cut Express Storyboard

Storyboard gives me a visual look at my movie. I control-click the Final Cut Express browser and choose large icon new. Then, I drag the clips into the order that I want them to be played. Next, I click on the project's tab in the Browser and save it. Finally, I save the entire project.

Now to add my new storyboard to Final Cut Express 4 sequences. Draw a marquee around the Storyboard clips. Next, I drag the clips from my Final Cut Express Browser to my Timeline and save the project. To protect them, I can lock them to make sure that they cannot be modified. I can lock and unlock them with the F4 key for video tracks and the F5 key for audio tracks.

Pro Reaction

Express allows you to import iMovie projects. You can also import your Final Cut Express project to iDVD complete with special chapter marker. Express comes with an excellent hardcopy paper manual for learning how to use Final Cut Express 4. The manual is easy to follow without computer jargon.

Con Reaction

You have to work at learning how to use the Final Cut Express application. You have to spend the time to read and work with the Final Cut Express manual.

You cannot capture DV across time-code breaks. You cannot import your Final Cut Express project to iMovie or QuickTime with chapter markers and comments.

Final Remarks

Express is better than my iMovie applications and gives you professional storyboard, title and video effects.

Great For Everything The NonProffesional Would Want To Do
First things first, you will need at least some form of experience with professional editing software to really get fulfillment from buying this product. If you are switching from say IMovie to this, it will be very hard to get used to as it is far more advanced in what it can do.

Now, with that being said I think it's still pretty easy to use if you just mess around with it. In addition it's probably your best bet for the price.

The only complaints I have are just nitpicking things. For example, I wish that it gave previews of the the filters and effects so you didn't have to apply them to see what they do.

Obviously, if you are planning on editing professionally you'd want to get Final Cut Pro but since its about $1200 this is an excellent program for anything else you'd want to do.

Just the thing
I had been wanting to do a video or two for fun and to see if I could use the creative potential of video. The iMovie that came with the computer never wanted to work right. This software is so simple yet strait forward enough to learn in a few hours. And still give great high end looking results. (As high end as I need anyway). Very cool.

Excellent service
My Final Cut Express 4 software came as promised: new and unopened. It also came faster than promised which was a great plus. It is nice to finally find a company which delivers what it promises.