Going from Final Cut to Premiere...

My new laptop should arrive soon. I plan on buying Premiere (whatever version is the cheapest). I am a film student, who has taken a couple classes on Final Cut Pro. I currently own a nice machine with FCE. Film editing is a major interest of mine, and might actually be my major. However I feel that I have not done that much with final cut to commit yet (although I really really like it) My issue is I rather just keep one computer at a time (for constancy and money!). Seeing as FCP is the industry standard (at least for amateur/low level projects), would I be a fool to start learning a different system, that is not as widely used? I know that the same non linear editing fundamentals apply to both systems. Has anyone used both and can reassure that Adobe/Windows is not evil for video editing? If there is a better forum to address this issue, mod please move this. I posted in windows seeing how Premiere is on both platforms.

 

one way to tell is to look at the job adverts. from tv stations to production houses, nearly everyone asks for fcp experience. and most of the rest ask for experience with the older avid media composer systems.

 

I suppose, but I know a lot of people just ask for FCP just because they don't know any better, Im not sure if they really care what system you use, as long as you can get the job done. I don't think editors with 20years+ on older systems are going to be turned away specifically for FCP. I could be wrong though.

 

portfolios are important, being able to work with the clients equipment/software and their file formats are equally so.

 

The thing about Premiere is you're going to have to learn to deal with a lot of frames slipping (more than you have to with FCP) - it just forgets. But you'll almost never have to worry about needing to relink footage, something Premiere shares with Avid.

As far as using the software, you've got your usual J, K, L which is common to all three, but some of the other shortcuts have moved around (C instead of B, V instead of A), but you can reassign your keys if you really need to.

Beyond that, FCP's much faster when it comes to dealing with Offline Media, as well as transferring data, Macs just do it all quicker even through USB.

Finally, coming to actual market use. Premiere is at the bottom rung amongst editors. It is the best tool to LEARN to edit on, you won't be looking at much beyond cutting wedding videos and handycam stuff on it. On the other hand, it does have native R3D support if you're going that high-end, but so does FCP, and it handles the proxies better too.

FCP is used by TV channels for cutting promos, feature-ish news stories and ads, and also for some light film work if you've used HD or HDV.

Finally Avid is where you get into the big leagues. News channels use Avids for their online cuts, networks do episodes of TV shows, and stuff shot on film (Features and ad films) are done extensively on Avid.