I made a quick update video on Wednesday December 20th, 2023 with regards to my purchase of a new Mac Mini installed with Final Cut Pro X. I have used these on the last few LIVE video projects I made (The December footage from oi show, The Uh Ohs, and the Ollie Mob Christmas). I used my iPhone 14 on all those videos as most of this update video as well but I captured a clip using my Canon Rebel T6s in order to test it and see how it worked with the computer and program. It worked fine. In fact, so far, Final Cut Pro X has proven to be much easier to work with than Final Cut Pro 7 had been. I would take the video files and have to import them through iMovie before working on them in Final Cut Pro before. I have been able to import all the files directly into Final Cut Pro X which lessens the time considerably. I also exporting the file is much quicker and simpler in Final Cut Pro X. I haven't had to use Compressor (or download it if it's not included) because the option to make a compressed video for YouTube or Facebook use is built into Final Cut Pro X.
I always resisted the move to Final Cut Pro X because it sort of felt "dumbed down" but I am finding the ease of operation to be quite refreshing. I'm sure as I learn the program and do more things such as music videos there will be a lot I will need to figure out but these simple projects I'm starting with have really been quite easy to create. I ran into a preference issue early on. The first few videos use a font I wasn't particularly happy with and the formatting wasn't coming together as I would have liked. I spent some time messing around with it then looked up my preferred font called Portago ITC and downloaded it. I also downloaded "Bones" while I was as it. I got both to work in Final Cut Pro X and can proceed with my preference in that regard. I had been using my old Macbook Pro to access Motion 4 for some of the title work due to Motion no longer working on my old Mac Mini. It seems I won't have to do that anymore with Final Cut Pro X.
The catalyst for finally upgrading was when I tried to import some music into my iPad and the old Mac Mini could not do the necessary software update to complete that task. I had to use Elphie's Macbook Air. I also have had to use Elphie's Macbook Air to import video from my iPhones for the last several years due to the old Mac Mini not being able to complete that task very well either. This was another complication I am glad to not have to deal with...and I'm sure Elphie is glad I don't have to ask to use her computer anymore, ha!
This project was the last thing I would get done in 2023...all the seasonal and holiday projects will be edited and completed in January probably. At that point, I will learn the process of adding the soundtracks and hopefully that will be relatively easy as well.
I will keep the old Mac Mini (late 2009 model) around...there is likely some use for it. I haven't attempted making a DVD yet with the new Mac Mini and it doesn't come with a CD/DVD drive. While I have the external DVD drive that I had used due to the internal drive on the old Mac Mini not really working right anymore, it is possible that it may not work with the new Mac Mini. If that is the case, that will be one of the uses of the old Mac Mini. Some of the photos and such that were in the old Mac Mini Photos app did not move over to the new Mac Mini so those photos may end up staying on that computer as well to store.
So the equipment I am currently using is as follows: Mac Mini (late 2009) and the new 2023 Mac Mini, Final Cut Pro 7 on the old Mac Mini and Final Cut Pro X on the new Mac Mini. An iPhone 14 and a Canon Rebel T6s with an Audio-Technica AT-8024 for video capture along with occasionally using Elphie's iPhone 12 and the CrossTour CR-900 dash cam. Also there's the chance of using Skot and Rachel Shaw's GoPro Hero on occasion.
I created an upgrade update on the camera side of things...more specifically as it relates to the Canon Rebel T6s a couple years back you can check out here if you wish.
Footage filmed using a Canon Rebel T6s with an Audio-Technica AT-8024 microphone and iPhone 14. Titles and other animations and edited using Final Cut Pro X on a Mac Mini. Filmed and edited by Joel A. Swanson.
I always resisted the move to Final Cut Pro X because it sort of felt "dumbed down" but I am finding the ease of operation to be quite refreshing. I'm sure as I learn the program and do more things such as music videos there will be a lot I will need to figure out but these simple projects I'm starting with have really been quite easy to create. I ran into a preference issue early on. The first few videos use a font I wasn't particularly happy with and the formatting wasn't coming together as I would have liked. I spent some time messing around with it then looked up my preferred font called Portago ITC and downloaded it. I also downloaded "Bones" while I was as it. I got both to work in Final Cut Pro X and can proceed with my preference in that regard. I had been using my old Macbook Pro to access Motion 4 for some of the title work due to Motion no longer working on my old Mac Mini. It seems I won't have to do that anymore with Final Cut Pro X.
The catalyst for finally upgrading was when I tried to import some music into my iPad and the old Mac Mini could not do the necessary software update to complete that task. I had to use Elphie's Macbook Air. I also have had to use Elphie's Macbook Air to import video from my iPhones for the last several years due to the old Mac Mini not being able to complete that task very well either. This was another complication I am glad to not have to deal with...and I'm sure Elphie is glad I don't have to ask to use her computer anymore, ha!
This project was the last thing I would get done in 2023...all the seasonal and holiday projects will be edited and completed in January probably. At that point, I will learn the process of adding the soundtracks and hopefully that will be relatively easy as well.
I will keep the old Mac Mini (late 2009 model) around...there is likely some use for it. I haven't attempted making a DVD yet with the new Mac Mini and it doesn't come with a CD/DVD drive. While I have the external DVD drive that I had used due to the internal drive on the old Mac Mini not really working right anymore, it is possible that it may not work with the new Mac Mini. If that is the case, that will be one of the uses of the old Mac Mini. Some of the photos and such that were in the old Mac Mini Photos app did not move over to the new Mac Mini so those photos may end up staying on that computer as well to store.
So the equipment I am currently using is as follows: Mac Mini (late 2009) and the new 2023 Mac Mini, Final Cut Pro 7 on the old Mac Mini and Final Cut Pro X on the new Mac Mini. An iPhone 14 and a Canon Rebel T6s with an Audio-Technica AT-8024 for video capture along with occasionally using Elphie's iPhone 12 and the CrossTour CR-900 dash cam. Also there's the chance of using Skot and Rachel Shaw's GoPro Hero on occasion.
I created an upgrade update on the camera side of things...more specifically as it relates to the Canon Rebel T6s a couple years back you can check out here if you wish.
Footage filmed using a Canon Rebel T6s with an Audio-Technica AT-8024 microphone and iPhone 14. Titles and other animations and edited using Final Cut Pro X on a Mac Mini. Filmed and edited by Joel A. Swanson.
