FCP assistant editors to be replaced by Australian XML App?

[Theodore McNeil]

A mate in OZ sent me the link to this little app. Due out in Summer 2008.

http://www.theassistanteditor.com/

It's the editing application in for people who don't like editing. But I have to admit it could be helpful for rush jobs.

[Greg Boston]

It was shown at the LAFCPUG Supermeet by the author himself. An interesting approach to doing rough-cuts, but you better have GOOD METADATA because that's what it works from.

-gb-

[Theodore McNeil]

Thanks Greg. I wasn't sure if this was legit so I put in in area 51.

The more I think about this app, the more I like it. With a bit more development it could be a FCP version of Avid's script sync.

[Dylan Pank]

Originally Posted by Theodore McNeil

It's the editing application in for people who don't like editing. But I have to admit it could be helpful for rush jobs.

For people who don't like editing but do like data entry! :-)

I think those FCP assistant editors will find themselves plenty busy typing in all those additional keywords. The website is correct in that this is info that would previously be noted and transcribed, but not necessarily programmed right into the NLE.

Might be useful for corporates, some event videos and behind the scenes DVDs, but the website says:

[The app's cuts] are not expected to be emotionally compelling nor release grade “finished”. The Assistant Editor behaves as a beginner editor, not a craft professional who knows how to manipulate motion and tell a story across the whole documentary.

I always considered the first cut as a vital process in "trying to find the story across the whole documentary". I'm not sure I'd want to hand that task over to a bunch of algorithms, but then as Theodore says, it's not for us!