[This article was first published in the November, 2007, issue of
Larry's Final Cut Pro Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.]

Since the last issue, Leopard (OS X 10.5) has been released, and QuickTime and Final Cut Studio have been upgraded.

I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about upgrades, since I've gotten a lot of questions about this recently.

Here's the basic question you need to ask yourself: "When was the last time someone demanded that you edit their project using the latest version of any software?"

Right. It's never happened. People ask you to edit their projects - on budget and on deadline. You could use linear tape-to-tape, for all they care. Your clients don't care about the process, they care about the results.

So, you should ask yourself: "If my clients don't care when I upgrade, when should I upgrade?"

And the answer is: not immediately after the software is released. Wait a while. I tend to suggest waiting about three months after a major OS release, and at least a month after a Final Cut Studio release. QuickTime is a very special case, which we will talk about in a minute.

Final Cut Studio does not live in a vacuum. There is more than just an operating system involved. Hundreds of third-party plug-ins and hardware also need to make sure they work properly.

Because of how Apple develops OS X, developers don't have access to the final version of the code until it is released. Yes, there is lots of testing prior to release, but the software continues to evolve and Apple has been known to change things at the last minute to fix a bug or improve performance. For this reason, developers can't finish testing or certifying their products on the new OS until it has been released.

For example, when Leopard was released, there were problems with both AJA and Blackmagic Design capture cards. Without question, Apple, AJA, and Blackmagic immediately started working to figure out what the problems were and fix them. However, those fixes take time.

When Leopard was released, Final Cut also had a variety of problems, including issues with Motion templates. These, too, needed time to fix.

If your goal is to run the latest version of any software as soon as it's released, then you've already upgraded by now. However, I would contend that the goal of most editors is to edit. To deliver their projects on time. Deadlines, to us, are more important than version numbers.

Also, keep in mind that Leopard adds no (as in zero) new features to Final Cut Studio. Upgrading the OS does not make Final Cut run any differently.

Regarding upgrading, then, here are my recommendations:

• Wait 2 - 3 months after a new OS is released before upgrading
• Wait a month after a Final Cut release before upgrading, unless your system is currently dead, in which case, upgrade immediately
• NEVER upgrade in the middle of a project
• Make sure any third-party hardware and software that you rely on supports the new version

NEW FINAL CUT STUDIO UPGRADES

Apple has released two dot-release upgrades to Final Cut Studio. Both are substantial and both, from what I've been reading, seem stable. If you own Final Cut Studio 2, I would encourage you to upgrade to the latest versions as the initial release had significant stability issues; especially with Motion and SoundTrack Pro.

UPGRADING QUICKTIME

Apple has also released a new version of QuickTime - 7.3. QuickTime upgrades need to be treated VERY carefully, as upgrades to QuickTime are driven by many different demands within Apple.

QuickTime needs to support all the latest iPods and iPhones. It is the core technology behind iTunes and the iTunes store. It is also the foundation upon which Final Cut is built.

Because all these competing demands for QuickTime are not, necessarily, compatible, the best rule of thumb to follow is: if editing with Final Cut Studio is your principal reason for using that computer, then NEVER upgrade QuickTime beyond the version of QuicTime that is current at the time your version of Final Cut Studio was released.

Upgrading QuickTime out-of-sync with Final Cut is the surest way I know of to break Final Cut. Generally, you upgrade Final Cut and QuickTime together. When in doubt, don't upgrade QuickTime.

Final Cut was originally designed as a QuickTime editor -- QuickTime winds through Final Cut like blood winding through our arteries and veins. To upgrade one without upgrading the other is a recipe for system problems.

QuickTime upgrades frequently to meet the demands of all the other applications that depend upon it. However, if your current Final Cut system is working properly -- DON'T upgrade. Let a stable system remain stable, until that time when you buy the next version of Final Cut and upgrade everything, again, all the same time.

Larry Jordan is a post-production consultant and an Apple-Certified Trainer in Digital Media with over 25 years experience as producer, director and editor with network, local and corporate credits. Based in Los Angeles, he's a member of both the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.

The information in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication. However, the author assumes no liability in case things go wrong. Please use your best judgment in applying these suggestions.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. This newsletter has not been reviewed or sanctioned by Apple or any other third party. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are mentioned here for editorial purposes only.

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