The decision to upgrade a major piece of software, like Final Cut Studio if you are a professional editor, is a serious one. The preparation and installation can take a day if you are careful.
That being said, not everyone person or every installation needs to be bullet proof. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for upgrading Final Cut Studio.
The smartest move you can make as you begin is to clone your system drive.
Cloning the Disk
A clone is different from a copy. A clone includes files that are invisible to the end user.
If the original disk was a boot disk, a clone of that disk will boot your computer as well. This won't work with USB drives but will work with firewire drives – another reason the new Mac Books bum me out.
You can set up a clone to run overnight. When it is finished test the clone to make sure your computer will boot from it.
To build a clone download either SuperDuper:
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
Or Carbon Copy Cloner:
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
I believe SuperDuper to be the more robust choice, although I've used both in the past without issue.
This is your insurance policy. That is why it is critical that you test the clone – make sure your computer boots from it.
Now you have choice.
Option One - The Gambler
Install the Final Cut Studio discs following the directions on screen.
Run Software update installing everything. Repeat until there is nothing left.
Run Repair Permissions (more on repair permissions in another post, or just google it.)
Reboot and hope for the best.
Although I don't recommend this, it will probably work. The existence of a clone that will boot makes this choice reasonable if you have reasons not to take on option two or option three.
Option Two – Reasonably Cautious
Run Repair Permissions.
Load the Final Cut Studio discs and follow the instructions on the screen. Budget some time to swap discs. When you are done restart.
Run Repair Permissions.
Run Software Update and load all the FCS related stuff. Stay away from Quicktime updates. You want a specific version of Quicktime. Here is the chart and a link the the Digital Rebellion blog, my source:
http://www.digitalrebellion.net/blog/posts/recommended_quicktime_and_mac_os_configurations_for_final_cut_pro.html
| Final Cut Pro Version | Mac OS Version | QuickTime Version |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0.3 | 10.4.11 / 10.5.2 | 7.4.5 |
| 6.0.2 | 10.4.11 / 10.5.1 | 7.3.1 |
| 5.1.4 | 10.4.9 | 7.1.6 |
| 5.0.4 | 10.4.9 | 7.1.6 |
| 4.5 | 10.3.9 | 6.5 |
| 3.0.4 | 10.2.8 Update 2 | 6.2 |
| 3.0 | 10.2.8 Update 2 | 5.0.6 |
| 2.0.2 | 9.2.2 | 5.0.1 |
| 1.2.5 | 9.2.2 | 4.1.3 |
| 1.2.1 | 8.6 | 4.1.1 |
| 1.0.1 | 8.6 | 4.0.3 |
| 1.0 | 8.6 | 4b16 |
This can be challenging to get right as the automated Software Update wants to install the most recent version of Quicktime. Most Quicktime updates in the last year have much more to do with the iPhone and Digital Right Management than the Pro Apps. Use google to hunt the version you need down on the web. Today, I found OldVersion.com that looks like it would do the job, though I haven't tested it.
After you run Software update to install the new versions, with or without Quicktime, run Repair Permissions.
Alternate between Software Update and Repair Permissions until your computer finds no more updates to Pro Apps.
Then, if necessary, find and install the correct version of Quicktime. Run Repair Permissions one more time. Then you are good to go.
Option Three - A Fresh Start
Erase your boot drive. The clone is your back up.
Re-install the system software. Upgrade the system software through Software Update. Remember to do the Repair Permission dance.
Upgrade Quicktime to the appropriate version.
Install FCS as Option Two.
Test.
Install the other applications you use, running Repair Permission after each install.
Notes
Option One is likely to work fine. Just by running Repair Permissions once when you finish, you will be way ahead of most FCS installs.
Option Two is a bit smarter and avoids the pain of re-installing the other applications. You are less likely to have immediate issues.
Option Three is a good idea once every 18 - 30 months. You are less likely to have unexplained weirdness in the future if you go this way.
In any case the Clone will prevent down time. If you have an immediate failure, boot from the clone and get to work.
IMPORTANT
When you open pre-existing projects for the first time in FCS 2 it will make some changes to the project that will make the project incompatible with FCS 1. For this reason, copy your project before you open them. Give them a new name – I add 60 to the end to designate the upgrade.
This leaves you a back up copy that will open on the Clone drive.
If you don't wish to deal with the Clone drive and you have more than one Final Cut Studio install, upgrade one computer and then wait three weeks before you upgrade the other one. This is another strategy that will probably work, but that I do not recommend. The clone is a good thing.
Good luck.
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