Unit steps back from FCP to meet demand for Avid

Soho-based Unit, which was founded as an FCP specialist in 2006, said it made the shift in response to client demand.

“If a client wants a particular piece of software, we have to be able to offer it to them,” said Unit chief executive Adam Luckwell.

“Channel 4 was one of the main clients that requested it. We go to great lengths to fit in with the way people work in-house, so when they come here, we want them to have a bump-free ride.”

Short-form specialist Unit’s edit suites can now boot Avid Media Composer or FCP, with all workstations linked to central storage. Luckwell said Unit’s operations and engineering teams were also keen to shift to Media Composer.

“It integrates perfectly with our fully networked audio, fi nishing and VFX systems, hooks into our central storage facility and, importantly, offers frame-accurate editing - something that should be a given.”

But Luckwell said the changes did not represent the beginning of the end of Unit’s FCP association.

“A lot of people like using [FCP]. However, I do think Apple probably needs to have a look at the next iteration and consider what functionality they put in.

“We don’t have any plans to upgrade to FCP X. FCP 7 was targeted at professional users, whereas FCP X is very much aimed at the consumer market.”

The Avid systems were sold and will be supported by Jigsaw24.