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Apple store back up; Final Cut Pro 7, Logic Pro 9 released
It's always an exciting day when the Apple Store goes down. And it's not even a Tuesday.Apple has updated Final Cut Studio, including Final Cut Pro 7 and Logic Pro 9. That's good news for artists! Musicians and filmmakers now have something new to play with. Even better, they can do it for less: the suite is now $999, $300 less than the previous version. Upgrades are $299. FCP 7 includes three new ProRes codecs, alpha transitions, new sharing options including support for iChat Theater, automatic transfer of P2 media and more. Motion 4 includes new 3D shadow and reflection options, and the ever-popular bad film filter. All the apps in Studio have been updated to new versions.Apple also announced version 1.5 of the Final Cut Server collaboration and asset management environment. The unlimited-license edition of FC Server is also $999 & upgrades are $299..Full feature list from Apple PR in the continuation of the post.[H/T The Loop]
JVC's GY-HM100 / GY-HM700 ProHD camcorders capture QuickTime straight to SDHC
Before buying either the JVC GY-HM100 / GY-HM700, you better be darn well married to Apple's Final Cut Pro. Said ProHD camcorders are the industry's first in the solid state line to store files in native QuickTime format onto SDHC cards. Apple's pushing the fact that users don't have to transcode or re-wrap prior to editing, and considering that each one cam can hold twin SDHC cards, you'll be able to capture a maximum of 64GB before needing to reload. And just think, this time next year the successor will hit with dual SDXC support, giving buyers a maximum capacity of 4TB. Decisions, decisions.
Pro Applications Update improves performance and stability
Apple has released Pro Applications Update 2008-04, which includes updates to Final Cut Pro, Compressor, Color, DVD Studio Pro, Cinema Tools, Motion, Soundtrack Pro and Shake. The update, according to Apple, "addresses general performance issues and improves overall stability." No specific details were provided about what the update improved about each software component, other than to say each update "addresses specific customer issues and general performance issues." The updates are recommended for all users of the software. The update includes the following versions: Final Cut Pro 6.0.5 Compressor 3.0.5 Shake 4.1.1 DVD Studio Pro 4.2.1 Cinema Tools 4.0.1 Motion 3.0.2 Color 1.0.3 Soundtrack Pro 2.0.2 The update is available from Apple's website. Thanks, Clancy!
Buy a Mac, get One to One training, win an Emmy Award
In one of those improbable stories that sounds like a Hollywood script, a Burbank, CA elementary school teacher won an Emmy Award for his first attempt at filmmaking.Larry Newman (photo at right), a band director at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Burbank, won the award for a film called "Children's Music Workshop: 2007 All Schools Honor Orchestra," in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Children/Youth and Music Programming.Newman had no previous filmmaking experience, and said that he "just purchased a high-definition camera and went to the Apple store for weekly lessons on Final Cut Pro." The film focused on the annual concert at UCLA of 130 students who are enrolled in Newman's Children's Music Workshop program, and particularly on nine students in the Burbank Unified School District.Our congratulations to Mr. Newman for his Emmy, and to that unknown Apple employee who provided the Final Cut Pro lessons.Thanks to Scott for the tip!
Pro Applications Update 2008-02
Apple just released an update to their Pro Application support for Mac OS X. According to Apple, this update "improves reliability for Apple's professional applications." This update is recommended to all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server and Logic Studio. Final Cut Pro 6.0.4 and Compressor 3.0.3 are applications included in the update. You can download this update by opening Software Update (choosing Software Update from the Apple menu) or by downloading the installer package from the Apple Support Downloads site. You can visit the Pro Applications support note for more information about this update.
Two Pro App Updates
Apple released two Pro App updates bright and early this Monday morning:ProKit Update 4.5: "This update improves reliability for Apple's professional applications and is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Express, Aperture, Logic Studio and Logic Express."Plugin Manager 1.7.3: "This update improves reliability for Apple's professional applications and is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Express, Aperture, Logic Studio and related SDKs."According the release notes for the Plugin Manager update, it addresses a backwards compatibility issue with Apple and third-party filters in the applications listed above. Users of any of these apps and Motion should fire up Software Update and install the recommended updates. No reboot is required (and there was much rejoicing!).Update: These updates were new to me! Sorry for the false alarm all, I just installed FCP and jumped the gun. That being said, be sure to check out Apple's list of available updates. You never know what you'll find on there.Thanks to everyone in the comments for setting me straight.
Cinemassively: Hide and Seek
For those that believe that aliens are out there, things just got more complicated. You see, they're also in our virtual worlds! At least, according to Gary Hazlitt they are.Gary created a music video, Hide and Seek, about their presence in Second Life. In the video, they cruise around in several sims, Planet Mongo, Svarga, and Deakin University, to a soundtrack by Imogen Heap. If you liked the video, check out the medium quality version. To complete the shots, he used a greenscreened picture version of the avatar and filtered it through CrazyTalk 5, then filmed real shots of movement. He placed the lipsynched picture video over the footage and chromakeyed it in Final Cut Pro.
Apple sends NAB event invites, 8-core Mac Pro on fanboy wishlists
No surprises here, but Apple is hosting another invite-only media event at next month's National Association of Broadcasters Conference in Vegas, and is almost sure to unveil a new version of its Final Cut Pro editing software. Luckily, Apple's NAB unveils aren't always limited to software, so hopes are high for word on that 8-core Mac Pro that's been squeezed through the rumor mill a few times in the past months. The "Lights Camera Apple" happenings will take place on April 15th at 11am.
DIY HD workstation
Remember Stevie's "year of HD" comment a few years ago during his '05 Apple Macworld keynote? Well, we kind of feel that this year, 2007, could be the year high definition finally becomes a consumers dream come true. There are finally a couple of HD camcorders to choose from and many new computers can finally handle the resource intensive task of editing the material. DV.com, home of most everything concerning digital video, has compiled a DIY listing for three different HD workstations all based around Apple's Mac Pro and Final Cut Pro software. The first is toned for those just wanting to get by and the second still keeps a budget in mind but includes allowance for more heavy duty hardware. The third throws out all the stops (example: 5-8 GB of ram) and allows for a fully professional rig costing nearly as much as a nicely equipped Toyota Prius. If visions of high-def videos are dancing around in your head, one of these units just might fit your budget.
BBC Factual standardised on Final Cut Pro for HD content
Steve Jobs declared 2005 the 'Year of HD.' He was a little premature with his declaration, but now in 2007 HD is popping up all over the place. BBC Factual, the division of the BBC that is responsible for documentaries and and reality TV, has committed to delivering HD content to their viewers, and they are using Final Cut Pro to achieve this goal. They want to film everything in HD, tapelessly, by 2010. For more info check out this profile on Apple's UK site, it is a little old but it gives you a good idea of the equipment they are using.
Avid2FCP: making the switch to Apple's Final Cut Pro
Avid has been the standard, and long-established, non-linear editing software of choice in the film industry until Apple's Final Cut Pro began to challenge its dominance, and now many Avid editors are making "the switch" to FCP as it has picked up the pace. With that, the "Avid versus Final Cut Pro" debate has always reared its head wherever editors gather, on websites, forums, etc., but now, Avid2FCP, an official resource has launched that hopes to ease the user transition from Avid to Apple's own video editing application.Avid2FCP is run by a group of experienced editors who hope to shared their "Switcher Stories", and other beneficial resources and guides for editors from Avid backgrounds that now work with Final Cut Pro. Despite the name of the site, it is not intended to be a jab at Avid, but instead make easier the shift to FCP, in a friendly and responsible fashion. There is some interesting content up now, and I expect that this site has the potential to grow into a very valuable resource for all video editors.
Apple Online Seminar: Using FCP to Create a Rich Media Podcast
Apple is offering a free 47 minute online seminar on using Final Cut Pro to make a "rich media podcast." They say that you will learn: How to combine digital photos, audio, and video in Final Cut Pro How to create a universal master to deliver news in any format, from HD broadcast to podcast How to record sound to amplify a story How to use Final Cut Pro to create an immersive rich media experience The seminar is given by Brian Storm, president of MediaStorm, who "shows news professionals how to use Final Cut Pro to take digital storytelling to a whole new level with rich media podcasting." The seminar is free but you do have to register.[Via MacVolPlace]
Simple voice-over narration with Ishmael
Ishmael is a basic application for easily creating voice-over narration for still photos and images, and then exporting your final product as a QuickTime video. So if you need to whip up a quick presentation, or want to make up a little story about a recent trip this is the app for you.Ishmael supports images from iPhoto albums or PDF files as its source, which can then be dubbed over and encoded as an actual QuickTime file. You can then take that video output and include it in an iMovie or Final Cut Pro project, or even export it back to iPhoto. Ishmael supports most Core Audio-compatible input devices, and includes multiple video encoding formats, and it even features Apple Remote support. Note, however, that it requires iPhoto 6.0, QuickTime 7.0, and OS X 10.4. Give the free demo a go and it will cost you $30 for the full package. Unfortunately, I'm running 10.3.9 (shock!), so I can't give this guy a test spin, but there are video samples linked on the official Ishamel website.
Aperture to Final Cut Pro
Connected Flow, makers of the very cool FlickrExport, have just released a free Aperture plugin that some of you are bound to be crazy about. Aperture to Final Cut Pro, oddly enough, exports selected photos from Aperture toa Final Cut Pro video sequence. It allows you to choose the transition, how long you would like this photo montage to last, as well as what Codec you want it created it. Pretty nifty, and all for the low, low price of free (though it is provided as is, so if it burns down your house and drinks all the milk... that would be odd and Connected Flow could not be held responsible).Thanks, Nik.
Final Print
I'm just getting into video editing thanks to a video podcast I'm producing. This new world of digital video frightens and confuses me. I'm just a simple boy from Philadelphia with no prior cinematic experience. Despite the fact that I am a video neophyte I can still use the usefulness in Final Print, a cool little app from Digital Heaven.Final Print is an app that takes a Final Cut Pro project and lists all the markers and notes that are in the project (this information is stored in an XML file). This makes it easy to hand over a video project to someone else, or to get a quick overview of a project you're working on.Final Print costs $99 and there is a free demo available.[via DV Guru]
Apple releases details of Final Cut Pro 5.1.2
Apple has a presence at the IBC Trade Show that's taking place in Amsterdam this week, and they used the opportunity to announce some details on the upcoming release of Final Cut Pro (FCP), version 5.1.2. Most notably is that this update will allow FCP to use Motion's real-time plug-ins, including those that come bundled with Motion. According to DigitMag, other enhancements include: Enhanced support for the Sony XDCAM Support for the Panasonic P2 and HDV An enhanced P2 import tool [Via MacNN]
Found Footage: NAB 2006 Final Cut Studio demo reel
MacTV has posted Apple's NAB 2006 demo reel which shows off a number of movies and commercials that used Final Cut Studio in their production. This is very well put together, and really shows off the power of Final Cut Studio (as it was designed to do).Thanks, Cepheus.
Final Cut Pro Studio v5.1 Universal Binary Released
During the MWSF keynote address, Jobs said that Apple's goal was to have all its professional applications ported to universal binaries by the end of March of this year. Logic Pro was the first to be ported a few weeks back and today, Apple has released a crossgrade to a universal binary version of Final Cut Pro Studio 5.1, which is arguably the most important of the professional applications. The crossgrade to universal costs $49 (or $99. Both prices are listed and there's no clear indicator which is correct or whether it's $49 for FCP and $99 for the studio suite). Ah, that's just me being confused and not reading the site well-enough. The crossgrade is $49 for current FCS 5.x owners, where as the upgrade is $99 for FCP standalone owners, and $199 to upgrade for almost everyone else.
Straight from the Yak's mouth
Back in February, we posted about the infamous Bruce the Yak Easter Egg in Final Cut Pro. Since then, one of the members of the original FCP development team, Max Whirl, has left a great comment describing just how this particular Easter Egg was born. He writes:"Why a yak? Well, FCP was a long and arduous development process and we were nearly shut down several times. During one of the more miserable schedule meetings, we were each asked if we could meet the latest schedule...and one of the engineers remarked that 'if we can't make that schedule, we might as well give up and go herd yaks.'"Check out his full comment for an interesting story. Thanks, Max!
MacLive registration opens
MacLive is a 3-day conference and workshop for Mac-toting creative professionals everywhere. The more than sixty workshops focus on Photoshop, Motion & DVD Studio Pro, Final Cut Pro, Mac OS X, the iPod, After Effects and a lot more. This is the very first MacLive conference, and it's put on by the folks at Layers Magazine (which is the successor to Mac Design Magazine). Registration is $699US, but you can save yourself $100 if you sign up before April 17th. The event will take place at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC on May 11-13, 2006. Sounds like a great time.
