FinalCut
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Final Cut Pro X now handles 4K export to some Apple devices
Final Cut Pro X didn't get the warmest of receptions when it was released in 2011. But Apple's made many changes to its video-editing software since, listening to user feedback and adding features that were missing from Final Cut Pro 7. And it keeps getting better. The latest version (10.2.3) of Final Cut Pro X brings 4K export to compatible Apple devices, such as the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, as well as the iPad Pro and new Apple TV. You can now share videos to multiple YouTube accounts too, which is useful for individuals who have channels with different purposes.
Steve Jobs once considered abandoning the Pro market
When Apple released Final Cut Pro X, a debate raged concerning whether or not Apple was devoting enough resources towards its pro users. While Final Cut Pro X has improved in many ways since it first launched, many video professionals felt that the original offering was a step backwards in functionality. The notion that Apple developed Final Cut Pro X for the mainstream market at the expense of professional video editors underscores a larger question regarding Apple's commitment to the pro market altogether. To that end, long-time Chiat/Day advertising director Ken Segall recently penned a blogpost tackling that very question and addressing Apple's "evolving" view of the pro market. Interestingly, Segall relays that Steve Jobs once considered abandoning the pro market. Would Apple ever even think about saying goodbye to the pro market? I hope you're sitting down for this, but Steve Jobs did in fact once consider that very option. This was back in the days when iMac had established itself as a global bestseller. During one of the agency's regular meetings with Steve, he shared that he was considering killing the pro products. His rationale was as you might expect: consumer products have an unlimited upside, while pro products are aimed at a niche market that eats up major resources. Obviously, the pro market has value for Apple, even if its numbers are relatively small. Pros are opinion leaders, influencers and evangelists. Their love of Apple shows up in the purchase decisions of friends, family and colleagues. So Steve ultimately renewed his commitment to the pros -- but he never said that this commitment wouldn't evolve. Clearly Apple has changed its thinking about the pro market, and how it can best serve its pro users. Speaking of Apple losing interest in the pro market, former Apple employee Ron Brinkman, who joined the company when it acquired Shake, wrote the following in the wake of FCP X. So after Apple acquired us there was a lot of concern that Cupertino wouldn't be willing to continue to cater to that [pro] market and, although it took a few years, that concern did indeed come to pass. The development team was gradually transitioned to working on other tools and Shake as a product was eventually end-of-life'd. And back then the same questions were being asked as now -- "Doesn't Apple care about the high-end professional market?" In a word, no. Not really. Not enough to focus on it as a primary business. Let's talk economics first. There's what, maybe 10,000 'high-end' editors in the world? That's probably being generous. But the number of people who would buy a powerful editing package that's more cost-effective and easier to learn/use than anything else that's out there? More. Lots more. So, a $1,000 high-end product vs. a $300 product for a market that's at least an order of magnitude larger. Clearly makes sense, even though I'd claim that the dollars involved are really just a drop in the bucket either way for Apple. Brinkman continues: And really, from a company perspective high-end customers are a pain in the ass. Before Apple bought Shake, customer feedback drove about 90 percent of the features we'd put into the product. But that's not how Apple rolls -- for them ... high-end customers are high-bandwidth in terms of the attention they require relative to the revenue they return. After the acquisition I remember sitting in a roomful of Hollywood VFX pros where Steve told everybody point-blank that we/Apple were going to focus on giving them powerful tools that were far more cost-effective than what they were accustomed to... but that the relationship between them and Apple wasn't going to be something where they'd be driving product direction anymore. Didn't go over particularly well, incidentally, but I don't think that concerned Steve overmuch... :-) All in all, an interesting discussion. Looking ahead, Apple has a completely revamped Mac Pro slated for release later this year.
Animationist creates dynamic titles for your video or printed projects
Animationist is a clever and useful OS X app that lets you create animated titles, logos and images for use in iMovie, YouTube or Final Cut. It's currently available in the Mac App Store for a half-off introductory price of US$24.99. The results look professional, and the default titles are so good you might not want to create you own designs, although you certainly can. Animationist displays your edits in real time and animations can be done using keyframes, which should please video pros and semi-pros alike. Even light sources and font kerning can be animated. Of course you get borders, blur, shadows, color control, reflectivity and control of all the other parameters you would expect in an app like this (final effects must be rendered for full quality). %Gallery-172792% Animated files can be exported as a movie file, an image file, a PDF or even a layered Photoshop file. There is a lot of power here for those who want to go beyond the simple effects provided in iMovie. While the app is not inexpensive enough to elicit an impulse purchase, the 50 percent launch sale discount does make it appealing to a wider audience. I tried some animations and thought the output was excellent, and learning the app is easy and straightforward. Both text and video tutorials are built in. Also, final rendering was acceptably quick in my testing. Animationist requires OS X 10.6 or later, and can be set up for English or German users. It's a 76 MB download. If you'd like to try before you buy you can get a preview at this link and additional details here.
Apple updates Final Cut Pro X with slew of new features, now available for download
Amidst all the announcements made at the California Theatre earlier today, Apple very quietly pushed out a fresh version of its famed (and at times controversial) video editing software, Final Cut Pro. Inside v10.0.6 users can find an array of new additions and improvements that will most certainly be welcomed with open arms by the FCPX crowd, making this the most notable update since bundling in those multicam and broadcast monitoring features. Among these new traits are RED camera support for native REDCODE RAW editing, the ability to add freeze frames to the timeline with a simple keystroke, novel audio controls for use while tinkering with multicam clips and a revamped "Share" interface for exporting projects. The Final Cut Pro update can be downloaded now from the usual spot, and, of course, it comes at no extra cost for those who've already shelled out the $300. The full and hefty changelog can be found right after the break.
Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, Aperture, AutoCAD and more score Retina Display support
As we learned pretty quickly when the iPhone 4 introduced the Retina display to the world, all those pixels are pretty useless without apps that can truly take advantage. Thankfully, Apple wasn't about to leave the stage today without delivering the goods for its next gen MacBook Pros. In addition to all the stock apps being updated, Final Cut Pro and Aperture have also gotten the appropriate boost in pixel density, allowing them to be all they can be on that 220ppi display. Which, in the case of Final Cut, means full-res 1080p video docked in a corner of the interface with all the tools exposed to your itchy editing finger. If that isn't good enough for you, Adobe is hard at work on Photoshop and Autodesk will be delivering an update to AutoCAD as well. And, in case you're worried that all work and no play makes Tim Cook a dull boy, Diablo 3 has also been updated, instantly making the Mac our favorite platform to farm low level baddies for gold on. For more coverage of the WWDC 2012 keynote, head over to our liveblog!
Apple updates Final Cut Pro X, Compressor and Motion ahead of NAB
Next week is the big show: the National Association of Broadcasters' annual exhibition and conference in Las Vegas kicks off April 14, and every video software and hardware company will be on hand, eager to meet customers new and old. Just in time to land on laptops before everyone packs up for their flights, Apple has updated the Final Cut Pro X suite. The three apps of the FCP X family (Final Cut Pro, Compressor and Motion) are all revved, with plenty of changes: Motion -- v5.0.3 update improves overall stability and performance, including improved loading time for projects, text editing in the Canvas and other fixes Compressor -- v4.0.3 update adds functionality and improves overall performance, including allowing the app to run as an encoding node on a headless (no monitor) Mac, exporting when logged in as an Open Directory user, improved encoding of mp4 and AVI files, and other fixes Final Cut Pro -- v10.0.4 improves stability, performance and compatibility including better image quality and responsiveness of broadcast monitoring using PCIe and Thunderbolt devices, improved performance of multicam syncing and editing, and more. The previous 10.0.3 build added back the (much desired) multicam editing, media relink and XML features from Final Cut Pro 7. All three updates are available immediately in the Mac App Store.
Final Cut Studio back on sale, Final Cut Pro X haters rejoice (Updated)
Update: Apple tells The Loop that this is basically leftover stock. So, buy it now or forever enjoy the progress of FCP X, for better or worse. For those users who've decided Final Cut Pro X just isn't for them (and by the sounds of things, quite a lot of people feel that way), there's now hope. According to MacRumors, Apple is once again offering the legacy version of Final Cut Studio for sale, though Apple is being remarkably coy about it. The software suite isn't available on Apple's site or in its retail stores; reportedly the only way to order Final Cut Studio is by calling 800-MY-APPLE and requesting it. Final Cut Studio is available for US$999 ($899 with an educational discount) and includes Final Cut Pro 7, Motion 4, Soundtrack Pro 3, DVD Studio Pro 4, Color 1.5 and Compressor 3.5. Over the past few months professional users have voiced their displeasure with Final Cut Studio's abrupt discontinuation after Final Cut Pro X's debut, particularly given that many users feel the new version of Final Cut does not meet their needs. There's no indication how long Apple intends to keep the old version of Final Cut Studio alive and kicking, so if you've found Final Cut Pro X doesn't suit you, you might want to jump on Final Cut Studio (if you haven't already) before Apple changes its mind again.
First-Person Final Cut Pro X, Day One: Completely at Sea
Professional film & video editor Matthew Levie is based in San Francisco, produced and edited the documentary Honest Man and writes Blog and Capture. First-Person Final Cut Pro X is the unvarnished story of his week-long introduction to the new Final Cut. [Note that all opinions and assessments of FCP X expressed here are Matt's own, not TUAW's, and that any misconceptions or misunderstandings of FCP X features represent Matt's hands-on first reactions. –Ed.] So I really, really did not believe that FCP X would be "iMovie Pro." But I have to say, my friends, I was far too optimistic. Apple has thrown us squarely under the bus. Somebody at Apple decided that making professional editors happy was just too damn much trouble, and that a much simpler program would allow them to fire 80% of the engineers and lose only 10% of the customers. If you thought no multicam was the problem, you're thinking way too far ahead for this program. How about no split edits? No roll? No subclip? There is, in fact, a way to mark a perfectly good in and out point, contrary to rumor. But what if I told you that you could change the speed of a clip to 50% or 25%, but not anything in between? Heck, I can't even find a way to do an overwrite edit. [As noted by commenters and by ScreenCastsOnline producer Don McAllister, both overwrite edits and intermediate speed adjustments are in fact included in FCP X -- as Matt acknowledges below, citing the challenge of working through FCP X's documentation. Keep in mind that this series is documenting Matt's opinions and reactions over the course of several days, and that first impressions can be incorrect and revised over time. –Ed.] I should confess at this point that I've never used iMovie. I've been editing for twenty years, on linear systems, and then Avid, and then Final Cut. But I'm guessing that if I were a regular iMovie user, I wouldn't feel so awfully lost in this program. It turns out, of course, that all of these basic features are in the program, but the documentation isn't very well written. You'd think that if they were going to radically change the way we edit, they'd throw us a lifeline and walk us through it. In fact, when I looked up split edit, it proposed a really Byzantine five-step process involving a ripple trim. It only takes three with a rolling trim. Of course, in FCP 7 it only took one step. That's not promising. My intention was to take this project I have coming up that has very little deadline pressure, it's only two minutes long, it's not that complicated. I thought I'd do that in FCP X and that way I'd learn where the gotchas were and where this program's limitations were. Now I doubt we're going to get that far. I don't think that I could cut the simplest project I've done in the last ten years on this program. Not because it would take too long, as bad as that would be, but because it is simply not possible. There's definitely going to be a revolution in post-production, dudes. It's the one where the masses pull Apple off the throne and cut its throat. I'll keep reading the docs and playing around. Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and realize this was all a really bad dream, and actually it's as brilliant as an iPod. But don't hold your breath! Part II coming up... Learning the Ropes.
Reported Motion 5, Final Cut Pro X screen shots
Earlier today Twitter user BWilks2001 posted screenshots of what is allegedly Motion 5. Motion is part of the Final Cut Studio suite and while Apple previewed Final Cut Pro X in April, it has not shown off any of the other apps from the suite -- even though Apple has said the next Final Cut Studio suite will be available for US$299 in the Mac App Store by the end of June. As for those other apps, all Apple said was "stay tuned." Judging from the screenshots, Motion 5 will offer a "rigging" feature. In addition to Motion 5, BWilks2001 said the next Final Cut Studio suite will "supposedly" feature a new version of Color, Apple's color-timing software. Interestingly, the BWilks2001 Twitter account no longer exists. Whether the user created the account just to leak the images, or if Apple had Twitter pull the account since the two companies are buddy-buddy, is unknown.
Apple says "stay tuned" for other Final Cut Studio apps, shows The Loop screenshots
At the FCPUG SuperMeet at NAB yesterday, Apple unveiled Final Cut Pro X, the latest iteration of its non-linear video editing application. The new version includes such features as color management, background rendering, improved keyword and metadata support and a magnetic timeline that lets you move clips around without trim collisions with other clips. Apple confirmed the application would launch in June for a rock bottom price of US$299. Talking to The Loop, Apple also confirmed that this NAB presentation was just a sneak peek of Final Cut Pro. The Cupertino company promised there was more to come for the other applications in the Final Cut Pro Studio Suite, which include Motion, Soundtrack Pro, Color, Compressor and DVD Studio Pro. Speaking of sneak peek, The Loop was able to get its hands on some official screenshots of the application in action. We embedded one above, and you can point your browser to The Loop's website to get a closer look at the UI of this upcoming version of Final Cut Pro. Anyone looking forward to June so that they can get their hands on FCP X?
Final Cut Pro X announced at NAB SuperMeet
As widely rumored, Apple's Peter Steinauer took the stage at the SuperMeet during NAB in Las Vegas to introduce the latest version of Final Cut, Final Cut Pro X. The new video editing app (last revised in July of 2009) adds full 64-bit compatibility with a full rewrite of the platform. Final Cut Pro X will be shipping in June. You can download it via the Mac App Store! And the price? US$299 -- that's truly astonishing. (We don't yet know if that's just the editor itself, or also includes the capabilities of Motion and Color... but we're inclined to believe the former.) The new version includes improved media management and improved image quality built on "modern foundations," with top-to-bottom color management and a new look. FCP X features resolution-independent playback all the way from SD up to 2K and 4K formats. It now leverages Grand Central Dispatch to take advantage of all cores on the Mac plus the GPU. The crowd goes wild, especially as Steinauer suggests that the ever-popular render bar will now be a thing of the past. Other new features (via @fcpsupermeet and Photography Bay)...
Talkcast tonight, 10 PM ET: Pro video preview from NAB
It's Sunday night, and that means talkcast time! This week, as the NAB convention kicks off in Las Vegas, we look ahead to the highly-anticipated next step in pro video editing from Apple. Yes, the rumor mill around Final Cut Pro is percolating with extreme prejudice, so there's no better time to bring in our editor friends and colleagues (including our own Chris White) to talk about what we can expect and what we might wish for in the next FCP/FCS version. Our special guest tonight is John Foster of KnowTech.tv. We'll also tackle the news of the week plus your questions and comments -- and if there's time afterward, there's always the TUAWTF aftershow (never recorded, often regretted). To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, the embedded Facebook app, or download the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the TalkShoe Web button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 PM EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (yay for free cell phone weekend minutes!): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8. If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free Blink or X-Lite SIP clients; basic instructions are here (if you like Blink, the pro version is available in the Mac App Store). Talk to you tonight.
Final Cut updates due in March or April, Steve Jobs still sour on Blu-ray
Hardmac has kicked off the new year with some more rumors about Final Cut Studio being updated. We already knew (since the app wasn't updated last September) that Final Cut Studio has been due for some streamlining, and Hardmac says that, indeed, there are multiple beta versions running around. There are reportedly both versions for Snow Leopard and the new OS X Lion being tested at Apple, with the Lion version taking advantage of some new video magic made available in QuickTime. Apparently, the feature set isn't completely nailed down yet, but Hardmac reckons that both new versions should be available by March or April. Hardmac's rumor report also mentions the Xserve, but before you get too excited, all they're saying is that there was a wave of strong feedback after Apple discontinued the hardware, including some from an Apple board member. The feedback reportedly says that the issue with Xserve wasn't ever the hardware -- it was the way Apple sold it. But it remains to be seen if that will change anyone's opinion about bringing it back in Cupertino, especially since a lot of that feedback was public anyway. And finally, Hardmac claims to have read an internal memo from Steve Jobs himself about Blu-ray, and he reportedly holds his position that Blu-ray's DRM and licensing deals are far too restrictive for Apple to get involved with the standard. That's nothing new -- Jobs also says that without DRM on iTunes, Apple was able to hit sales records and even finally get the Beatles, and that the future of media is in digital distribution and streaming, not a physical medium. All solid thinking, if you ask me. [via AppleInsider, MacRumors]
Final Cut Studio update supposedly due next year
Frustrated by the Final Cut delay, consultant Dustyn Gobler sent sent Steve Jobs an email asking for status update. Jobs supposedly replied (we can't confirm that Gobler did in fact receive a message back from Jobs) with "A great release of Final Cut is coming early next year." Hardmac reported in September that the Final Cut delay was due to "significant setbacks." Specifically, their source said that differences between the team responsible for Shake and the team working on Motion are partly responsible, and representative of the overall difficulty in uniting all of the suite's applications. Steve's assertion that an update is due in 2011 is consistent with other rumors we've heard on the subject. For those who, like Gobler, must make very expensive decisions on this software, we say sit tight. An update is on the way. Maybe. [Via MacNN]
Rumor: Final Cut Studio update delayed until 2011
Those waiting on an update to Final Cut Studio may have to continue to do so, as a new rumor suggests it won't be released this year. Quoting a "source," Hardmac reports that the development of the next major update to Final Cut Studio has suffered "significant setbacks" and won't be available until 2011. Hardmac notes that the scope of the project has been reduced as well, and the unified interface is a casualty of that reduction. The source says that differences between the team responsible for Shake and the team working on Motion are partly responsible, and representative of the overall difficulty in uniting all of the suite's applications. Keep in mind that it's a rumor and not written in stone. If it turns out to be true, it's bad news for FCS users who are jonesing for something new. [Via MacDailyNews]
Apple releases Pro Applications, Canon Printer Drivers updates
Apple has released two new updates. The first is Pro Applications Update 2010-01. The update is a revision to Final Cut Studio (2009). It includes Final Cut Pro 7.0.2, Motion 4.0.2, Color 1.5.2, Compressor 3.5.2, Apple Qmaster 3.5.2 and Cinema Tools 4.5.1. Apple says the software improves overall stability and addresses a number of other minor issues. The update is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio and weighs in at 321.1 MB. It requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later and QuickTime 7.6.2 or later. The second update is Canon Printer Drivers 2.3 for Snow Leopard and includes the latest Canon printing and scanning software for Snow Leopard. The update weighs in at 281.16MB and requires Mac OS X 10.6.1 or later. The updates are available through the download links above or via Software Update.
Honey, they shrunk the boxes: FCS now in convenient nano size
There's more on the inside, where it counts, but the boxes are definitely downsized: over at ilove.nu, Peter Esse has posted his comparative unboxing pictures from Logic Studio and Final Cut Studio 2 to the newly announced and shipping versions (note that Apple is just calling the product "Final Cut Studio" now, even though many are referring to it as version 3). As you can see, the new pro apps are missing one of the pro features: printed manuals.Considering the $300 price drop and the sheer tonnage of idle & obsolete Final Cut manuals clogging shelves in edit suites around the world, this seems like a reasonable tradeoff. Will you miss the full-scale paper documentation? Let us know below. If you want a PDF overview of the new FCS features, Apple has posted the Final Cut Studio In Depth 66-page rundown (17 MB).
Gift guide for amateur video producers
We all have a friend of family member obsessed with posting videos on YouTube. Their cats, dogs, babies and whatever else are all fodder for two minutes of teh funny. This holiday season, help them improve their craft and produce the next big viral hit with these gift suggestions.SoftwareQuality editing software is not cheap. So it's surprising, actually, that Final Cut Express 4 is reasonably priced ($199US) for the amount of power it packs. I recommend this over cheaper options like iMovie for two reasons. First, it's an extremely capable application that isn't missing much from its much pricer big brother. An amateur video producer won't quickly grow bored of its capabilities. Second, and more important, if the person you are giving this to has any ambitions of becoming a professional, familiarity with the Final Cut way of doing things will be a huge advantage in the marketplace. We are all too aware that the iPhone, in its unjailbroken state, doesn't record video. That doesn't mean it can't be used as a tool in video production. Slate is a simple application that replaces the iconic clapping chalk slate used for years throughout Hollywood. Reviewers in the App Store have some legit complaints about it, but it's still a fun application with a bunch of potential. HardwareLet's face it. You're not going to drop almost $5,000US on this badboy. (Note to wife: want!) But how about under $150US for a camera that captures 60 minutes of video, at decent quality, requiring no tapes or memory cards, and fits in your front pocket? Enter the Flip Video family of cameras. These little machines aren't going to do it for professionals, but for amateurs looking to record precious family moments or spontaneous news events, it'll do the trick nicely. And it's called a Flip for a reason -- it has a USB connector integrated into its design. It flips out and, with a little bit of adjusting (a dozen or so business cards tucked under one side of a MacBook) it connects easily to just about any computer. Flip Video last month announced a high-def version of the camera called the MinoHD. It sells for about $229US. There's also a competing Kodak camera, the Zi6, that has a fanbase of its own.One of the best presents you can give an aspiring video producer -- besides a gig at LucasFilm -- is more hard drive space. Digital video consumes sick amounts of storage. Luckily, hard drives in the terabyte range are coming into the realm of affordability. A quick poke around Amazon.com shows a few options for under $150US. Some of these may not cut it for actual production work, as speed is of the essence, but for nearline storage, they'll do the trick quite nicely. Stocking StuffersLast-minute shoppers rejoice. There are many cheap, easy-to-order products out there with which you can fill your aspiring video producer's stocking. Mini tripod -- Shaky video is distracting when it's not intentional. A tiny, tabletop tripod is very handy for any videographer to have in his bag of tricks; newer Flip Video cameras have a tripod mount built in. Personal telepromter -- I saw this demoed last year at a conference and I was blown away. It works great with any Mac laptop with a built-in iSight camera, it's cheap, and it's very cool. Snowball -- No, not the frozen kind. The Blue Snowball mic is one of my favorite pieces of post-production kit. It's great for laying down voiceovers, and works equally well for recording audio for video podcasts. It's a USB mic, so it's not going to hook up to a camcorder, but for studio work it gets the job done in style.
Apple re-affirms commitment to video apps
Last February, Apple's Senior Manager of PR Anuj Nayar announced that the company would not have a booth at April's National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show. Customers hoping to receive information on the already delayed Final Cut Server were disappointed to say the least.When Final Cut Server was finally released in April of 2008, it was nearly a year late. Many began to question Apple's commitment to the pro-level video applications. To extinguish concerns that Apple was "giving up" on pro video apps, their director of marketing for professional video applications Richard Townhill told TVBEurope, "I can categorically state, on the record, that is not the case." As for the delay, Richard said "... we wanted it to work without an IT department to support it."Good news for Mac-wielding producers. [Via Your Mac Life]
iPhoto and ProKit updates hitting today
In the hustle and bustle of product introductions today, another couple of software updates slipped out the door. The 16 MB iPhoto 7.1.2 update promises the "overall stability" we all crave, while the ProKit update (no link on Apple's site yet) "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."Meanwhile, in a separate security bulletin (link as in the image), Apple acknowledged an iPhoto vulnerability that would allow a maliciously-crafted photocast to hijack your machine, if you were to subscribe to it; said vulnerability is now fixed in 7.1.2. Yikes. Full details after the jump.Your mileage, as always, may vary.Thanks Erik!
