The June 2011release of Apple ’s new Final Cut Pro Xset off a firestorm that reverberated across the globe — at least in video circles . The hotly anticipated unexampled version of Apple ’s flagship video software was circumstantially accompany by the prompt removal of the previous version — Final Cut Pro 7 — along with the company ’s Final Cut Server and Final Cut Express apps , from retail distribution . That alone had longtime users jump out ship from the only nonlinear picture editor many of them had ever used .
But that was n’t the only bad intelligence . The recapitulation of the new app were almost universally critical . To longtime videographers who had built careers around Final Cut work flow , the new FCP X miss the pro - level power feature they considered essential .
A new environment without connectivity to broadcast monitoring and networked storage , without the ability to assign audio output signal , and without the ability to open archives of former FCP 7 projects , make the industry to respond with shock and indignation . Apple ’s competitor meanwhile , triumph in acerb glee at the prospect of gaining back age of market share they had lost as a answer of the FCP ’s ascendence .
AJA IoXT with Pegasus array
Then something astonishing come about : Cupertino backed down . Apple post its merchandise handler out into the editing residential district to reassure video pro that it and FCP X were indeed committed to support the ware ’s working professional base , and that Apple would shortly restore multicam editing , broadcast monitoring and output , the power to assign audio tracks in a specific club , and the ability to import and export to and from their favorite third - political party coating for audio , colouring correction , and polish off — as well as connect to Xsan or other networked storehouse volumes .
In poor , Apple told its angry client not to worry ; they had their back .
Complaints addressed
Withtoday ’s FCP X 10.0.3 update , Apple made just on its promises in a big elbow room . In fact , it has addressed all but one of my complaint . Before going into item , a abbreviated chronicle is in rules of order .
With the FCP X version 10.0.2 update , unloosen in Mid - November , drug user could put audio tracks to output in a specific order , export XML to other applications , and connect to Xsan or other networked volumes for editing . Now , barely seven months after the plan ’s initial release in the Mac App Store , the Modern FCP X 10.0.3 add everything I had asked for — except for native 3D editing — to the package .
AJA IoXT with Pegasus array
Multicam editing is now a reality in FCP X. Users have the ability to sync clips by camera time code, camera name, in or out points, markers, or using the source audio. With up to 64 angles available, Apple has been responsive to the requests of its user base.
Apple ’s demonstration of the Modern version forMacworldlast hebdomad employed an iMac attached via Thunderbolt to Promise ’s Pegasus array and AJA ’s IoXT for playback on a professional broadcast monitor . see that apparatus as I walked into the way , I knew that many of my original business concern were going to be accost . But what I saw and heard next was even more surprising .
Apple pass a practiced deal of prison term talking about their spouse and their relationship within the FCP X ecosystem . Many user do not realize the number of plug - inch that have become available for FCP X since its launching last summer — there are more plug - IN for FCP X than there were for FCP 7 , as companies likeGenArtsandRed Giantsupply the residential district with the putz and effects most in high spirits - conclusion moviemakers need .
FCP 7 projects to FCP X
Another self-aggrandizing surprisal was XML 1.1 integration with FCP via Intelligent Assistance , the society owned by video guru Philip Hodgetts . Available with the launch of this update will be the7toX for Final Cut Pro transition appfor $ 10 . The newfangled 7toX for Final Cut Pro offers full import functionality that will set aside exploiter to convert their old project files into FCP go events . While I am sure there will be many poorly organized FCP 7 projection that may not understand , I barrack everyone to regale this news in much the way as when we started convert and sharing our first FCP projects via XML or EDL .
A quantum leap with multicam
Videographers were predict from the entry of FCP X that in the close time to come we would once again be capable to blue-pencil a multi - camera projection , and Apple has delivered . With up to 64 active camera angle useable , FCP X may actually shake the manufacture to its core group with that degree of multicam quickness in the canonical redaction software package . This means that you may actively edit more cameras than I have ever heard of being used for any multicam task , with the possible exception of the Super Bowl or , perhaps thebullet - timeforThe Matrix .
Multicam redaction is now a reality in FCP X. Users have the power to synchronise clips by camera clock time computer code , television camera name , in or out points , markers , or using the beginning audio frequency . With up to 64 angles uncommitted , Apple has been reactive to the requests of its user base .
Apple did not check there . Because FCP X stop the most powerful metadata engine of any NLE , users now have unprecedented control over multicam outcome , with the power to access and sync track not only via prison term codification , but with keywords , in or out period , or audio tracks .
Interface with IoXT AJA ControlPanel
Multicam functionality is intelligent enough via the underlie metadata social organisation to be able to dynamically identify multiple return from the same camera and drop them sequentially onto a multicam track — something that is perfectly astonishing . Apple augment FCP X ’s audio syncing capacity by allowing the app to overwork audio metadata to synchronize multiple television camera with similar audio content when there is no equalize timecode on the files .
Interface with IoXT AJA ControlPanel
It does not end there . In addition , FCP X allows multicam projects to wield cameras with different codecs , mental image rasters , and frame rates , without changeover . retrieve about handling a multicam project that include footage from DSLRs and DV , HDV , and professional cameras , without receive to pre - process the content first . you may switch , add , or delete television camera angles at any fourth dimension and work with unlike codecs , frame sizes , and frame pace without changeover .
Relinking of previous FCP X projects brings up this new dialog box, so you know that you are moving forward.
Critical fixes to the pro workflow
Alongside the major upgrades to FCP X 10.0.3 are a slew of lower - visibility but equally critical improvements , the deficiency of whch makes a television editor in chief ’s life a bit miserable .
Relinking of premature FCP X project brings up this unexampled dialog box , so you know that you are moving forward .
superimposed PSD filesHate having to give Motion to use a layered Adobe Photoshop PSD Indian file when editing ? No more : Layered PSD files are back , and directly approachable from within FCP X. This was one of those items users anticipate to be in the inaugural release , and which evoked disgust when it was not .
Keying and effects handling are improved in this release. ProRes 4444 green screen footage from an Arri Alexa is color corrected from its native log color space and then keyed with a timecode burn over a generated background—all in realtime. (Image courtesy of Fletcher Camera & Lens and Resolution Digital Studios, Chicago)
Media relinkTrying to relink a task in FCP X has been abhorrent — until now . A clon of a project could not be opened on any computing machine except the one it was created on , eliminating editor ’ ability to shuttle a drive from the business office to home for make for on a project in both position . That capability has come back in this new rendering , and it will surely exalt a collective suspiration of relief .
sophisticated vividness keyingThe keying functionality in the initial liberation of FCP X was pretty good — and easily than FCP 7 ever was , but Apple determine an opportunity to make it even better . FCP X 10.0.3 contains , without a doubtfulness , the best keyer of any NLE , and rival the abilities of dedicated production tools like Adobe After Effects and Autodesk ’s Smoke 2012 for Mac .
MoreAlso expect for improved textual matter editing and outcome carrying out ; meliorate keyframing behavior in the inspector — with keyframes mechanically tot up when move to a unexampled decimal point in time and conform a parameter ; modified modulation demeanor so that all fresh added transitions use available culture medium and maintain undertaking length ; and various extra fixes . Keying and effects handling are improved in this release . ProRes 4444 fleeceable screen footage from an Arri Alexa is color corrected from its native log color outer space and then keyed with a timecode burning over a generated background — all in realtime . ( figure of speech courtesy of Fletcher Camera & Lens and Resolution Digital Studios , Chicago )
The same ProRes 4444 file from the Arri Alexa shows the new advanced controls of the Chroma Keyer. The image is holding much finer detail than the same shot in the first version of FCP X. (Image courtesy Fletcher Camera & Lens and Resolution Digital Studios, Chicago)
The same ProRes 4444 file from the Arri Alexa shows the new advanced controls of the Chroma Keyer . The range is arrest much fine detail than the same snapshot in the first version of FCP X. ( Image courtesy Fletcher Camera & Lens and Resolution Digital Studios , Chicago )
It’s about the hardware (Beta)
Apple was gratingly criticize when FCP X send without any support for the computer hardware essential of a vast majority of its users . TheThis pulldown menu shows the first Beta A / V outturn in FCP X.company has now discharge monitoring capability for your project / timeline in this update , and with it has done something I have not learn from the troupe in a very long time . Hardware support is officially being called Beta , with Apple support theBlackmagic DesignandAJA Video SystemsPCIe card products , alongside someThunderboltaccessories . Matroxsupport will follow shortly .
Ready for prime time?
With FCP X 10.0.3 , the horrible fudge tone of the first edition of this app seems to be pull away , as the app ’s swan - corresponding feathers lead off to emerge . While there are still many improvements needed , particularly for those who ferment in multiuser environs , the current update argue that Apple is listening to the complaint and concerns of the function video community that put Final Cut Pro on the single-valued function .
Seeing the extremist improvements in this translation , and anticipating more to come in the future , I think many user who hurriedly abandon FCP X might need to reconsider .
Whatever happens , this will be an interesting spring for the entire telecasting community .
This pulldown menu shows the first Beta A/V output in FCP X.
[ Gary Adcock is a Chicago - based pic and television advisor , technologist , and glassblower . He offers veritable commentary on CreativeCow.net and the ProVideoCoalition.com Websites . ]
This clause was updated on 1/31/12 at 9:18 a.m. to clear up a program line about multicam telecasting redaction capabilities .
