Apple Launches Final Cut Pro X Video Editing Software

[engine]

Apple Launches Final Cut Pro X Video Editing Software [apple.com]

Apple® today announced Final Cut Pro® X, a revolutionary new version of the world’s most popular Pro video editing software which completely reinvents video editing with a Magnetic Timeline that lets you edit on a flexible, trackless canvas; Content Auto-Analysis that categorizes your content upon import by shot type, media and people; and background rendering that allows you to work without interruption. Built on a modern 64-bit architecture, Final Cut Pro X is available from the Mac® App Store™ for $299.99.

“Final Cut Pro X is the biggest advance in Pro video editing since the original Final Cut Pro,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We have shown it to many of the world’s best Pro editors, and their jaws have dropped.”

“I’m blown away by what Apple has done with Final Cut Pro,” said Angus Wall, Academy Award-winning film editor. “Final Cut Pro X is incredibly modern and fast, but most importantly it lets you focus on telling your story in the most creative way, while it actively manages all of the technical details.”

[travelin cat]

$299 is a bargain for all of that horsepower.

[Robert Charlton]

The word I'm getting through the grapevine is that reaction among the high end of the professional editing community that had been using FCP, wasn't quite as enthusiastic as Apple indicated....

Hitler finds out about Final Cut Pro X
TRT 3:50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP1WQ7FP0g8 [youtube.com]

It took Apple a while to respond with this FAQ to the negativity within this community, some of which is in evidence in the YouTube comments....

Apple - Final Cut Pro X - Answers to common questions.
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/faq/ [apple.com]

I'm not going to try to summarize all of the discussion, pro and con, and I don't know whether doing so here would be appropriate. Most of it has to do with Apple's apparent break with pre-existing features (and data) that had been developed by users of FCP, and whether Apple in the future will support its high end users.

[Robert Charlton]

Here's Part 1 (of 4 parts) of a thoughtful, in-depth presentation to the LA FCP Users Group, from June 15, 2011....

Larry on FCPX Thoughts Part 1.mov
TRT 14:06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5NdeGiio9c [youtube.com]

Larry Jordan discusses his thoughts on FCP X and addresses LAFCPUG members fears. Michael Horton hosts.

I've only had a chance to see this first part of the presentation, which clearly suggests that the thing is not a toy. The interface is so different from conventional non-linear editors I've seen, though, that it's likely to take some adjustment. I don't yet "get" the trackless timeline, and I think the legacy issues are going to be a pain.

For those who are shooting on file-based systems and aren't concerned with tape-capture or historical material at all, some of these aren't issues.

I should add that everyone I've talked with about long term archiving of file-based video (and it's a topic I've discussed fairly frequently), agrees that it is an issue that still hasn't been resolved.