Final Cut Pro X plugins Editing Starts Prior to the Shooting Stops - Suggestions to New Filmmakers

Final Cut Pro X plugins Editing Starts Prior to the Shooting Stops - Suggestions to New Filmmakers Apple's recent release of Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) has caused a lot of controversy. Many new features and speed improvements have been added, but a lot more features are conspicuously missing.

Further, this latest release isn't backward appropriate for any previous versions. How come it so different and what is Apple's game plan? Here's the scoop.

Older versions of Final Cut Pro were built utilizing the Carbon application programming interface (API), which limited programs to 32-bit, thereby limiting available memory to 4GB. In an occasion where base MacBook Pros come with 4GB of memory and dual-core, 64-bit processors, that is a serious limitation. Apple's latest API, called Cocoa, allows the utilization of 64-bit architecture, eliminating memory bottlenecks, which necessitated a complete rewrite of Final Cut Pro. Because FCPX is a complete rewrite using Cocoa, it's able to operate much faster on current hardware and takes advantage of multi-core processors.

Judging by the array of professional features conspicuously missing, FCPX was probably written primarily for speed with plans to add more features later on. It currently does not support OMF output, which will be commonly used to import audio into ProTools for mixing, or Edit Decision List (EDL) data, a feature used to move a project into another program for the finishing stage. Multi-cam support and output to tape, a format still utilized by many professionals, is also missing.

Furthermore, there look like no plans release a a fresh version of Final Cut Server, which is used to allow multiple users to focus on a remotely-stored project simultaneously. Several video formats, including XDCAM and Red, do not yet have support; because of the complete rewrite, support for every single video format needs to be completely rewritten. Updates adding missing features should start arriving soon, but many professional video editors are, understandably, worried that they'll be left in the lurch.

Not everything about FCPX is bad news, though; Apple has added several new, user-friendly features to their favorite FCPX plugins video production program. The app includes a new Magnetic Timeline feature, which groups audio, video and effects together and allows the designer to go clips around without displacing some of the project. Additionally, FCPX has Content Auto-Analysis, which detects the presence of people in the video and identifies close, medium and wide-angle shots.

Compressor 4, the encoding companion program for Final Cut Pro, adds additional export functions, live streaming support and streamlined library settings. Motion 5, FCPX's motion graphics companion, provides smart motion templates, parameter control and editable Final Cut Pro templates.