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

Final Cut Pro X plugins Editing Starts Prior to the Shooting Stops - Tips to New Filmmakers Apple's recent release of Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) has caused a great deal 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's Apple's game plan? Here's the scoop.

Older versions of Final Cut Pro were built utilising the Carbon application programming interface (API), which limited programs to 32-bit, thereby limiting available memory to 4GB. In a time where base MacBook Pros have 4GB of memory and dual-core, 64-bit processors, that's a serious limitation.

Apple's latest API, called Cocoa, allows the usage of 64-bit architecture, eliminating memory bottlenecks, which necessitated an entire rewrite of Final Cut Pro. Because FCPX is just a complete rewrite using Cocoa, it's able to operate faster on current hardware and takes advantageous asset of multi-core processors.

By the variety of professional features conspicuously missing, FCPX was probably written primarily for speed with plans to include more features later on. It currently does not support OMF output, that is commonly used to import audio into ProTools for mixing, or Edit Decision List (EDL) data, a function used to go a project into another program for the finishing stage. Multi-cam support and output to tape, a structure still used by many professionals, can be missing. Furthermore, there look like no plans to produce a new version of Final Cut Server, which is used to allow multiple users to work with a remotely-stored project simultaneously. Several video formats, including XDCAM and Red, do not even have support; because of the complete rewrite, support for every video format must be completely rewritten. Updates adding missing features should start showing up 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 for their favorite video production program. The app features a new final cut pro x Magnetic Timeline feature, which groups audio, video and effects together and allows the designer to move clips around without displacing some of the project. Additionally, FCPX has Content AutoAnalysis, which detects the presence of people in the video and identifies close, medium and wideangle 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.