Final Cut Pro X Effects Editing Starts Ahead of the Shooting Stops - Ideas to New Filmmakers

Final Cut Pro X Effects Editing Starts Ahead of the Shooting Stops - Ideas to New Filmmakers Apple's recent release of Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) has caused quite a bit of controversy. Many new features and speed improvements have been added, but additional features are conspicuously missing. Further, this latest release isn't backward appropriate for any previous versions. Why is it so different and what's 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 include 4GB of memory and dual-core, 64-bit processors, that is a critical limitation. Apple's latest API, called Cocoa, allows the use of 64-bit architecture, eliminating memory bottlenecks, which necessitated a whole rewrite of Final Cut Pro. Because FCPX is really a complete rewrite using Cocoa, it's able to operate even more quickly on current hardware and takes advantage of multi-core processors.

By the array of professional features conspicuously missing, FCPX was probably written primarily for speed with plans to incorporate more features later on. It currently doesn't support OMF output, that will be commonly used to import audio into ProTools for mixing, or Edit Decision List (EDL) data, a characteristic 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 appear to be no plans to produce a new version of Final Cut Server, that is used allowing multiple users to work with a remotely-stored project simultaneously. Several video formats, including XDCAM and Red, do not yet have support; due to the complete rewrite, support for every single video format must 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 final cut pro x effects for their favorite video production program. The app includes a new Magnetic Timeline feature, which groups audio, video and effects together and allows the designer to maneuver clips around without displacing 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.