Apple releases update to Final Cut Pro X

Apple released Final Cut Pro X, last year amidst much screaming and shouting of professional video editors. The software was pointed a finger at for many crucial inabilities, a big one being no multi-camera support. Apple released an update to the editing software, making it version Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3, which adds multi camera editing. This allows editors to sync upto 64 angles of photos and videos. Final Cut Pro X now automatically syncs clips from your shoot using audio waveforms, time and date, or timecode to create a Multicam Clip with upto 64 angles of video, which can include mixed formats, frame sizes and frame rates. The Angle Editor allows you to go into your Multicam Clip to make adjustments, and the Angle Viewer lets you play back multiple angles at the same time and cut between them.

Will the update make the program a little more pleasing to editors?

Another big feature in the update is improved chroma key support. Apple has added controls like color sampling, edge adjustment and light wrap, which will make the chroma keying process a little more precise as well as convenient. These additions should allow more advanced chroma keying to be facilitated within the Final Cut Pro X app itself, rather than exporting to another motion graphics program.

Additionally, Apple has enhanced the XML support within Final Cut Pro X, which should allow for smoother interaction between the program and third party apps. The third party app environment surrounding Final Cut Pro X has grown. For instance, XML-compatible software like DaVinci Resolve and CatDV provide integration for tasks, such as colour correction and media management. The new 7toX app from Intelligent Assistance uses XML to import Final Cut Pro 7 projects into Final Cut Pro X, which solves a huge problem from when Final Cut Pro X first came out.

Broadcast monitoring in Final Cut Pro X is currently in beta and allows you to connect to waveform displays, vectorscopes, and calibrated, high-quality monitors to ensure that your project meets broadcast specifications. Final Cut Pro X supports monitoring of video and audio through Thunderbolt I/O devices, as well as through third party PCIe cards.

Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3 is available from the Mac App Store for $299.99 (Rs.14,865, approx) to new users, or as a free update for existing Final Cut Pro X customers. A 30-day free trial of Final Cut Pro X is available here. Full system requirements and more information on Final Cut Pro X can be found here.