TechTV's producer/animator takes a close look at Apple's latest version of its professional video editing software.

The long-anticipated upgrade to Apple's video editing and compositing software, Final Cut Pro, is finally here. It might be the latest and greatest upgrade from Apple since the launch of Mac OS X, which Final Cut Pro 3.0 fully supports (as well as Mac OS 9.2.2). For users with dual processor Macs, OS X support means newfound speed. Apple has created a complete editing suite for the blossoming or experienced editor.

New features

FCP 3.0's most impressive new feature is the addition of a real, internal, vector/waveform scope, a broadcast-compliant tool that calculates the video levels/color ratios of your project. This feature was laughable in past versions, but now it's fixed and works properly. It's also movable within the confines of the arrange feature in the menu bar. The new real-time color corrector is also a welcome addition.

FCP 3.0 incorporates real-time editing similar to what we saw when using Matrox hardware with the earlier version. Now, you dont need Matrox hardware with FCP to get the real-time. I have some of the same complaints that I did when I used a Matrox video card with a breakout box: It's useless. You need to render everything anyway, and this feature gives you a false sense of security. You spend more time trying to figure out what will play in real-time versus actually editing your work.

Edit decision lists (EDLs) exported out of the system see much more support from Avid and other non-linear editing tools. The audio out of FCP 3.0 can actually be taken as an OMF file, which also links perfectly to Avid. Like Avid, you can now choose many more scratch disks, up to 13.

Boris' new effects, Calligraphy and FX Script DVE, create fun for transitions, filters, and titles that incorporate a 3D enhanced design. Calligraphy runs natively in OS X.

FCP 3.0 incorporates a similar interface and the same general control/keyboard schema as the previous version, but FCP 3.0 has an enhanced media management system you'll soon appreciate. The Media Manager not only tells you graphically how much of your source material that you are using in the timeline, but also gives you options to move it to a more centralized location.

All in all, this is a wonderful upgrade; it has everything you could ask for and more. Apple has given video editors and 3D animators something to cheer about.

Company: Apple Computer
Price: $999; $299 upgrade (requires FCP 1.x or 2.x previously installed.)

Final Cut Pro 3.0




Final Cut Pro 3.0 upgrade