The latest update (version 10.4.4) to Final Cut Pro X, Apple’s professional video editing software for macOS, introduces workflow extensions that enable professional video editors to use third-party apps and services directly within the editing interface. It’s available now at the Mac App Store,
Workflow extensions match the look of Final Cut Pro and integrate tightly into the app, allowing editors to drag media into Final Cut Pro libraries, sync playback between extensions and timeline, add clip markers and more. These extensions are designed to make it easy to use popular tools that enhance post-production including review and approval with Frame.io, stock footage browsing and purchasing with Shutterstock and media asset management with CatDV. Workflow extensions can be downloaded free from the Mac App Store starting today.
Apple says additional third-party extensions for Final Cut Pro will be available on an ongoing basis. The new version of Final Cut Pro also includes a number of other new features.
Batch sharing allows a user to export multiple clips or projects in one step and is useful when transcoding dailies on set for quick turnaround or delivering multiple versions of a project, according to Apple. A new Comparison Viewer window lets editors view reference images while color grading to ensure a consistent look across their project.
A new floating timecode window is designed to make it easy for video editors and others in the editing room to follow along by displaying color-coded clip names, roles, project timecode and source timecode in a customizable, resizable display. High-quality video noise reduction minimizes artifacts in low light or archival footage.
Editors can now create and deliver closed captions in SRT format or choose to burn them into their video for compatibility with a wide range of video websites. And improved marquee selection makes it quick to select individual clips or the entire secondary storyline.
Motion, the motion graphics companion to Final Cut Pro, also gets an update today that adds a set of color grading tools including color wheels, color curves, hue/saturation curves and custom LUTs. These tools match the professional color correction features found in Final Cut Pro and can now be used in Motion to fine-tune the look of titles and motion graphics.
New filters in Motion include a customizable comic effect that turns any image or video into color or monochrome comic book illustration. The new tiny planet filter lets motion graphics artists transform 360-degree video into spherical animations that can be keyframed to change over time.
Compressor, the advanced encoding companion to Final Cut Pro, moves to a new 64-bit engine that takes advantage of all the memory in a user’s Mac for improved performance when encoding high resolution, high frame rate video. The tool maintains support for 32-bit codecs, so editors can continue to work with key legacy formats. The app now supports SRT closed captions, which is an important format for delivering captioned video to the web and international markets.
Final Cut Pro 10.4.4, Motion 5.4.2 and Compressor 4.4.2 are available on the Mac App Store as free updates for existing users. New users can purchase the apps for $299.99, $49.99 and $49.99, respectively. Education customers can purchase the Pro Apps Bundle for Education for $199.99, which includes all three pro video apps plus Logic Pro X and MainStage. For more information, visit apple.com/final-cut-pro.
